She also writes some about politicians and the Juvenile Justice system. Sternheimer points to other possible reasons for the violent acts of the youth such as, the home life. While it may be that juvenile crimes have declined and personal backgrounds effect actions, it cannot be said this proves video game violence has no effect on youth. Sternheimer begins by explaining how video games violence has become a “folk devil” (204) to explain unexplainable happenings of youth shootings and this is just the one to follow the many other explanations the media and politicians have given for problem youth. She then brings up the issue of unnerving newspaper headlines such as “Bloodlust Video Games Put Kids in the Crosshairs” (205).
It is necessary to take a closer look at whether or not violence in the media really is responsible for this development and then to examine what censorship may entail before taking such a far-reaching decision. Many concerned people, ranging from worried parents through to reputable psychologists, deplore the ever-present nature of violence in the media, claiming that this is the reason why people are increasingly prepared to commit violent acts. They argue that violence is being propagated as normal or even entertaining. Violence is in the newspapers, on the news, in film plots and in cartoons. Violence is a source of laughter in children's programs; films present it as staple fare; it is served as pseudo-information in sensation-hungry newspapers and on reality TV; and it is even glorified by some musicians in their lyrics and performances.
The imaginary friend that I picked is Lou, the article I think that he would find most convincing is “Don’t Withhold Violent Games” because one of his hobbies is to play games. This is a summary of the article “Don’t Withhold Violent Games” by Jessica Robbins. In this article, Robbins begins by acknowledging how far technology has come and how video games have become more graphic and violent (1). Due to a lot of crazy events that have taken place in the recent years involving violent acts, there has been concerns if violent media games have influence. Robbins spoke on the laws that some states have passed banning minors from viewing or purchasing violent video games without an adult and feels such law should not exist (1).
Unfortunately, many of today’s television programs are violent. So does TV influence kids that violence, drugs, alcohol and sex are ok? How much violence, drug references, alcohol usage, and sex references does the average American child come across? How much of this do they take in? Hundreds of studies have found that children and teenagers that watch television may: • Become “immune” or numb to the horror of violence • Gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems • Imitate the violence they observe on television; and • Identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers Also, Extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness.
Everyone deals with stress and frustrations differently. However when action is taken upon the frustrations and stress, and the action is taken out in anger and aggression. The results may be very harmful to both the aggressor and the person being aggressed against, mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Young children are more likely to confuse fantasy violent with real world violence, and without a framework for ethical decision making, they may mimic the actions they see in violent video games. Playing violent video games increases aggressive behavior and arousal.
Are video games causing violence amongst today’s children? Nowadays, video games have caught the attention of both the Media and parents. Increasingly, the media tends to remind people how much violence these games contain, thus blaming them for the violent behavior a child may be imitating. In addition, video games seem to be the scapegoat for a quick point of blame and is a much easier answer rather than finding what truly may lie behind the motives for violence in a child. With RPG (role playing games) becoming ever more so popular, so does the demand for realistic violence in them.
At a young age, children's minds are sponge-like, absorbing everything that surrounds them, which makes them easy targets in terms of manipulation and victimized by violent video games. Violent games might seem like harmless fun, but what if the violence attracts and addicts young players, affecting their behavior and their view of reality? Problem: Should Violent Video Games Be Monitored Some say that violent video games have minimal impact on young teenagers, pointing out that most video-game player’s live completely normal lives. The weaknesses in that argument are almost too obvious: first of all just because a player does not immediately imitate specific violent acts found in video games does not mean the games will not have any long-term negative effect on that player’s views and behavior. Because of this possibility, parents should assume responsibility for evaluating video games and should prohibit young teenagers from purchasing those that are especially violent.
Nnachi Opie Professor English 102 Due date: 5/7/13 Violence on video games and its effect on children Violence is said to be a crime that affects a community, city, or a country in the sense that it contributes to the social life of an individual. This is so because people find pleasures in committing suicides and other crimes, without thinking about the repercussions. There are lots of things that are happening in our society today due to advance in technology and civilization. The act 0f playing video game has become a popular activity for people of all ages, in a way that many children and adolescents have developed a habit of spending large amount of their time playing them. It’s said that Video games are entertaining and effective motivation for children in a way that it engages them with skillful play depending on the design of the game.
In the movie, they gather to fight not out of spite or hatred for each other but because fighting is a common medium of release for them. Various studies conducted state a direct correlation between the aggregate of time spent watching violence portrayed in media, the television in specific, to aggressive behaviour in adulthood. Aggressive behaviours in children are also observed to increase when they are exposed to violent media because they seem to take it as an encouragement of sorts, because new forms of aggression are brought to their notice. The Tasmanian Devil in Looney Toons and Baby Looney Toons is an example of a violence in children’s entertainment.Berkowitz says that a number of different aversive stimuli, frustration for example, may initiate aggressive responses but aversive stimuli alone do not by themselves orchestrate aggressive behaviour; they simply bring about a readiness for aggressive action. Only if appropriate aggressive cues are present as environmental stimuli, will such conduct surface.
Many people attribute the increase in violent youth to the increase of violence in the media. There is a common belief that television, films and video games are to be blamed for making children deem that violence is not only acceptable, but a necessary way of solving conflict. Some blockbuster movies that top the charts tend to be action-packed, such as the Terminator in 1984 or films about superheroes that save the day by destroying the villains. Superman, Batman and Spiderman are the perfect examples. The youth are then influenced by observing these behaviours and mimicking the actions of these so-called heroes.