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Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
FAST FACTS
Although my intention was to avoid another rant on how some aspect of today's media was negatively influencing our children, I'm having a difficult time in doing so as my mind continues to return to an article I recently read in the journal Pediatrics. Well, maybe that and the other bit of news I just heard about an 8 year-old allegedly killing his father. And for those who recently read my most recent writing (http://dailystrength.org/blog/336-sex-and-television-impact), this follows that same common sense theme where it is always nice to have the research justify what may appear obvious to others.
So with the objective of examining for a possible association between violence found in the media and significant violent behavior engaged by tweens and teens, the researchers of this study targeted 10 to 15 year olds with previous internet exposure (at least once in the past 6 months) and looked for the outcome measure of self-reported seriously violent behavior as measured by shooting or stabbing someone, aggravated assault, robbery and sexual assault...obviously, some very severe acts. And some of the interesting findings of the study include:
- 5% of the study population actually engaged in at least one of the above-mentioned acts.
- Within this 5%, nearly 40% reported witnessing violence online.
- Those who were exposed to heavy amounts of violence online were more likely to commit some significant violent behavior when compared to those who were not exposed to online violence.
- The odds of committing one of the violent behaviors increased 50% with each increase in the different types of exposures to violent websites.
Granted, one cannot put full blame upon the internet for adolescents performing these violent acts (and recall, no causal association was found in this study, but just an association) as I'm sure many of us can think of other potential reasons why these seriously violent acts occur...genetic predisposition, poor home and school situation, influence from peers, community violence, and so on. Thus, to aggressively deal with youth violence, it becomes quite complicated and requires an intense examination on many different levels. But it would appear to me that the internet (and the media, in general) is an area where we might be able to intervene to some degree.
And so once again, I point the finger back at the parents and caregivers of children. We must realize when our children are witnessing and absorbing violent acts in today's media, they are unquestionably being influenced by them. And for those looking for concrete examples of what we can do? Take the computer, the TV, the video game console out of your child's room. Spend the time installing the blocking and filtering software on your home computer. And as others have mentioned, always attempt to maintain a dialogue with your child...particularly through the difficult times.
I believe our children look to us for guidance, for wisdom...it is our responsibility to step up and provide it.
Dr. Jeremy
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I'd love it if for once we actually tried to put a STOP to the bullying in schools, took responsibility for the people in our communities that can't help themselves and who will die slowly without support, and stopped insinuating that it's everyone's civic duty somehow to repeatedly subject ourselves and our families to the nightly news, (it's well-known that people have significantly more depression and anxiety from a steady diet of news programs. Many people are horrified at the thought of letting a young child watch a violent movie, but all the murders and rapes in their community are perfectly acceptable fare for tv viewing).
If you ask me, continually pointing to fictional medias as the root of violence is simply a ruse to distract the public from focusing on working on real problems. Has ANYONE ever considered the notion that it just MIGHT be that the kids who view really violent things regularly are displaying the SYMPTOM, rather than the cause? If you are exposed to real life violence in your home or community, and it's accepted as no big deal, aren't you MORE likely to see it as no big deal to watch it more on tv, the internet, and video games?
As desensitized parents we teach our children to be desensitized. Boundaries are lowered every single day because we experience more and more and more. We become accustomed to certain things being the "standard" and "socially acceptable". We demoralize the value of life itself and then ask ourselves why our children dont value life more.
This isnt about one parent, two parent, three parent, more. It is about the values we teach in our home. The limits and boundaries we teach in our home. So that when our children "see" and "experience" the things of this world, thier values and boundaries dont allow them to be desensitized by them. It isnt about keeping movies and games and words from them. It is about teaching them how to handle that which they are exposed to.
We are NOT going to change our world over night. It has become a cespool of violence, drugs, greed, lack of respect for life etc. So, rather than try to protect and keep our children from all of it, we need to educate our children through our own values and morals. Then, they walk out into this world better prepared to handle all the garbage that they face. They are better able to make decisions for themselves rather then doing what "society" or "influence" teaches them.
Once we do that as parents and stop pretending that we can save our children by keeping them from the evils, we will raise healthier children. Not children that "do" or "dont do" because they are told. But, children that "do" and "dont do" because in their heart and soul they know the right from wrong.
We need to STOP blaming everything and everyone else and take responsibility for our influence through our example and guidance. There comes a time then, that we let go and allow our children to make their own choices as adults. If we have done our job well, they will hopefully make good choices. If their personality weakens to the influences of the world then they may make bad choices. However it is, the choices then become theirs, not ours.
