As a humanist, I support this statement:
Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children
Congressional Public Health Summit, July 26, 2000
Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children
Congressional Public Health Summit, July 26, 2000
2009 © International Institute of Anthropology, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
2009 © Lolita Nikolova, PhD
Created: 06-03-09
2009 © Lolita Nikolova, PhD
Created: 06-03-09
We, the undersigned, represent the public health community. As with any
community there exists a diversity of viewpoints - but with many matters, there is
also consensus. Although a wide variety of viewpoints on the import and impact of
entertainment violence on children may exist outside the public health community,
within it, there is a strong consensus on many of the effects on children's health,
well-being and development.
Television, movies, music, and interactive games are powerful learning tools, and
highly influential media. The average American child spends as much as 28 hours
a week watching television, and typically at least an hour a day playing video
games or surfing the Internet. Several more hours each week are spent watching
movies and videos, and listening to music. These media can, and often are, used
to instruct, encourage, and even inspire. But when these entertainment media
showcase violence - and particularly in a context which glamorizes or trivializes it -
the lessons learned can be destructive.
There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent
programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection
between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young
people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy.
Unfortunately, they are wrong on both counts.
At this time, well over 1000 studies - including reports from the Surgeon General's
office, the National Institute of Mental Health, and numerous studies conducted by
leading figures within our medical and public health organizations - our own
members - point overwhelmingly to a causal connection between media violence
and aggressive behavior in some children. The conclusion of the public health
community, based on over 30 years of research, is that viewing entertainment
violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior,
particularly in children.
Its effects are measurable and long-lasting. Moreover, prolonged viewing of media
violence can lead to emotional desensitization toward violence in real life.
The effect of entertainment violence on children is complex and variable. Some
children will be affected more than others. But while duration, intensity, and extent
of the impact may vary, there are several measurable negative effects of children's
exposure to violent entertainment. These effects take several forms.
* Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective
way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume
that acts of violence are acceptable behavior.
* Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real
life. It can decrease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim
when violence occurs.
* Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean
place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a
resultant increase in self-protective behaviors and a mistrust of others.
* Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent
programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive
behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed.
Although less research has been done on the impact of violent interactive
entertainment (video games and other interactive media) on young people,
preliminary studies indicate that the negative impact may be significantly more
severe than that wrought by television, movies, or music. More study is needed in
this area, and we urge that resources and attention be directed to this field,
We in no way mean to imply that entertainment violence is the sole, or even
necessarily the most important factor contributing to youth aggression, anti-social
attitudes, and violence. Family breakdown, peer influences, the availability of
weapons, and numerous other factors may all contribute to these problems. Nor
are we advocating restrictions on creative activity. The purpose of this document is
descriptive, not prescriptive: we seek to lay out a clear picture of the pathological
effects of entertainment violence. But we do hope that by articulating and releasing
the consensus of the public health community, we may encourage greater public
and parental awareness of the harms of violent entertainment, and encourage a
more honest dialogue about what can be done to enhance the health and
well-being of America's children.
Donald E. Cook, MD
President
American Academy of Pediatrics
Clarice Kestenbaum, MD
President
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
L. Michael Honaker, PhD.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
American Psychological Association
Dr. E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr. MD
Executive Vice President
American Medical Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Psychiatric Association
CONTACTS:
American Academy of Pediatrics
601 13th Street NW Suite 400 North
Contact: Marjorie Tharp
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE - fifth floor
Contact: Jeff McIntyre or Bill Horvath
American Medical Association
1101 Vermont Avenue 12th floor
Contact: Margaret Garikes or Pam Korland or Dianna Perry
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Contact: Nuala Moore
LINKS:
Federal Trade Commission
Media Violence Testimony (from AAP Past President, Donald E. Cook)
community there exists a diversity of viewpoints - but with many matters, there is
also consensus. Although a wide variety of viewpoints on the import and impact of
entertainment violence on children may exist outside the public health community,
within it, there is a strong consensus on many of the effects on children's health,
well-being and development.
Television, movies, music, and interactive games are powerful learning tools, and
highly influential media. The average American child spends as much as 28 hours
a week watching television, and typically at least an hour a day playing video
games or surfing the Internet. Several more hours each week are spent watching
movies and videos, and listening to music. These media can, and often are, used
to instruct, encourage, and even inspire. But when these entertainment media
showcase violence - and particularly in a context which glamorizes or trivializes it -
the lessons learned can be destructive.
There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent
programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection
between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young
people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy.
Unfortunately, they are wrong on both counts.
At this time, well over 1000 studies - including reports from the Surgeon General's
office, the National Institute of Mental Health, and numerous studies conducted by
leading figures within our medical and public health organizations - our own
members - point overwhelmingly to a causal connection between media violence
and aggressive behavior in some children. The conclusion of the public health
community, based on over 30 years of research, is that viewing entertainment
violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior,
particularly in children.
Its effects are measurable and long-lasting. Moreover, prolonged viewing of media
violence can lead to emotional desensitization toward violence in real life.
The effect of entertainment violence on children is complex and variable. Some
children will be affected more than others. But while duration, intensity, and extent
of the impact may vary, there are several measurable negative effects of children's
exposure to violent entertainment. These effects take several forms.
* Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective
way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume
that acts of violence are acceptable behavior.
* Viewing violence can lead to emotional desensitization towards violence in real
life. It can decrease the likelihood that one will take action on behalf of a victim
when violence occurs.
* Entertainment violence feeds a perception that the world is a violent and mean
place. Viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a
resultant increase in self-protective behaviors and a mistrust of others.
* Viewing violence may lead to real life violence. Children exposed to violent
programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive
behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed.
Although less research has been done on the impact of violent interactive
entertainment (video games and other interactive media) on young people,
preliminary studies indicate that the negative impact may be significantly more
severe than that wrought by television, movies, or music. More study is needed in
this area, and we urge that resources and attention be directed to this field,
We in no way mean to imply that entertainment violence is the sole, or even
necessarily the most important factor contributing to youth aggression, anti-social
attitudes, and violence. Family breakdown, peer influences, the availability of
weapons, and numerous other factors may all contribute to these problems. Nor
are we advocating restrictions on creative activity. The purpose of this document is
descriptive, not prescriptive: we seek to lay out a clear picture of the pathological
effects of entertainment violence. But we do hope that by articulating and releasing
the consensus of the public health community, we may encourage greater public
and parental awareness of the harms of violent entertainment, and encourage a
more honest dialogue about what can be done to enhance the health and
well-being of America's children.
Donald E. Cook, MD
President
American Academy of Pediatrics
Clarice Kestenbaum, MD
President
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
L. Michael Honaker, PhD.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
American Psychological Association
Dr. E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr. MD
Executive Vice President
American Medical Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Psychiatric Association
CONTACTS:
American Academy of Pediatrics
601 13th Street NW Suite 400 North
Contact: Marjorie Tharp
American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE - fifth floor
Contact: Jeff McIntyre or Bill Horvath
American Medical Association
1101 Vermont Avenue 12th floor
Contact: Margaret Garikes or Pam Korland or Dianna Perry
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Contact: Nuala Moore
LINKS:
Federal Trade Commission
Media Violence Testimony (from AAP Past President, Donald E. Cook)
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| Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children Congressional Public Health Summit July 26, 2000 republished from http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/jstmtevc.htm |