Media violence can’t be avoided in today’s society, thanks to video games, films and music, according to a study by UNM professor of pediatrics Victor Strasburger.
Strasburger’s study found that media violence has led to an increase in adolescent aggression. The study also claims that television, movies and music videos normalize weapon use and make violence seem glamorous.
“Violence is more prevalent in the internet age, and there has been a surge in media in television and movies in the last few decades,” Strasburger said. “Take the violence shown in the James Bond movie ‘From Russia with Love’ in the 60s, and compare it to movies like ‘Inglourious Basterds’ which is rated ‘R.’ A couple of decades ago, it would have been ‘NC-17.’”
According to the study, continuous exposure to violence increases acceptance of using violence to solve problems, and children are being exposed to much of this violence in rap music.
“Also, with today’s music becoming increasingly violent, especially rap music, the issue raised is whether or not it is okay for younger teens to listen to the music,” the report stated. “Not all rap songs are degrading and violent, but these songs that are okay are drowned out by the ones that center around violence and gives the genre a bad reputation.”
According to Strasburger’s study, people who have to act violent in video games may be more violent in the real world.
Junior Jessica Marshall said media violence is to blame for many of society’s problems.
“I feel like media violence in games and television desensitizes us to the truth of how horrible violence really is and the effects it has on other people,” Marshall said. “It glamorizes criminal behavior and encourages the idea of the police being the ‘bad guys.’”
Christopher Holden, an honors professor, is teaching a class titled “Games, Learning and Society” this semester. He said parenting has more of an impact on a child’s violent nature than video games do.
“Good parenting strategy should always be in place when it comes to video games and children acting on the aggressions they see,” Holden said. “Good parenting means not raising violent kids. Any parent should be involved and care about what their kids are doing.”
Sophomore Kayla Lopez said censoring the media may not do anything to prevent violence in our society.
“I think to an extent it all makes an impression, but, in the end, we should know the difference between right and wrong,” Lopez said. “It’s up to your family and friends to help mold you into a good person, not necessarily the violence you see in the media.”
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Marshall said American culture is changing, which means parents should monitor what their children are exposed to. Programmers also need to consider what they are putting out into the world, she said, and it shouldn’t be only the parent’s responsibility to protect their kids.
“Parents can’t beat the media, so we should all work together to make it easier for kids to understand that fiction is not reality — it’s not okay for kids to act out what they see,” Marshall said.
