Officials Examine The Influence Of Violent Media On Children

Numerous studies have long-debated that violent media can cause aggressive behavior in children. Now, recent findings published in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture reiterate an all too familiar fear.

"Some people claim there is no consensus about whether violent media can increase aggression in children, but this study shows that there is consensus," said Brad Bushman, lead author of the study and professor of communication and psychology at The Ohio State University, in a news release. "As in most areas of research, there is not complete agreement. But we found the overwhelming majority of media researchers, parents and pediatricians agree that violent media is harmful to children."

Findings revealed that roughly 66 percent of researchers, 67 percent of parents and 90 percent of pediatricians agreed or strongly agreed that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior among children.

Furthermore, a majority of the groups also agreed that children's aggressive behavior can be fueled by viewing video games, TV programs, and Internet sites. Yet fewer than half seemed to believe that violent comic books or literature could create the same harmful effects.

"That means that among researchers who have an opinion, eight out of 10 agree that violent games increase aggression," Bushman said. "That's hardly a controversy."

For the study, the researchers surveyed 371 media psychologists and communication scientists from three professional organizations; 92 members of the Council on Communication and Media of the American Academy of Pediatrics; and a nationally representative sample of 268 American parents.

Many pediatricians, parents and researchers also seemed to hold similar views about a casual relationships between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior.

And though violent acts from exposure to violent media are relatively rare, evidence remains clear, according to researchers, that violent media can lead to less-serious forms of aggression which can lead to other exacerbated problems.