Literature Review
An examination of today’s social norms reflects significant changes in family lifestyles over previous generations. The American Psychology Association (n.d) reports that “40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce” (“Marriage & Divorce”). This data indicates children’s intimate parents are not staying together anymore. In a relatively short period of time, perceptions about living with one’s parents have changed considerably. In fact, failing to leave the house was “considered a sign of serious slackerdom [sic] 10 years ago, [while] today’s twentysomethings [sic] see living at home not as a sign of failure, but as a financially rational decision” (Prather, 2002). An article written about teen health
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Research indicates that conflict is a problem that surfaces between the teenager and his/her new step-parent. Robin Deutsch (2013) found that teens may feel a step-parent is “part of a disruptive process … rather than being seen as another loving adult, they may be seen as the enemy who is preventing their parents from reuniting.” The conflict can result in poor adolescent behaviour and actions. When researchers analyzed challenges in blended families, they discovered that “children who are reared in nuclear families have the best outcome …they have less substance abuse, lower-out of wedlock birth rates and higher graduation rates” (Hendrick, 2006). Further evidence shows that behaviour changes more negatively in older children than younger children during divorce and remarriage which is due to the fact that an adolescent’s “developmental task [is] to do the separating, to explore their identities…” (Deutsch, 2013). The Family life is essential to all human beings however, for teenagers a lack of stability brought on my blended families can promote an unstable lifestyle and poor decision-making subsequently, resulting in poor state of mind and emotions in the …show more content…
This problem with media can be especially concerning when the media messages are violent and destructive in nature. Studies have been conducted to determine the effects of violence on the minds of teenagers. Research indicates that dopamine—the same biological chemical that is released when people take drugs to induce that happy feeling— is released when teenagers are entertained by violence (Chaney, 2014) In fact, London’s Hammersmith Hospital showed that the level of dopamine doubled in the brains of kids playing video games which release of a pleasurable sensation makes kids increase their desire for more of what makes them happy, this cycle leads to an addiction for more violence (Chaney, 2014). Violent messages mixed with confusing and misleading instructions to take risks, experiment and spend without thinking about the consequences can lead teenagers to adopt the wrong values and eventually make poor
When it comes to the topic of violent media, some of us would readily agree it’s a controversial subject as to whether kids should or shouldn’t be exposed to it. This is because many children who view violent media react negatively rather than not being affected at all. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what effects does it have on children. Whereas some are convinced that it is a healthy alternative for kids to express themselves, others maintain that it causes kids to become more aggressive and contributes to juvenile crimes.
The most distinctive trait of American family life, then the trait that differentiates it from family life in other western countries, is sheer movement: frequent transitions, shorter relationships. Americans step on and off the carousel of intimate partnerships (marriages and cohabiting relationships) more often. Whether an American parent is married or cohabiting or raising children without a partner, she or he is more likely to change living arrangements in the near future than are parents in the rest of the western world. It is consequential and we should be concerned about it, both as parents and as a nation, because it may increase children’s behavioral and emotional problems. Simply pu, some children seem to have difficulty adjusting to a series of parents and parents’ partners moving in and out of their home. It is not just parental divorces and breakups that are hard for children. Even transitions that bring a new partner or stepparent into the home can be difficult to cope with. Children whose parents have remarried do not have higher levels of well-being than children in lone-parent (a parent who is neither married nor living with a partner) families, despite the addition of a second parent. One reason is that new
THESIS STATEMENT: The world’s media today seem to have more violence than ever. Video games have vivid depictions of accident catastrophes, fighting and murder. Television news programs generally lead with a violent story in order to gain an audience. This is free society people can stay what they want. ‘’ Media violence has many negative effect on youth today to commit crimes in society.’’
The main purpose of the article written by Gerald Jones is to change the public perception of violent media for kids. He argues for this by saying violent media can actually have positive effects on young people because a violent media help the young people to gain self-knowledge and sense of potency through heroic combative storytelling. In addition to this, when young people are growing, watching a media action full pool of blood, killing, stabbing, screams of agony and pleas for mercy help them pull out of the emotional trap by plunging themselves into violent story. Jones also believes that violent media are a positive influence on children because pretend to have a superhuman power helps children defeat the feeling of impotent that inescapably
Over the last decade, media has taken over the majority of the world through twenty-four hour coverage, various television shows and movies, and endless advertisements. There is no way to escape the media, especially the younger generations. Because of the constant coverage, some violence may be covered on the news, in video games, or entertainment. Some believe that the violence brainwashes younger generations and causes them to mirror that cruelty. In “Media Violence Does Not Cause Youth Violence,” Karen Sternheimer argues the opposite. Through appeals and strong premises, Sternheimer wrote a sound and valid argument that only has a few minor faults.
