NCJ Number
55457
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF TELEVISION IN PROMULGATING ATTITUDES WHICH LEAD TO VIOLENCE IS EXAMINED. THE PROSOCIAL BENEFIT OF TELEVISION IS SEEN AS SUBVERTED TO COMMERCIAL INTERESTS WHICH TRY TO JUSTIFY THE STATUS QUO.
Abstract
TELEVISION AS IT EXISTS IN CANADA IS SEEN AS PROMOTING VIOLENCE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. IT INCREASES FRUSTRATION BY DOWNGRADING ORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUGGESTING THAT A GLAMOROUS LIFESTYLE IS IMPERATIVE IF ONE IS TO 'MEASURE UP.' IT ALSO INCREASES ALIENATION THROUGH NEGATIVE NEWS REPORTS AND FICTION THAT STIMULATES HOSTILE FEELINGS BETWEEN GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. TELEVISION GLORIFIES THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY AND PRESENTS VIOLENCE AS AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS. IT ALSO REINFORCES COMPULSIVE MASCULINITY AND MALE AGGRESSION STEREOTYPES, PARTICULARLY THROUGH ITS CONSISTENT PORTRAYAL OF AGGRESSION AS A MASCULINE VALUE. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT EXPOSURE TO TELEVISION AND FILM VIOLENCE STIMULATES AGGRESSION IN A SIGNIFICANT MINORITY OF THOSE EXPOSED. TELEVISION ALSO TEACHES SPECIFIC CRIMINAL TECHNIQUES AND SETS VIOLENCE NORMS. IT IS ALSO CHARGED WITH INCREASING INTRAFAMILY ABUSE BY FAVORABLY PORTRAYING SARCASM AND VERBAL ABUSE AND REINFORCING BIASES, PREJUDICES, AND NEGATIVE VIEWS OF FAMILY LIFE. TELEVISION PROGRAMS ALSO TEACH PATTERNS OF PROVOCATION WHICH LEAD TO VIOLENCE BUT RARELY TEACH TECHNIQUES FOR DIFFUSING EXPLOSIVE ISSUES AND INTERACTIONS. THE EFFECTS OF TELEVISION ARE MODIFIED BY THE PERSONALITY OF THE VIEWER, BUT THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY FOUND THAT THOSE PREDISPOSED TO VIOLENCE WERE REINFORCED BY TELEVISION. THE POTENTIAL FOR GOOD OFFERED BY THE MEDIUM IS SURVEYED. USE OF CABLE TELEVISION AND A LESSENING OF RELIANCE ON THE UNITED STATES' COMMERCIAL MODEL IN CANADA ARE BOTH URGED. EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)