NCJ Number
57889
Journal
Canadian Police Chief Volume: 68 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 18-20,34
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
IF TELEVISION WERE REALLY A CAUSE OF VIOLENCE, EVERYONE IN CANADA WOULD BE A CRIMINAL. STUDIES WHICH 'PROVE' AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TV AND VIOLENCE HAVE SERIOUS METHODOLOGICAL DEFECTS AND MAKE TV A SCAPEGOAT.
Abstract
IN THE 'GOOD OLD DAYS' CHILDREN WERE CONTINUALLY EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE IN THE FORM OF BIBLE STORIES, BLOODY HERO TALES, AND FAIRY TALES. TODAY'S CHILD GETS THE SAME FARE ON TELEVISION. A NOVEMBER 1977 STUDY FOR THE GREATER MONTREAL, CANADA, AREA FOUND THAT, BETWEEN 6:30 AND 7:30 P.M., 26 PERCENT OF CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 11 WERE WATCHING ONE OF 2 NETWORKS; BY 10:30 P.M., 16.5 PERCENT OF THESE YOUNGSTERS WERE STILL WATCHING, JOINED BY 38 PERCENT OF THE ADOLESCENT GROUP; BY 1:00 A.M., NEARLY 4 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN AND 10 PERCENT OF THE ADOLESCENTS WERE STILL WATCHING. IT WOULD BE NO SURPRISE IF THESE FATIGUED CHILDREN SHOWED AGGRESSIVE AND EVEN PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR THE NEXT DAY. THE MAJOR STUDIES RELATING AGGRESSION ON TELEVISION TO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT CHILDREN CAN LEARN NEW METHODS OF VIOLENCE FROM TV BUT DO NOT SHOW THAT TV PREDISPOSES A CHILD TO VIOLENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF TV VIOLENCE WERE AS GREAT A PROBLEM AS CLAIMED, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS WOULD BE OVERFLOWING WITH THE RESULTING PATHOLOGIES. INSTEAD, TV VIOLENCE IS BECOMING A SCAPEGOAT FOR SUCH DIFFICULT VARIABLES AS POVERTY, DISCRIMINATION, BROKEN HOMES, AND QUESTIONABLE POLICE ACTIVITY. TELEVISION-LEARNED VIOLENCE IS ALSO BECOMING A WIDELY-PUBLICIZED LEGAL DEFENSE. THE VALIDITY OF THIS IS CRITIQUED. (GLR)