Children at a young age are known to emulate most of what they observe in their environment from their peers, parents as well as other people around them. As a result, it is possible that children may also copy what they view on the internet as well as what is shown by the media through television. Violence on the television has been there throughout the history of mainstream media, as some of the shows, movies, and series consist of certain scenes with violence. Therefore, the violence that is shown on television can cause certain changes in behavior among children who watch the violence. The effects of watching violent television programs and movie are greater in children and vary depending on the age of the child, thus the need to control what children watch on television and the internet.
Desensitization, Trauma
Numerous studies have shown that both teenagers and children exhibit negative changes in behavior upon being exposed to violent television programs and movies, thus having negative effects on them. One of the effects of watching violent television programs and movie is the pre-disposition to violent acts. Watching violent television programs and movie increases the chances of the development of aggressive behavior among children, which may result in violent acts eventually. Children, as well as teenagers, emulate whatever it is that they observe in the environment, which can also include the violence depicted in televisions programs and movies. When playing with their peers, children who have been predisposed to violence through violent television programs and movies depict violent-like acts concerning how they interact with other children.
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Children under four years of age cannot distinguish between facts and fantasy, hence may view the violence on television programs and movies as a normal occurrence. The second effect of violent television programs and movies on children is that of desensitization. According to studies, exposure to violence on television programs and movies have resulted in children losing their inhibitors, thus becoming less caring as well as less sensitive. According to studies every time a child watches a violent act on television programs and movies such as someone being shot dead, they become less sensitive to other people. Every time a child experiences or watches a violent scene on television programs and movies, they lose a fragment of their inhibitors, thus becoming desensitized.
Desensitization has it associated implications as some children develop antisocial mannerism as a result of exposure to violence, which makes them less sensitive to other people. Some children also become addicted to watching violent television programs and movies, which consumes most of their time, thus increased desensitization as well as increased chances of becoming antisocial as they spend most of their watching the violent television programs and movies. Trauma is also another negative implication of violent television programs and movies. Younger children may experience trauma from watching acts of violence such as rape, murder, and even brutal physical abuse. This causes such children to experience nightmares and instances of panic since they become aware of the violent acts and their detrimental effects.
Trauma in children has its associated implications as it can lead to withdrawal among the children, thus isolation and avoidance of other children. This may inhibit the proper growth of such a child since studies have shown that active interaction between children fosters learning and thus growth in such children. Trauma may also cause the child to grow in fear of violence, thus for girls who have seen women being abuse they may not wish to get married, thus the negative implications of violent television programs and movies.
In addition to trauma, desensitization, anti-social mannerism and predisposition to violence, violent television programs, and movies cause children suppress the psychosocial development of a child. Children, especially teenagers, become dependent on the violent television programs and movies for entertainment, which draws their attention from other activities. This causes such children to be less active mentally as well as physically, which may result in the development of health issues due to inactivity. Similarly, prolonged trauma from watching violent may result in the development of the Posttraumatic disorder, commonly abbreviated PTSD among the very children.
The minds of children require proper nourishment in the form of educational programs and content, which is one of the reasons children have trouble learning in school after watching violent television programs. This is because their minds are preoccupied with what they see in those violent television programs. Similarly, in some occasion children may seriously injure themselves or others as a result of emulating what they view on violent television programs and movies. The innocence of children drive them to think that such emulation of actions may not be harmful, but in some instances, real accidents may occur during such acts causing harm or injury to the child and others.
Therefore, in a bid to prevent the negative implications of violent television program among children, parents, teachers, as well as guidance, should prevent children from watching the same. This means controlling the amount of time the children spend watching television as well as supervising what they watch. This will require parents to improve on their surveillance to eliminate any chances of their children watching violent television programs and movies. This will help in preventing the negative implications of violent television programs and movies on children such as trauma, desensitization, anti-social mannerism and predisposition to violence.
