MEDIA AND TERRORISM (FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD, 1978, BY MARIUS LIVINGSTON - SEE NCJ-52737)

• NCJ Number: 52751
• Author(s): H L MOSSE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Greenwood Publishing Group
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN VIOLENCE CONDITIONING AND TERRORISM IS EXPLORED.

Abstract

THE BASIS FOR TERRORISM IS HUMAN VIOLENCE. AN ACT OF TERROR CONSISTS OF KILLING PEOPLE OR THREATENING TO KILL THEM. BECAUSE CHILDREN OFTEN SPEND MORE TIME IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION THAN IN SCHOOL, THEY ABSORB A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PICTORIAL VIOLENCE. VIOLENCE HAS BEEN GLORIFIED IN BOTH COMIC BOOKS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS. WHILE TELEVISION EXPOSES CHILDREN TO VIOLENCE, IT IS STILL POTENTIALLY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ANTIVIOLENCE DEVICE. IT MAKES COMMUNICATION NEVER BEFORE POSSIBLE BETWEEN SOCIETIES. CHILDREN CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXCESSIVE VIEWING OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR ON TELEVISON DOES TO THEM AND HOW IT CHANGES THEIR FANTASIES, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOR. TERROR IN SCHOOLS IS RELATED TO VIOLENT AND CRIME-ORIENTED TELEVISION SHOWS, MOVIES, AND COMIC BOOKS. ONE OF THE MOST PERNICIOUS OF A VIOLENCE-FOSTERING ATTITUDES IS RACE HATRED. TELEVISION AND FILMS HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON EMOTIONS; THEY APPEAL TO EMOTIONS RATHER THAN TO THE INTELLECT AS READING DOES. MASS MEDIA, AS ONE SOCIAL FORCE, SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AND TERROR. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)