In child development, the environment determines the effectiveness at which the child’s psychology would be developed. Children tend to imitate what may be exposed to them frequently. In the modern society, children are exposed to media platforms from a young age. For this reason, they tend to imitate what they see from media platforms. The modern media is characterized by violent and inappropriate content. Children behave and practice in ways they have seen from the media. This greatly affects their reasoning. Considering the sensitive nature of a child’s psychology, parent should be greatly considerate to the content they are exposed to (Weaver & Kobach 176). A child’s morals are also affected by the content they are exposed to from media. An excessive exposure to immortality on television would make them the same level of morality.
It is an obvious assumption that violence traits are mostly acquired through visual or physical experience. The diminished role of physical activities has provided room for visual activities to control the sources of trait adaptation. Stone points out that violent experience from media influences the level at which both adults and children perceive violence (1). The media has painted violence as a hero requirement. This can be witnesses in animations meant for children where the hero has to violently confront the villain to be praised. The same is emulated by children who envy their animated heroes. An extended exposure to such content makes a child perceive violence as a social requirement. This promotes their ability to possess violent behavior. Stone also supports the assumption that the modern media has increased in violent content as the demand by the society raises (1). The author further analyzes the depth of violence in the society by pointing out the effects of adults. Stone introduced externalization of anger by aid of violent media (1). Adults tend to emulate what they see on television and express their inner suffering (Stone 1).
Bodies responsible for shielding the public from inappropriate media content have developed rating systems that dictate ages that can access certain media content. In most situations, media content with violence, extreme prejudice, sexual material and inappropriate language are termed unsuitable for children below an adult age (Stone 2). However, rating systems increase the curiosity of the audience (130). Children tend to be more attracted to media content rating that tends to exclude them from viewing certain content. Additionally, kids become curious to experience what may be appropriate for adults to view. However, media ratings may improve the way in which content in made available to children. A parent may be able to avoid the purchase materials with adult content.
Stone cite that numerous media platforms from which violent content can be obtained (2). In the modern century, most media platforms have violent content which negatively influences the growth of the emerging adulthood generations. Generations in modern decade suffer from the effects of violent media content. In addition, the effects emanate from excessive use of media platforms. For instance, psychologists have hypothesized that the increase of the number of children playing video games also increases the number of children in need for intervention to minimize the effects of their exposure to mediated violence. Digitalized graphics have also effects on adults. This may include addiction to violence as well as neglect of proper ways of conflict resolution.
However, Jones tends to support the role of violent media in children. The author asserts that it helps children overcome fear and any form of phobia they experience (Jones 2). If effectively used a parent may use a form of violent media to enable easy coping of a difficult situation by their children (Jones 2).
Gansberg introduces the Genovese syndrome (3). The syndrome is defined as the lack of human attention when crime is committed. Too much exposure to violence limits the seriousness at which a person may perceive violence. In this case, a whole neighborhood witnessed the killing of a woman and no call to the police was made until the woman was murdered (Gansberg 1).
Weaver & Kobach recognizes the fact that media greatly influences the way in which the society embraces violence (175). Media has glorified violence to an extent at which human beings embrace violence. The trend has been alarming to a point that strategies have been developed to minimize the effect of the social media in promoting violence. Weaver & Kobach the modern media disregard its responsibility of shaping the behavior of people (183). This responsibility is replaced by the numerous exposure of the public to extremely graphic media content. One major effect of mediated violence is aggression. Aggression is defined as a way in which society members emulate violence from the media. Aggression mostly affects teenagers and children. Extended exposure to mediated violence requires intervention to minimize the psychological effects on the consumers of mediated violence (Weaver & Kobach 182).
The modern media in the United States is characterized by its violent nature depicted in numerous programs. The media has significantly increased the violent content provided to the audience. The violent nature of television has been supported by scientific studies which depict the numerous consequences of violent media. Apart from studies, scientific facts depict that the exposure of the human brain to any form of violence may influence the psychological perception on violence. Considering this fact and the level at which the modern century is exposed to violent media, it is an obvious assumption that human psychology is derailed by the negativity of the media. Weaver & Kobach point out that, media misinformation is highly responsible for the increase in the development of violent personalities among humans (177).
Works cited
Gansberg, Martin. Thirty Eight who saw murder did not call the police. The New York Times, 1964.
Jones, Gerald. Violent media is good for the kids. 2000. Retrieved from https/motherjones.com/print/12245.
Stone, Oliver. Memo to John Gresham: What’s next? - A movie made me do it. N.d. Retrieved from http://www2.southeastern.edu/Academics/Faculty/scraig/stone.html
Weaver, Andrew & Kobach, Matthew. The Relationship Between Selective Exposure and the Enjoyment of Television Violence. Aggressive Behavior, 38, 2012, 175–184.
