There is much debate over whether violent TV programs are relevant to the rise of crime rates or not. Some people assert that it is obvious that violent TV programs cause violence. Others, however, do not agree that violence is related to TV viewing at all. As far as I am concerned, the disgraceful violent TV programs should be largely responsible for the rising rates of crime in modern cities. Why do some people disagree that the violence on TV programs should be blamed for the rise of crime rates? For one thing, they presuppose that everyone has self-control. Except by force, one cannot make a person do anything which he or she is not willing to. Since TV programs are something over the air broadcast simply for fun, how can they control a person without recourse to any physical means? For another, those people believe that everything can be changed except the essential character of an individual. In most cases, just as a law-abiding citizen always abides by the law, criminals cannot change their own character no matter how much punishment they have suffered in jail. It is their character rather than TV violence that drives them to commit crimes. Violent TV programs, they conclude, are innocent Although I agree that the individual's self-control and character has certain effect on his or her behavior, I insist that the external environment plays a far more important role in forming people's moral values and behavior, to say nothing of children and the youth who have not yet fully developed their own "self-control and character." In the first place, violent TV programs tend to obscure the difference between good and evil, harming the social morals and values. As we know, Evil is the next-door neighbor of Good; even an adult sometimes cannot distinguish them, needless to say a teenager. Consider the case of a boy who imitates the violence on TV just out of curiosity without knowing that he is doing something that he would regret in his rest life. Can you still claim that it is the fault of the boy, not the violent programs, because he is a born criminal?! In the second place, violent TV programs can gradually change people's behavior, misleading them to the belief that violence is the most effective way to resolve conflicts. Nowadays, as soon as you turn on your TV, violence is vividly presented before you, with the success of the criminals encouraging you, the luxurious booty tempting you, and the stupidity of the police cheering you. The implied message is obvious: if you want to get rich fast, STEAL, ROB AND MURDER! How many people can resist this tempting invitation? From what has been discussed above, we may draw the conclusion that violent TV programs have in a large sense caused crime rates to rise not only because of their destructive influence on people's morality, but also because of their vicious effect on people's behavior. Therefore, I strongly hold that they should be censored strictly.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
The role of media violence in violent crime has been exaggerated is very much an issue Media violence has become a scapegoat, onto which we lay blame for a host of social problems. Sociologist Todd Gatling describes how "the indiscriminate fear of television in particular displaces justifiable fears of actual dangers—dangers of which television ... provides some disturbing glimpses." Concerns about media and violence rest on several flawed, yet taken-for-granted assumptions about both media and violence. These beliefs appear to be obvious in emotional arguments about "protecting" children. So while these are not the only problems with blaming media, this [viewpoint] will address four central assumptions: (Mass Media, 2010).…
- 698 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
In Roberts Peters’ article “Censorship of Violence in Popular Entertainment Is Justified”, he writes about his personal concerns and his personal solutions to combat obscenity and uphold decency standards in the media. He believes that due to the many graphic and violent depictions in TV, films, music/RAP, video and computer games, the children in present society are easily influenced into acting out the media violence and turning it into real life violence. He believes that there are four main problems with media violence. The first problem is that is too much of it. The glut of media violence desensitizes viewers and contributes to the “mean world syndrome.” A second problem with media violence is that it can be easily imitated. He believes that the characters being depicted in the media are mostly glorified, youth characters who are troublemakers and engaged in behavior kids can readily imitate. A third in media violence is the manner in which it is depicted. He believes that the media does not show the purpose of the horror of violence, but rather the media portrays it as an exciting, pleasurable and effective way to handle problems. The fourth problem with media violence is Hollywood’s infatuation with guns, in which I quote, “Why should we be surprised to discover that kids want a gun? If Hollywood stopped glorifying possession and use of handguns, there would be fewer crimes committed by youth with handguns.” Peters wants us to know that whatever minor flaws there may be in enforcement of gun laws permitting crazy people to buy them, the real problem is that our media is saturated with violence. Although Peters’ tries to make valid points about the corruption of youth through media violence, he misses many opportunities to use prime examples as if he hasn’t done much research into the subject himself. I believe that his arguments are ineffective due to his lack of statistical evidence, such as crime rates statistics, to support his statements.…
- 367 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Everyone is influenced and shaped by society. Society affects our perceptions, our consciousness, and our actions. A majority of the influence, especially on the younger demographic comes through the media; specifically through television. It is important to examine how violence in the media develops a pervasive cultural environment that cultivates a heightened state of insecurity, exaggerated perceptions of risk and danger, and a fear-driven propensity for hard-line political solutions to social problems. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the impact of television and media violence, as well as the human cost of violent media, and the overall effects on society from watching TV.…
- 1027 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
A.“Claims that TV causes violence bear little relation to real behavior.”(Stop Blaming Kids and TV). Almost every kids watch violent media, but the teens murder rate is different between coutries and color.…
- 339 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
After reading the article on Image busters by Todd Gitlin you will see that the author provided the best argument. The Authors purpose in this article was made clear and supported by the evidence. The author’s purpose was to educate the reader on the severity of who is to blame for the amount of violence in society today and is it to blame on television. TV is being called a “major determinant” regarding media violence. The author is matter of fact and provides support in the majority of his statements. The premises of this article are on if television contributes to the violence in our society today.…
- 798 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
How Does Television Violence Affect Children's Behavior Does television promote violence and crime among children? Although most people look at television as an entertaining and educational way to spend time, some people think there is too much violence in television and that is influencing our young into becoming aggressive in nature and to tolerate violence.…
