AGGRESSION:

1
AGGRESSION

• Children and TV Violence

2
AGGRESSION

• Defined as any action that is intended to hurt
  others

3
Learning to be Aggressive

• Children can learn to be aggressive through
  various ways
• Imitation
• Reinforcement

4
Imitation

• Children have a strong tendency to imitate others
• A child observes other people being aggressive
• Their own aggressive behavior is shaped by what
  he or she observes

5
Reinforcement

• When a particular behavior is rewarded, children
  are more likely to repeat it
• When it is punished, they are less likely to
  repeat it

6
Aggression and Children

• Highly aggressive behavior in a child at any age
  always needs to be taken seriously.
• Not just a phase theyre going through

7
Warning Signs

• Intense anger
• Frequent loss of temper
• Extreme Irritability
• Extreme Impulsiveness
• Frustration

8
CHILDREN TV VIEWING

• Television can be a powerful influence in social
  development, values, and behavior.
• American children watch an average of three to
  four hours of TV daily.
• Childrens TV shows contain 20 violent acts each
  hour.

9
More General Stats

• Preschoolers watch about 28 hours of TV per week
• 57 of TV programs contain psychologically
  harmful violence
• 59 of those who watch an above-average amount of
  violence on TV as kids grow into more aggressive
  behavior

10
Barneys Imagination Island

• Positive Example
• Improves childrens social skills

11
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

• Negative example

12
Resulting Aggressive Characteristics

• Explosive temper tantrums
• Physical aggression
• Fighting
• Threats or attempts to hurt others
• Use of weapons
• Intentional destruction of property

13
Negative TV Effects on Children

• Children become immune to the horror of
  violence.
• They gradually accept violence as a way to solve
  problems.
• Even more enforcement when violence is
  repeated/unpunished
• They identify with certain characters, victims
  and/or victimizers.

14
Negative TV Effects

• Children imitate the violence they observe,
  especially when realistic
• They become more fearful of the world around them
• Even watching one violent show can effect
  behavior negatively
• Children become less sensitive to the pain of
  others

15
Impact on Children

• Children with emotional, behavioral, learning or
  impulse control problems are more easily
  influenced.
• Aggressiveness may be seen immediately in a
  childs behavior, or may surface years later.
• May be affected despite non-violent family
  atmosphere.

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STUDIES

• Violence (Batman) vs. non-violence (Mr. Rogers
  Neighborhood)
• Violent shows led to children more likely to hit
  playmates, argue, disobey rules, leave tasks
  unfinished, and were less willing to wait for
  things

17
STUDIES

• Show long-range effects of televised violence
• Children who watched violent TV in elementary
  school tend to be more aggressive later in life

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What can parents do?

• Pay attention to the programs and watch some with
  their children
• Set time limits
• Point out that violence in reality results in
  pain and death
• Refuse certain shows, turn the channel, with
  explanations why

19
What can parents do?

• Disapprove of violence in front of children
• Contact other parents and agree to enforce
  similar rules on television
• Structure more beneficial activities reading,
  playing with friends, etc.