CMP 230 Fall 2008 By: Maryan Clark Professor John Kaucher Cambridge College

l. Facts about young children A. More impressionable B. Have a harder time distinguishing between fantasy and reality C. Cannot easily discern motives for violence D. Learn by observing and imitating (Bushman,2001)

ll. Negative Effects of Media Violence A. Study conducted by Ronald Slaby, media violence expert 1. Encourages violent behavior (aggressor effect) 2. Increases fearfulness (victim effect) 3. Leads to callousness, accepting violence as normal (bystander effect) 4. Builds a desire to watch more violence (appetite effect) B. Article in WebMD News, June 10, 2005 (Brain Activity) 1. Nonaggressive children had similar patterns of activity in the area of the brain linked to self-control and attention, when exposed to high levels of media violence, as aggressive children who had already been diagnosed with disruptive behavior disorder.

lll. False messages that media violence send A. Violence is often rewarded and seldom has negative consequences. 1. Perpetrators go unpunished in 73% of all violent scenes. B. Violence is everywhere. 1. Young children often assume that violence is the normal cause of death. C. Violence is justified. 1. Aggression by “good guys” is rarely punished 2.Depicts violence by “good guys” as heroic

lV. BENEFACTORS A. Video Game Industry 1. Reached nearly $10.5 billion in sales in (BusinessWeek Online, 2006) B. Television/Movie Industry 1. Interesting facts a. the majority of all entertainment programming contains violence. b. commercial television for children is times more violent than prime- time programs for adults.

lV. What can be done to minimize effects A. DO NOT put video game consoles or computers in children’s room. B. Set limits ( no television or video games before homework is done). C. Limit game playing time. D. Check the age game ratings and descriptors on the box. E. Know the shows your children see. F. PLAY AND ENJOY a game with your child.

Reference Page Flannery, Daniel J., (2005), Violence and Mental Health in Everyday Life: Prevention and Intervention, Social Science pg 90. National Institute on Media and the Family, Children and Media Violence Fact Sheet Slaby, Ronald, media expert at the Education Development Center American Psychiatric Association, Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives Tepperman, Jean, (1997),Children’s Advocate Newsmagazine WebMD News, (2005), Media Violence May Affect Children’s Minds, Toxic Lessons, What Do Children Learn From Media Violence