Health Information - Kids Who See Less Violence: Tend to Exhibit Less Violence

Kids Who See Less Violence: Tend to Exhibit Less Violence

According to a new study, there is a direct relationship between the violent media experienced by children and young teens and their own aggressive behavior. Researchers found a significant drop in aggression as violent stimuli was removed.

The researchers, from Dartmouth Medical School, released a poll stating that 13% of the total child population is exposed to graphic violence in films, TV and an DVDs. This information woke up researchers to the potential effect of this violent media.

The poll was a part of the “Growing Up With Media” survey. In the survey, kids were asked about the media they normally are exposed to in everyday life. While 13% said they are exposed on a routine basis, other children are watching more violence as well. More than 43% of children noted they watched some violence.

Among the children who were exposed to no violent media or only some violent media, 50% or less said they would be likely to participate in a violent activity like bullying or fighting with a peer.

Researchers noted that other factors may have influenced the child’s choice to act more aggressively and violently like drug or alcohol use, seeing violence in their surroundings, choosing delinquent friends and coming from a broken familial background.

While there are clearly other causative factors related to child violence, the researchers believe there is a clear link between violent media reduction and reduction in violent activity.

Violent media was defined as TV, movies, music, computer games and web sites. The violence could be depicted as either verbal or physical activities such as fighting, hurting, shooting or killing.