- 549 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Therefore, the media should reduce the amount of violence that is in children television shows. Rethinking the plots and making shows more educational but fun at the same would leave a more positive affect on the young children watching. The violent media displayed to kids can influence the decisions they make in everyday life. According to the American Psychological Association, “Violent programs on television lead to aggressive behavior by children teens who watch these programs”(APA,249). In other words, the American Psychological Association believes that these violent programs have a high influence on children and young teens. These aggressive behaviors exhibited by young children can cause bodily harm and also emotional harm for children. Once a child develops a pattern of aggressive behavior caused by TV Violence, it is a very process to reverse or get rid of this…
- 1550 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
Violence in television shows has always been a controversial subject. There are many people in today’s society that are fighting for stricter programming that would not expose young viewers to material that activists believe to be harmful to a child’s development. In “TV Isn’t Violent Enough” author Mike Oppenheim takes an unusual stance on the subject. In fact, Oppenheim goes so far as to state that “the problem with TV violence is: It’s not violent enough.” This is a powerful statement, which Oppenheim backs up using his medical background stating, “As a teenager with a budding interest in medicine, I knew this was nonsense…” (Oppenheim 137). The author infers that the unrealistic portrayal of violence on many TV shows fails to show how truly gruesome violence is, which may lead children to believe that acts of violence are not that big of a deal. While Oppenheim’s argument makes sense logically, it does not make sense ethically.…
- 777 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
More than 1,000 studies on the effects of television and film violence have been done over the past 40 years and the majority of these studies have the same conclusion: television and film violence leads to real-world violence (United States 2). The average 7th grader watches about 4 hours of television per day, and 60% of those shows containg some violence (United States 4). A prime source of these violent images is TV news, which happens to be America 's number one sourse of news and information (Steyer 73). Most local television newscasts are dominated by killings, assaults, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, and other stories designed to provoke a strong emotional reaction from viewers (Steyer 73). In the recent years, Hollywood 's growing taste for grotesque, graphic fare has upped the stakes, from Friday the 13th to Creepshaw and Scream (Steyer 73). Even though these movies are not meant for small kids, it is a fact that young children are often regularly exposed to them in the company of unthinking par-…
- 1483 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
We do not have to watch television for very long to realize that violence is a common theme on a variety of shows. It can be found almost everywhere, including daytime talk shows and so-called sports entertainment programs. These programs may be defined as entertainment but they do more harm than good when we consider the effects that watching violent programming has on viewers. When we observe how these programs can influence behavior, especially among younger viewers, we should seriously consider setting standards for violence on television.…
- 1174 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Television and movies are a major part of our everyday lives. Many of these movies and tv shows are influenced by real life situations giving them a natural and major influence on our behavior. There has always been study as to whether violence in movies and tv shows causes violent behavior in the younger generation. This has been shown by individuals in some U.S. schools violently imitating things they have seen in movies and shows. Research will also show that this violent behavior amongst the younger generation is increasing because of the influence of tv. The reason that television shows and movies influence us is that we try to associate with what we see. We try to find similarities between the characters and ourselves. Much of what we learn and associate with comes from documentaries. Some of the more popular documentaries are true crime mysteries. Along with these are documentaries about gang life and drugs. For the most part, these shows are meant to be educational in the matter of safety and the hope of teaching the population to make better decisions. Many tv shows such as CSI, Law and Order, Bones, and some others are meant for entertainment purposes. They are fictional dramas that may be based on true events. These true crime dramas have caused many different reactions. For some they are just entertainment and they do not associate anything from the episodes into their daily lives, but for many others, this is not the case. There is now something called the “CSI effect” where the exaggerated portrayal of forensic science on crime dramas actually influences public perception. Jurors are demanding more forensic evidence in criminal trials which actually raises the standard of proof for prosecutors. This turns into a “snowball” effect because as prosecutors demand more forensic evidence, so do…
- 446 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
My topic is based on research in the United States regarding television violence and its impact on juvenile crime. Since the beginning of television broadcasts there have been investigations regarding television violence and its effects on juvenile who watch it.…
- 596 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Television/Media: Theorists are looking at the link between television and the trend of violence. With more violence being shown than ever before on our…
- 1141 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
The past 30 years there has been research on the connection between televised violence and the impact on youth violence. Experimental studies has shown the relationship. Televised violence and the fact that most people have a TV has increased. Most homes…
- 338 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Television viewing is a major activity and influence on children and adolescents. People complain that certain TV shows are having negative effects on their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) both feel that TV does influence the behavior of children as young as one year old. From their studies, the AACAP states, “Children who view shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished, are more likely to imitate what they see” (as cited in Wilcox, 2004) This speaks to the impressionable mindsets of young children, who are still learning control of their minds and bodies, and are likely to mimic what they see, as it seems quite normal to them. Everything that children see or hear in the media early on in their lives affects them in some way. Violence, sexuality, race and gender stereotypes, drug and alcohol abuse are common themes of television programs. The Academy of Pediatrics says “More than one thousand scientific studies and reviews conclude that significant exposure to media violence increases the risk of aggressive behavior…
- 1359 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays