Negative Effects of Media on Children and Youth’ Socialization Process: A Study on Violent and Aggressive Behaviors

Abstract

This article addresses theories and studies related to the effect of media violence on aggressive behaviors in the children and adults. According to social learning theory, people can learn aggression by observing and imitating violence on the mass media. Observational learning contribute to both the short- and the long-term effects of media violence on aggressive behaviors in the children. Children make inferences from repeatedly observing the violent behaviors and they can develop schemas about a hostile world and normative beliefs that more approving of aggression. The experimental studies indicated that the children who watched the violent film exhibited physical, verbal and indirect aggression. The longitudinal studies found significant correlations between frequent viewing to violence on the media in childhood and physical, verbal and indirect aggression during young adulthood for both men and women later in life. Often exposure to violent on television during childhood can promote aggression in later childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.