80% of divorces are currently initiated by the mother. And they know that they will get primary custody because of the inherent bias of the system. It is the only system on earth that gives no due process to fathers. The solution? Automatic 50/50 possession and shared parenting if one parent leaves.
Two results: the rate of women seeking divorce will drop dramatically, and even with 50/50 divorce the child will be RAISED by both parents. I challenge the author to study statistics of fatherless children and violence. And to study statistics in Australia where 50/50 is automatic. The proof is in the pudding if our society will find the guts to stand up to the politically correct and give honor back to fathers.
Put your voice and your courage into preserving two parent families - and children will get both the nurturing AND discipline/example that will prompt them to lead responsible lives.
We have to stop looking at our precious freedoms as a source of manipulating what they truly stand for. In every area of our governing we have rules and regulations to in force direction and stability - we need them here too. For every action, there is a reaction or consequence that follows. Telling a child (or even some adults) that killing someone is wrong when they see and hear of this on a daily basis isn't teaching them anything at all. Children follow by example - much more then words. What examples are we showing them? They want to fit in - belong. Our children need heroes - not porn stars and rap singers stimulating their brain cells. What benefit does this have on any - other then making the almighty dollar.
I don't believe we should stick our heads in the sand and forget about all that the world can project, but I do believe in tact, dignity and privacy as an equal right and freedom. Parents do need to take control of what their children observe and relate to more then ever. But, we also need to have a governing source to protect the innocent from our medias lack of responsibilty and values, purely for the financial gain they call "freedom of speech".
Anyone who can still read should pick up Lord of the Flies and remind herself that boys and girls who have no adult supervision are savages and if they know that what they do has no consequences, there will be no limit to what they do.
The violence world wide in terms of war on a global scale, is not a good example for anybody.
Parents and caregivers are NOT where violence starts.
Stepping up in the 'Public System' in my country affords opposition like you would not believe. Challenging the system is hard but when one is looking for a better way for their child, it must be done.
In the meantime our family can't pay the bills. How much anger and resentment do think we fight against on a regular basis?????
Needless to say, this might go the same with sexual predilection...
Both neurotransmitter pathways are activated: Dopamine and possibly the Norepinephrine/Serotonin. Anger centers are derived from increased dopamine and decreased serotonin. Pleasure is derived from dopamine. A very bad combination being brewed in children's minds that are still in development. The question becomes if we expose these children to negative environments, combined with poor nutrition and negative reinforcement, then can we predict this behavior? I doubt it...
Keep us posted!
Sincerely,
Gina L. Moore-Sanders, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
namaste mlb
Your contribution, though, leaves any sort of government regulation out of the picture, which of course points the finger back to the parents and caregivers. Other comments have discussed the FCC's role in censorship, which is a complete mess, thanks to its politically conservative roots and orientation. I have no solution to offer that would not violate our civil liberties on some level.
With a great sense of irony, US Army recruiting stations are now starting to operate video simulators for potential recruits. Wasn't this meant to be? (Remember the TV ad for sega/nintendo/etc. where a networked group of regular guys playing shoot-em-up were beaten by another networked team that were actual soldiers, in a tent somewhere? "Who are these guys?" one of the regular guys asked.)
To respond to other comments, don't blame Hollywood. There are customers in this market - you and me - and we demand this stuff. When our preferences shift, so will the stuff on TV. For another coment, sports are hardly violent, and they offer an out for many of the people who are prone to grow up in a culture of violence. What messes up this line of argument are professional NBA/NFL/etc. players who market violence with their super-skills.
Is it fair then to say that I should assume children are "unquestionably being influenced" by media? Why is violence always associated with negative results? Most of our sports center around the concept of violent acts toward one another, pushing, punching, hitting, etc. Americans pay billions of dollars every year in support of sports as well the government pays money toward supporting school age sport programs. That is violent too, but is it wrong? Are we raising our children to be violent then? Are we bad parents at that point? What of the solider who raise his sons/daughters to be soilders? I prefer to think violence is not the root of the problem but lack of moral character and fitting into society. Honestly, name the difference between the choices of two men, one is a gang member defending his turf and the other is a police man defending the citizens of a city? The difference is not in the actions but in the moral decisions behind their lines of employment. It is having the ability to step back and look at the grander picture. Critical thinking, morality, but not the violence that makes one's actions bad and the other good.