MEDIA VIOLENCE - A CONTRIBUTOR TO MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR?

• NCJ Number: 69129
• Author(s): V MACY; D O'BRIEN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 0 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; National District Atorneys Assoc
• Sale Source: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. THIS PROGRAM IS SIDE FIVE OF THE CASSETTE. FOR SIDE SIX SEE NCJ - 69130. RUNNING TIME IS 29 MINUTES.

Annotation

THIS CASSETTE TAPE PRESENTS THE VIEWPOINTS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) PRESIDENT AND A TELEVISION NETWORK EXECUTIVE ON TELEVISION VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECTS ON CHILDREN.

Abstract

THE PRESENTATIONS WERE RECORDED AT THE FIFTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE AND WERE EDITED FOR OPTIMAL LISTENING. THE CONFERENCE WAS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES AND THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS, EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND OTHERS. THE CALIFORNIA PTA PRESIDENT DISCUSSED FINDINGS FROM NATIONAL HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL PTA. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT EXCESSIVE TELEVISION VIOLENCE CAUSES AN INCREASE IN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, AND THAT SOME CHILDREN ACT OUT WHAT THEY SEE ON TELEVISION. TELEVISION ALSO GLORIFIES VIOLENCE, BUT GIVES LITTLE ATTENTION TO ITS AFTERFFECTS. WATCHING TELEVISION ALSO PRECLUDES OPTIMUM DEVELOPMENT OF MOTOR SKILLS AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO DYSLEXIA. THE PTA DOES NOT WANT ELIMINATION OF ALL VIOLENCE, BUT WANTS A VIOLENCE, BUT WANTS A VARIETY OF REALISTIC PROGRAMMING. THE PTA HAS A WIDESPREAD TELEVISION MONITORING EFFORT. ASKING PARENTS OR CARETAKERS TO TURN OFF THE TELEVISION SET IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO TELEVISION VIOLENCE, BECAUSE MANY CARETAKERS DO NOT EXERCISE PROPER GUIDANCE. THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM EXECUTIVE STATED THAT EVERY PROGRAM IS MONITORED BY THE PROGRAM PRACTICES STAFF FOR TASTE, LANGUAGE, AND OTHER FACTORS THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCTION PROCESS. FURTHER RESEARCH ON WHETHER OR NOT MEDIA VIOLENCE CAUSES SOCIAL VIOLENCE IS NEEDED. THE NETWORK IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC FOCUS ON TELEVISION VIOLENCE BECAUSE OTHER CAUSES OF VIOLENCE ARE BEING OVERLOOKED AND BECAUSE FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS ARE AFFECTED. FOR RELATED CASSETTES, SEE NCJ 69125-28, 69130, AND 72652.