Violence in the media a serious threat to public health

According to a new study from the U.S., the violence depicted on television, in films and video games threatens the safety of the public because it increases the aggressive behavior of the viewers.

The researchers from the University of Michigan, reached this conclusion after reviewing more than 50 years of research on the impact of violence in the media.

Researchers L. Rowell Huesmann and Brad Bushman say exposure to violent electronic media has a larger effect than all but one other well known threat to public health and that is the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer.

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death and is linked to lung cancer and other serious illnesses.

Huesmann says many children spend an average of three hours watching television each day and more than 60 percent of TV programs contain some violence, 40 percent show extreme violence.

Video game units are now present in 83 percent of homes with children and who are also spending large amounts of time playing video games, most of which contain violence.

The findings support earlier research which also showed that children who watch violent television shows and who identify with the characters are more likely to be aggressive as adults and this is true for both men and women.

Huesmann says the research shows quite clearly that exposure to virtual violence increases the risk that both children and adults will behave aggressively and could have a particularly detrimental effect on the well-being of youngsters.

The researchers say though not every child exposed to violence in the media will become aggressive, parents and society need to exercise greater control on what children are exposed to in films, video games and television programs.

They say media violence significantly increases the risk that both children and adults will behave aggressively.

The research is published in a special issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.