Many studies have been done over the years on the effects of media violence on children. I don’t see how anyone can refute the fact that the violence children are exposed to on TV, in movies, video games, cartoons and even music has a negative effect on them. It can cause aggressive behavior, de-sensitivity to violence, and fear.

Let’s face it, violence has always been a part of human nature and always will be, but it does seem to be escalating everywhere we turn. To not be exposed to it, children would have to not watch TV, not go to a movie theatre, not listen to music and not have access to computers or video games. That just isn’t going to happen.

It is estimated that most children will view approximately 200,000 acts of violence on television by the age of 18. A lot of that violence is carried out by the “good guys” in their attempts to capture or kill the “bad guys”. Kids want to emulate their “heroes”. If the good guys can do it, why can’t they?

And then there are the villains whose characters are portrayed as likable. They may be killers, but they actually tug at our heartstrings for whatever reason. So we accept their violence and find ourselves rooting for them to escape or evade capture. Children learn that if the person is likable, maybe the acts of violence aren’t so bad. They learn that some violent behavior is acceptable, when in fact it never is.

Another aspect of the effects of media violence on children is an increase in fear that the world is not a safe place. I don’t know how old I was when I first saw “The Wizard of Oz” but I know I was young. Something in that movie scared me, whether it was the wicked witch or the flying monkeys or whatever, but I was well into my adult years before I could watch it without getting that scared feeling. Just the mention of the movie scared me for many years. The fact I mention it is that I was too young to know exactly what about it scared me so I couldn’t even really deal with it. I didn’t know what was reality and what was pretend.

Many kids watch movies and TV shows that scare them to the point that they have to sleep with a light on, a door open, music playing and they still have nightmares.

Teen-agers love violent and bloody movies. Why is that? Is it just this generation or has it always been that way? I don’t remember there being so many bloody movies when I was a kid. Movies like “Scream”, “Saw”, and “Nightmare on Elm Street” all have sequels because the original movies did so well. And they are all bloody movies. How can they not be affecting the emotional attitude and behavior of the kids who watch them? And the scary thing is that these movies seem to be targeting teen-agers, desensitizing them to the spilling of real blood in real life or death situations.

Studies do show that children become more violent after being exposed to acts of violence and may grow up to be more aggressive individuals, committing violent crimes. It only makes sense. If their formative years are formed with violent behavior seen on TV, acted out between parents, played on video games, listened to in music, then of course they are being formed, molded and groomed to be violent individuals.

Anyone refuting this will have an agenda of their own for whatever reason. Why do studies even need to be done? Even as an adult I have watched certain movies that I have gotten so immersed in that I have felt indestructible afterwards, ready to “take on the world”. I have felt the “come on, make my day” attitude that Clint Eastwood felt. Yet I understand it’s just a movie and I can’t go out and shoot or attack someone without dire consequences. And how much more of an impact do these movies have on young “indestructible” teen-agers – teens who want to escape their own mundane lives and experience the violent adventures they witness on the screen?

I think one reason this theory might be argued against is the overwhelming problem of finding a solution. Violence in our society is not going away. We can’t hide it from the children. We can limit it, but we can’t completely eliminate it.

The fact is – TV and movie cruelty, destruction, assaults, fighting, bloodshed, killing, maiming, etc. DO effect our children in many ways. Some may grow up to be aggressive, violent and controlling adults. It’s unfortunate, but it will always be that way and no amount of studies can change that fact. Unfortunately, no one will ever be completely safe anywhere and self-defense products will always be needed. That is fortunate for those who sell the products. It’s just too bad we live in a world where they are needed.