The article “Violence As Fun” by Randall Sullivan brings up this issue, arguing that parents need to be educated on the dangers of allowing their children to watch violent TV programs. The author supports this with evidence from a report conducted by The American Psychological Association, where they concluded that early substance abuse, access to weapons, isolation, and widespread display of violence in media; the latter being greater, contributes to the violent behaviors in adolescents. He also points out that since the 1950s, aggravated assaults have increased seven times. The passage further emphasizes that many TV outlets know the damaging effects that violence in media has on juveniles, yet only a few acknowledge this fact. Sullivan’s
In the modern-day world, people are convinced that the Earth is plagued by mass shootings and other acts of violence because of violent media. Children and adolescents being exposed to violent media is deemed, by society, to be detrimental to their mental health. In Gerard Jones’ “Violent Media is Good for Kids,” he vindicates violent media. Exposing children to violent media through video games, comic books, and movies are beneficial to children in Jones’ claim. He believes that violent media creates opportunities for children and teaches children to overcome their fears in order to battle their own subconscious hurdles.
Violent media; a strikingly relevant phenomenon millions are becoming captivated by. It’s everywhere you go, on your phone, the TV or on the computer. As much as people try to avoid it, they soon realize it’s ineluctable. Gerard Jones, a comic-book author, released a brief report, “Violent Media Is Good for Kids” that argued violent media is not only beneficial to children but also inspiring. He goes on to support his claim by sampling his own personal experiences. However, not all forms of violent media are necessarily helpful. Some are more preferable while others can harm them. To an extent, violent media can help children by helping them release built up emotions, learn lessons regarding the real world, as well as create something for themselves.
In “Violence Media is Good for Kids”, Gerald Jones described how violence is not always bad for kids, but can have a positive impact for them. Children learn from violent media how to solve problems in a different way. Violent media shows children that every obstacle they face is not the end of the world. By exploring the pages of violent media and exposing the children to violence it prepared the child for experiences in the future.
In “Violent Media is Good for Kids,” Gerard argues that, violent media is not necessarily harmful to kids, rather very essential and of great importance to them and their future lives.
Violent Media Is Good for Kids Gerard Jones is a man who has lived a life closely tied to violent media, with a successful career in writing comic books and action movies (200). His claims about the effects violent media on children, while fitting for a man with his background, may still come as a surprise to concerned parents. Jones’ article “Violent Media Is Good For Kids” is a successfully thought provoking piece; however, his argument is only marginally effective due to Jones’ failure to properly support his claims with compelling evidence, to clearly define the intentions of his argument, or to fully market himself as a trustworthy voice on the subject. “Violent Media Is Good For Kids” is an exploration into the idea that children need creative violent expression, through entertainment media, for their mental health and wellness (199-203).
In places where violence in the community is not a threat, children are still bathed with violent images at every turn, simply at the click of a button. Now more than ever the media has been flooded with aggressive acts ranging from the punches and kicks of the newest videogame, to the gruesome murders of the last big-screen thriller. It has also been estimated that by the time a child turns 18, he or she will have viewed at least 200,000 acts of violence on television (1). Even if the child has grown up with a solid, emotional and social background, he is still vulnerable to these overwhelming displays of media violence and is often left with a greater tendency towards aggressive and antisocial behavior (1). For those who do experience violence in the household, watching these powerful acts on television serves to reinforce the cultural values they see modeled in their everyday lifestyles (1).
In the book Critique of Violence ,author Walter describes Violence as "The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, male development, or deprivation .The violence that is portrayed in the media has been debated for decades ,and it has rose a question about how does it influence the youth?. From movies to video games society has been accustom to seeing violence in their everyday entertainment. Since children are easy to be influence by their environment, it is safe to say that violence in the media can and will contribute to violent behavior.
As evidence has shown, children view many violent scenes while watching television, movies, or playing video games, but the question still remains: What psychological effect does violence in the media have on children? Research over the past 10 years has consistently shown that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between media violence and real-life aggression (Strasburger 129). Violence in the media can lead to aggressive behavior by children and teenagers who watch the various programs. Of course, not all children who watch television, or movies, or play video games develop aggressive behavior. However, there is a strong correlation between media violence and aggressive behavior. A study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, examined how children's television viewing practices are related to aggressive behaviors. The results revealed that children who reported watching greater amounts of television per day had higher levels of violent behavior than children who reported lesser amounts of television viewing (Singer 1041). Witnessing violence is an important determining factor in violent behavior. The media serves as a means for children to witness violence. According to Bandura's Social Learning Theory, children imitate behavior that they see on television, especially if the person performing the behavior is attractive or if the
In the article “Violent Media is Good for Kids” by Gerald Jones, provides an escape in which kids can rid themselves of their natural aggression from adolescence. According to Jones, children should have unlimited access to such unrestricted entertainment. He also claims undoubtedly that violent media impairs children, rather it helps them express their emotions in non-destructive ways. Violent media gives them this confidence that they can rule the world and without this media, they will grow up easily manipulated, too passive aggressive, and too distrustful of themselves. This paper pursues to give an in-depth analysis of Gerald’s Jones’ allegations, eliciting the truthfulness, or otherwise, of his argument.