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 HANOI UNIVERSITY

FOUNDATION STUDIES DEPARTMENT

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The potential impacts of televised violence

on children

Teacher: Nguyễn Tiến Dũng

Student: Bùi Thị Thu Trang

Class: 1KT-15

Course: EAP Writing

Date:
 ABSTRACT

In recent years, the bad effects of watching violent programs on children have

arisen as a major topic of concern in modern society. This paper, based on

secondary research, discusses the extent of TV violence affecting kids. In

particular, three aspects are mentioned, including the concept of TV violence,

its potential impacts on children and effective measures to limit these impacts.

Based on the findings of the research, the paper draws the conclusion that

although it is difficult to put an end to the alarming matter, both parents and

government should pay more attention to the juniors.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. ii

1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 1

2. Discussion of findings ................................................................................................................................ 1

2.1. The concept of TV violence .......................................................................................................................... 1

2.2. The bad effects of TV violence ..................................................................................................................... 2

2.3. Proposed solutions ........................................................................................................................................ 3

3. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 4

References .................................................................................................................................................... 5

iii
1. Introduction

In today’s modern technology life, television is one of many famous inventions we are enjoying. People watch

television mainly for entertainment, to gain knowledge and update news. However, a wide range of programs

make them, especially children, get the wrong messages because these programs are not suitable for people of

ages. Many negative effects proceed from violent ones. A report (National Institute of Mental Health, 1982)which

was carried out by National Institute of Mental Health in 1982 confirmed a study done by Surgeon General and

other research findings about the effects of television on children. According to Tre em va bao luc man anh, Two

primary schools in Sab Jose, California, also gave the same results when asking pupils to what TV a minimum of

7 hours per week. At the same time, they observed these pupils, then informed broadcasters of the potential

dangers that viewing violence on TV can have for children. Therefore, it is necessary to have particular ways to

inhibit the effects of TV violence from becoming more serious. To help people understand this problem clearly

and take action more accurately, this paper discusses the concept of TV violence, how bad violent programs affect

children and what solutions are recommended to solve this matter.

2. Discussion of findings

2.1. The concept of TV violence

It is very difficult to have a precise definition of TV violence. However, the basic understanding for “TV violence”

usually is the appearance of the violent scenes on TV screens. “TV violence” used to be defined by many

researchers, experts and organizations. A recent study (Gerbner and Signorielli, 1988) suggests that violence was

defined “as an act (or threat) of injuring or killing someone”. And The National Television Violence Study (1996)

considered violence as “any over depiction of a credible threat of physical force or actual use of physical force,

with or without a weapon which is intended to harm or intimidate an animate being or a group of animate beings.
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The violence may be carried out or merely attempted and may or may not cause injury”. WHO (2002) had a

shorter definition but be quite complete one that violence involves physical force or a threat of intentional use of

physical force, even is self-inflicted or inflicted by somebody either results in physical harm, death or

psychological harm.

2.2. The bad effects of TV violence

Since 1960, there has been much research about the impacts of violent programs on kids “who may be audience

more vulnerable to TV’ messages than adults”(National Institute of Mental Health, 1982). Learning theories

(National Institute of Mental Health, 1982) expose the negative relationship between televised violence and

behavioral sciences, notably psychology, psychiatry and sociology, as well as from public health and

communications”. It can be seen from the Changing the channels that in late 1970s, Dr. L. Rowell Huesmann

carried out a survey with children at ages of 6 through 9 “such outcomes as spouse abuse and criminal convictions

in a person’s early 20s”. He states that televised violence suggested to young children that aggression is

appropriate in some situations, especially when it is used by charismatic heroes and it also eroded a natural

aversion to violence.

After 15 years of research about the violent scenes on TV programs that children watch, based on laboratory

experiments, The Surgeon General’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and social Behavior also drew

a conclusion in 1969 that there were two major effects of seeing violence on TV. First, “the general effects

television may have on the children’s intellectual and emotional life (Surgeon General's Scientific Advisory

Commitee on Television and Social Behavior, 1972). Kids have a tendency to imitate what they have seen and a

tenth of all programming time they spend on watching drama of crime and horror, which made them less sensitive

to the hurt of others and consider fighting as a solution for any problem. In addition, it is horror movies that drive

kids in fear and trembling. In other words, they tend to think the world is very dangerous and feel scared and

unsafe. George Gerbner and Nancy Signorielli (1988) conducted the longest running study of television violence.

