The American Medical Association (AMA) told a congressional field hearing today that the time is long past due for the entertainment industry to recognize its adverse contribution to the epidemic of violence in our society, and that it should exercise greater responsibility in its programming content.
"The AMA has been increasingly concerned that exposure to violence in media is a significant risk to the physical and mental health of children and adolescents," AMA Trustee Ronald M. Davis, MD said when addressing the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. "America's young people are being exposed to ever-increasing levels of media violence, and such violence has become increasingly graphic."
Physicians, particularly those who treat children, are only too aware of the pervasive effects of violent content in television programs, movies, music videos, and computer and video games. An extensive body of research concludes that exposure to media violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior, particularly in children.
While duration, intensity and extent of the impact may vary, children exhibit several measurable negative effects when exposed to "entertainment" violence.