New Study: T.V., Video Games and Violence

Jan. 15, 2001-- Limiting children's exposure to television and video games apparently decreased their aggressive behavior.

At least that's what researchers claim after designing a special study for third and fourth graders. Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports this latest research only continues fueling the fire.

More Info Details of Study Link to Study Violent Children: Where Do We Point The Finger of Blame? Natl Health Assoc's Link Media to Child Violence ABCNews.Com Links TV & Children: Answers To Questions National Association of Broadcasters- Click TV & Children Center For Media Literacy Children, Media & Violence Resources from U of Oregon Psychology’s Quixotic Quest For the Media-Violence Connection

In this latest study researchers picked third and fourth graders to see what would happen if you pulled them away from on-air violence for a while.

The study somewhat mimicked what has already happened in some pre-schools, like one where kids were restricted in what they could watch or play.

ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "STUDENTS WERE GIVEN AN ELECTRONIC TELEVISION TIME MANAGER FOR USE AT HOME. THEN THEY WENT THROUGH A SIX-MONTH CLASS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THEIR EXPOSURE TO TV, VIDEOTAPES AND VIDEO GAMES."

At the end of the study, researchers observed a significant drop in both physical and verbal aggression at home - and on the playground.

DANIEL CHRISTENSEN, M.D., PSYCHIATRIST-CONSULTANT, U OF U: "CHILDREN LEARN. AND IT'S MY BELIEF THAT EXPOSURE TO A DIET OF VIOLENCE DESENSITIZES AND MAKES THEM MORE PRONE THEMSELVES TO ACT IN THESE OUTRAGEOUS WAYS."

Many professionals, like University of Utah psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Christensen, say the media does have a profound impact on kids. But even with this latest study, most are cautious about focusing blame.

DANIEL CHRISTENSEN: "WE SEE VULNERABILITY ALONG A SPECTRUM. THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO MANY THINGS. IT TAKES JUST A LITTLE PINCH OF SOMETHING TO KICK EM OVER THE EDGE. AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE HARDLY VULNERABLE AT ALL."

In a sidebar editorial published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, psychologist James Garbarino says "TV, video games, movies, guns, child maltreatment, unresponsive schools, lousy mental services, spiritual emptiness, drugs, and economic problems all play a role. Is there anyone among us without responsibility?"

The study cited one stat, estimating that by age 18, children in the United States have witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television.

Details of Study

• Setting: Two sociodemographically and scholastically matched public elementary schools in San Jose, Calif.

• Participants: Third- and fourth-grade students (mean age, 8.9 years) and their parents or guardians.

• Children in one elementary school received an 18-lesson, 6-month classroom curriculum to reduce television, videotape, and video game use.

• Children in the above mentioned intervention group had statistically significant decreases in peer ratings of aggression and observed verbal aggression.

• Differences in observed physical aggression, parent reports of aggressive behavior, and perceptions of a mean and scary world were not statistically significant but favored the intervention group.