His research reveals that most TV viewers tend to perceive the world in ways that the consistent with the images

on TV. As viewers’ perceptions of the world come to conform with the depictions they see on TV. That is the

reason why too much violence on screen can make them become more passive, more anxious and more fearful.
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Second, “television’s more specific impact on the children’s aggressive behavior” (Surgeon General's Scientific

Advisory Commitee on Television and Social Behavior, 1972). In 1971, after their experiment, Liebert and Baron

also agreed with this statement. They found that children who watched aggressive programs behaved differently,

were more likely to “either help the other child or hurt him and prevent him from winning the game”. It is obvious

that exposure to violence in programs makes children be argumentative, less patient as well as unwilling to

cooperate. And according to result reported in this book (Surgeon General's Scientific Advisory Commitee on

Television and Social Behavior, 1972) “aggressive behavior change in both age and sex: “boys were consistently

more aggressive than girls and aggressiveness tended to increase with age. Moreover, the more children view

violent programs, the more aggressive they become”.

Apart from these bad effects, learning theories (National Institute of Mental Health, 1982) show another one

which should be highlighted that “television does not provide material for imaginative play and that watching

violent programs and cartoons is tied to aggressive behavior and to less imaginative play”. It is widely known that

imaginative play is a single most important way 3 to 6-year olds learn, grow and work out their feelings, fears and

fantasies. Hence, the more children watch televised violence, the less time they spend on all the other important

experiences they need to grow and learn, even the more threats there are to their whole future. In addition, most

kids exposed to TV violence can not tell the difference between reality and imaginary world. It means they do not

know what is real. At the same time, television can mold children’ attitudes easily which “later may be translated

into behavior” (National Institute of Mental Health, 1982).

2.3. Proposed solutions

It is clear that there is a great deal of violence on children’s programs, which can be a powerful influence in

developing systems and shaping behavior. It can be said that preventing bad effects is not easy and effective

immediately. However, in December 2014, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry point out

that parents have massive power to moderate these influences. It is necessary for them to know what their children

watch, even watch with them. That way they will limit violent programs by changing the channel or turning off

3
the TV set and explaining why their kids should not see certain TV programs is also important. Another way is

that, sometimes, these programs can be accepted, so parents should discuss what causes the actors to have violent

actions and how the scenes on screen are different from real life. Instead of letting children have a TV in bedroom

or watch TV too much, parents should encourage them to spend more time on a mixture of physical activities,

being with other kids and caring for members of family. It is not only good for health but also helpful to stimulate

cooperation, potential abilities as well as responsibilities. Last but not least, there should be other parents’

agreement to enforce similar rules about the length of time and type of program children may watch. It can be

seen that these ways are just not for parents, it would have been better if the government have been also responsible

for this matter. For example, in the future, the government in Viet Nam should put laws to limit television violence

and make parents aware of the content of programs such as violence warnings before showing. In other countries,

including USA, US, New Zealand, this measure has already been introduced with television stations. It is called

classification label. According to New Zealand’s classification labels all labels have a classification symbol and

usually a descriptive note indicating the type of content in a film or game that may be of concern to viewers.

Thanks to this, parents can have suitable choice for their children’s view.

3. Conclusion

The findings above provide necessary information on TV violence and indicate that is really worrying when

viewing a lot of violent programs on TV can lead to many dangers and have far-reaching impacts on children’s

growing up. Although there is no solution for people to prevent this matter totally, there must be something done

before it is too late and nothing is impossible if we make endless effort. It is high time for people, especially

parents and government, took more concerns and responsibilities for the future generations starting with their TV

programs.

4
 References

Definition and typology of violence [Online]. Violence Prevention Alliance.

Available: http://www.who.int/violenceprevention/approach/definition/en/
[Accessed January 30 2016].
Major Studies on Television Violence [Online]. Changing the Channels
Available: http://www.changingchannels.org/pages/articles/effects-of-tv/major-studies.php
[Accessed January 30 2016].
National Television Violence Study (1996): Executive Summary, 1994-1995, Mediascope,Santa Barbara, University of
California.
New Zealand's classification lables [Online]. Office of Film and Literature Classification
Available: http://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/search-for-a-classification/new-zealands-classification-
labels.html
[Accessed January 30 2016].
Trẻ em và bạo lực màn ảnh [Online]. Available: http://www.coinguon.com/tivi.html
[Accessed January 30 2016].
TV Violence and Children [Online]. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Available: http://www.accap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-TV-
Violence-013.aspx
[Accessed January 30 2016].
What do we know about media violence [Online]. Canada's centre for digital and media literacy.
Available: http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-and-media-literacy/media-issues/violence/what-do-we-know-about-
media-violence
[Accessed January 30 2016].
GERBNER, G. & SIGNORIELLI, N. 1988. Violence and Terror in the Mass Media: An Annotated Bibliography, Greenwood
Publishing Group.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH 1982. Television and behavior: Ten years of Scientific Progress and
Implications for Eighties, Washington,DC, United States Government Printing Office.
SURGEON GENERAL'S SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITEE ON TELEVISION AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 1972. Television and
Growing up: The Impact of Televised Violence -Report to the Surgeon General, US Public Health Service,
Rockville, MD, National Insitute of Mental Health 1972.