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Violence The level of violence in
popular media is both hard to miss and easy to ignore. Studies have shown
excessive exposure can result in:
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Increased anti-social
behavior and aggression
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Violence desensitization and
lower levels of empathy toward others
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Increased levels of fear due to
perceiving the world as violent
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Acceptance of violence as a way
of settling conflict
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Higher tolerance
and threshold of violence leading to a desire to experience more
violence in both video games and real life
While these facts have
been known for some time, more violent media gets produced and marketed
every day. Video games have taken center stage as an especially powerful
and violent influence. Players actively engage in maiming, killing, and
raping victims in an effort for a high score or to "win" the game.
In local newscasts, too
much emphasis is placed on fatality car wrecks and violent crimes.
Some stations require for the auto accidents to involve death before
airing the incident. The more brutal the act of violence, the higher
the ranking in their news.
Parents are encouraged to
ask themselves what influence violent media is having on their kids. |
