Violence on TV Essay -- Argumentative Argument Media Television

Violence on TV For a long time now the debate has been, and continues to be, as to whether or not violence on television makes children more violent. As with all contentious issues there are both proponents and detractors. This argument has been resurrected in the wake of school shootings, most notably Columbine and Erfurt, Germany; and acts of random violence by teenagers, the murders of two Dartmouth professors. Parents, teachers, pediatricians, child psychiatrists, and FCC Chairmen William Kennard and former Vice President Al Gore say violent TV programming contribute in large part to in violence in young people today. However, broadcasters and major cable TV providers like Cox Communication say that it is the parent’s fault for not making it clear to their kids as what they may or may not watch on TV. The major TV networks and cable providers also state it is the TV industry’s fault as well for not regulating what is shown on TV. So who is the guilty party in this argument of w hether or not TV violence influences of the behavior young people in today’s society? There is a "general consensus among social scientists that television violence increases the propensity to real-life aggression among some viewers," and yet, paradoxically, "there is presently little evidence indicating that violence enhances program popularity" (Diener & DeFour, 1978). Top government studies insist, "violent material is popular" (Surgeon General's Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior, 1972). Differing conclusions may be viable. One leading social psychologist flatly states, "evidence suggests that violence on television is potentially dangerous, in that it serves as a model for behavior -- especially for children" ... ...ichard. "Chips Ahoy." Time February 19, 1996: 58-61. Aronson, E., The Social Animal, New York: W.H. Freeman and Co., 7th Edition, 1995 Surgeon General's Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior, Television and growing up: The impact of televised violence, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1972 Diener, E. & DeFour, D., "Does Television Violence Enhance Program Popularity?", Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, Vol. 36, No. 3, 333-341 UCLA Center for Communication Policy, Television Violence Monitoring Project, http://ccp.ucla.edu/Webreport94/toc.htm New Statesman & Society, May 17 1996 v9 n403 p27(1) by Alexander Cockburn National Television Violence Study , April 20, 1998 v370 n10 p24(1) by Christopher Stern American Academy of Pediatrics , Pediatrics Vol. 108 No. 5 November 2001 Violence on TV Essay -- Argumentative Argument Media Television Violence on TV For a long time now the debate has been, and continues to be, as to whether or not violence on television makes children more violent. As with all contentious issues there are both proponents and detractors. This argument has been resurrected in the wake of school shootings, most notably Columbine and Erfurt, Germany; and acts of random violence by teenagers, the murders of two Dartmouth professors. Parents, teachers, pediatricians, child psychiatrists, and FCC Chairmen William Kennard and former Vice President Al Gore say violent TV programming contribute in large part to in violence in young people today. However, broadcasters and major cable TV providers like Cox Communication say that it is the parent’s fault for not making it clear to their kids as what they may or may not watch on TV. The major TV networks and cable providers also state it is the TV industry’s fault as well for not regulating what is shown on TV. So who is the guilty party in this argument of w hether or not TV violence influences of the behavior young people in today’s society? There is a "general consensus among social scientists that television violence increases the propensity to real-life aggression among some viewers," and yet, paradoxically, "there is presently little evidence indicating that violence enhances program popularity" (Diener & DeFour, 1978). Top government studies insist, "violent material is popular" (Surgeon General's Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior, 1972). Differing conclusions may be viable. One leading social psychologist flatly states, "evidence suggests that violence on television is potentially dangerous, in that it serves as a model for behavior -- especially for children" ... ...ichard. "Chips Ahoy." Time February 19, 1996: 58-61. Aronson, E., The Social Animal, New York: W.H. Freeman and Co., 7th Edition, 1995 Surgeon General's Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior, Television and growing up: The impact of televised violence, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1972 Diener, E. & DeFour, D., "Does Television Violence Enhance Program Popularity?", Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, Vol. 36, No. 3, 333-341 UCLA Center for Communication Policy, Television Violence Monitoring Project, http://ccp.ucla.edu/Webreport94/toc.htm New Statesman & Society, May 17 1996 v9 n403 p27(1) by Alexander Cockburn National Television Violence Study , April 20, 1998 v370 n10 p24(1) by Christopher Stern American Academy of Pediatrics , Pediatrics Vol. 108 No. 5 November 2001