REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY, V 5 - LEARNING FROM THE MEDIA CANADA

• NCJ Number: 45865
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 328 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Royal Cmssn on Violence of the Communications Industry
• Sale Source: Ontario Government Book Store
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: VOLUME FIVE OF SEVEN

Annotation

THE EFFECTS OF TELEVISION (TV) WATCHING ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS IS EXAMINED THROUGH BOTH LITERATURE SEARCHES AND SPECIAL STUDIES CONDUCTED BY CANADIAN RESEARCHERS.

Abstract

IN THIS FIFTH VOLUME IN A SERIES OF SEVEN, THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY FOCUSES UPON TELEVISION AS AN EDUCATIONAL MEDIUM AND SPECIFICALLY UPON WHAT TELEVISION TEACHES ABOUT VIOLENCE. THE INITIAL CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF CARTOON VIOLENCE VERSUS REALISTICALLY PORTRAYED VIOLENCE, THE EFFECT OF VIOLENCE UPON VIEWERS' BELIEFS ABOUT THE REAL WORLD, AND THE ROLE OF TELEVISION IN ACTUAL INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT CHILDREN MAY BE EXCITED BY VIOLENT CARTOONS OR BY FANTASY VIOLENCE, BUT THAT THIS IS READILY DISTINGUISHED FROM REAL LIFE. HOWEVER, REALISTICALLY PORTRAYED VIOLENCE IS UNDISTINGUISHED FROM REALITY. THE GREATEST PROBLEM OF TELEVISED VIOLENCE IS ITS EFFECT UPON YOUNG MEMBERS OF CERTAIN SUBCULTURES WHICH RECOGNIZE VIOLENCE AS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. INCIDENTS ARE COLLECTED IN WHICH YOUNG GANG MEMBERS FROM POOR NEIGHBORHOODS 'ACTED OUT' A CRIME THEY HAD SEEN ON TV. BOTH MOVIES AND TELEVISION TEACH NEW TECHNIQUES TO YOUNG PEOPLE ALREADY INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. POLICE ARE WELL AWARE THAT IF A POPULAR MOVIE SHOWS A NEW METHOD OF STEALING CARS, THIS TECHNIQUE WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD DURING THE NEXT WEEKS AND MONTHS. A SERIES OF STUDIES ON TELEVISION AND YOUTH SPORTS, REACTIONS OF VIEWERS TO CERTAIN TYPES OF TELEVISED MATERIALS AS REFLECTED IN VERBAL REACTIONS AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, AND TELEVISION AND ATTITUDES ARE PRESENTED. QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THESE STUDIES ARE GIVEN. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT VIEWERS' ATTITUDES BEFORE WATCHING TELEVISION STRONGLY INFLUENCE THEIR REACTIONS TO THE VIOLENCE SHOWN: THOSE WHO DISAPPROVE OF VIOLENCE STRONGLY DISAPPROVE OF TELEVISED VIOLENCE. SPORTS VIOLENCE IS IMITATED BY CHILDREN AND SHOULD BE CURBED. WHETHER OR NOT OTHER VIOLENCE EFFECTS VIEWERS HAS NO BEEN DECIDED CONCLUSIVELY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT SHORT-RANGE EFFECTS EXIST. THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE MONITORED. FOR VOLUMES 1-4 AND 6-7, SEE NCJ 45861-45864 AND 45866-45867. (GLR)