Do violent films, video games,tv influence children?

Yes and no. This easily goes into the nature versus nurture argument.

One thing rarely has such an influence on a person that it changes their behavior. However being exposed to the constant awareness of violence can numb some individuals to it. Other factors have to be taken into consideration as well, the personality of the child, their nature, how impressionable they are, the support they receive from others. It all makes a difference.

If we look at cartoons specifically, even in their infancy they were violent. Perhaps not as graphic or realistic as today, but still violent. So to say these things themselves are causing the influence is unfair.

Take a child who is known to smash his toys, be defiant in general, and in a neglectful, even abusive home. Throw in an endless array of violent films, shows, music, and video games, without any good interaction with people to develop social skills, and it is like you are rearing that child to be "bad". Certainly these and other factors statistically show that child is more prone to become violent himself. It does happen. Now that doesn't mean they will be violent though, if they are strong willed they may see the harm in such ways and choose to "rise above it".

I think kids can enjoy these things and develop good behavior as long as they are kept in check. As long as we help them understand the damage violence causes, the effects of causing harm upon others, as well as the consequences, and such activities (like violent video games/movies/etc.) are limited or mixed with positive outlets. Combined with other activities like sports, introduction to arts, science, and good social outlets, along with a positive adult close to them, guiding them through "right and wrong", then the tendency to become more violent is diminished though exposed to the sources. Of course that doesn't mean such careful upbringing assures a violent free person, either.

Long winded, I'm sorry. But my point being, do these things influence children? Certainly, some more than others. Do they make them more prone to violence? It's possible, especially in consideration of many other factors, but not definite.

Parent and grandparent, the concern I have is that children seeing violent films become desensitised to the violence and accept that violence is part of acceptable behaviour. I never believed this, I grew up early TV, played Cowboys and Indians etc it was considered normal, enter TV I always thought of myself as unaffected until 9/11 that night I was watching a movie on TV the film finished and I was channel surfing when I came across the visuals of the planes going into the towers and as I watched wondering what "film"this was I saw the word Live in the corner and I felt sick in that moment I realized how my own perspective had been desensitised as an adult I was shocked to the core and began to realise the impact violent films has on the average person. Since then I have had a new awareness, children and especially girls have become more violent and aggressive. Incidents of arrests have increased, people are becoming more selfish and egotistical I know we can't all blame violent movies, tv shows and games however I feel they play a large part in influencing the way people respond to things that happen, kids get bullied at school in the US and it's an automatic reach for a gun to remove the bullies, it sad and worrying when people feel it's OK to react to things with violence. Kids feel they have the right to do what they want when they want these days and this includes being violent as a ways and means to get what they desire.... films play a large part as these are the visual text generation.... monkey see monkey do!

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no - i like collecting old books, and you sould read some of the children's stories of 150 years ago!

however, i don't play gta in front of my 4 year old, nor do i let her watch saw films - the rating is there for a reason - bad parents won't pay any attention to that.

violence is relative - i don't have any objections to my little girl or my neices playing pirates or space heros with swords etc, i'd much rather they play then watch high school musical or other similar childrens programmes (too much sex and pressure to act big if you ask me!)

gaming is a form of play, as is making dens and fortresses - we should let them be children

oh yeah, i think it levels out the line between right and wrong. Notice how movie ratings (U, PG12, X) have become lax over the years. Younger children get to see more violent behaviour more early on in their lives, possibly before they're old enough to really grasp what is right and wrong. If they weren't exposed to it so early on, it wouldn't be such normal behaviour to them, and they wouldn't fall into that sort of life.

After six decades of watching the games children play, and how they play them, change according to whatever is popular on television, in the movies, and now in video games, I would have to say DEFINITELY YES. They copy these things.

not at all i had mortal kombat as a kid and watched far to many violent films , I'm married with kids and a Social care worker ,if kids weren't playing video games they would be down the park with sticks playing sword fighting or turning them into guns !!!!!

Of course they do, and in a very bad way. They instill into the minds of children the concept that violence is fun.

i watch violent film and play video game but it hasn't influenced me, its just an excuse

well...little kids like at the age of 7 may folow stuff from the games...bu older they no wats wrong and right so theyr not stupid enoguh to go and kill sum1 with a gun like they do in the game San Andreas!