Does Mass Media Play a Role Causing Our Children to Be Aggressive and Violent?
Does Mass Media Play a Role Causing our Children to be Aggressive and Violent?
Sociology 112
By: Sze Lam (Grace)
Section: 05
For: Prof. Leslie Ehrlich
Date: Nov. 17, 2011
In our society today, mass media plays a big part in our everyday lives and we are bombarded by it constantly. Concentrating on the area of mass media violence and examining the various mediums such as television, movies, and the video game industry. Does the mass media have a lasting effects on causing violence in our children and as well if it plays an influence in causing them to be violent as adults. I will be describing the different theories used by the experts in explaining that the mass media does cause children to be violent. I will present my point of view with my own experiences and observations because I believe it does play a part.
What is Mass Media?
Mass media is any medium designed to communicate messages to a mass audience (Webber & Ravelli, 2010). The main devices used in our society today are the television, satellite radio, Internet, cell phones, and text messaging. Our technology has advanced over the years and mass media today is far more effective in spreading its message globally then ever. Our generations in society today such as the gen-x and gen-y are far too reliant on these devices. I believe that technology has made our daily lives more efficient but at what cost, it has so many harmful ramifications when it is used in a non-constructive way. One incidence that proves how dangerous the mass media can be is the Columbine High School massacre. It was the fourth deadliest school massacre in the United States. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold on April 20th, 1999, went to their school and went on a shooting rampage. Killing 12 students, one teacher, and injuring many others and then committed suicide later on.
Based on analysis and research it is believed that their actions are linked to the desensitization
Sociology 112
By: Sze Lam (Grace)
Section: 05
For: Prof. Leslie Ehrlich
Date: Nov. 17, 2011
In our society today, mass media plays a big part in our everyday lives and we are bombarded by it constantly. Concentrating on the area of mass media violence and examining the various mediums such as television, movies, and the video game industry. Does the mass media have a lasting effects on causing violence in our children and as well if it plays an influence in causing them to be violent as adults. I will be describing the different theories used by the experts in explaining that the mass media does cause children to be violent. I will present my point of view with my own experiences and observations because I believe it does play a part.
What is Mass Media?
Mass media is any medium designed to communicate messages to a mass audience (Webber & Ravelli, 2010). The main devices used in our society today are the television, satellite radio, Internet, cell phones, and text messaging. Our technology has advanced over the years and mass media today is far more effective in spreading its message globally then ever. Our generations in society today such as the gen-x and gen-y are far too reliant on these devices. I believe that technology has made our daily lives more efficient but at what cost, it has so many harmful ramifications when it is used in a non-constructive way. One incidence that proves how dangerous the mass media can be is the Columbine High School massacre. It was the fourth deadliest school massacre in the United States. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold on April 20th, 1999, went to their school and went on a shooting rampage. Killing 12 students, one teacher, and injuring many others and then committed suicide later on.
Based on analysis and research it is believed that their actions are linked to the desensitization
Cited: Anderson, C.A., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, L.R., Johnson, J.D., Linz, D., Malamuth, N.M., and Wartella, E. (2003). The Influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science in the public interest, 4(3), 81-110. Consumer Lifestyles In Canada. Feb. 16, 2011. Euromonitor International (2011). Retrieved November 29, 2011 from http://www.portal.euromonitor.com.cyber.usask.ca/Portal/Pages/Search/SearchResultsList.aspx D.A Ledingham, J.E., Ledingham, C.A., & Richardson, J.E. (1993). The effects of media violence on children. 3-17. Media Awareness Network, (2010). Violence in media entertainment. Retrieved November 29, 2011 http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/violence_entertainment.cfm Media Education Foundation, (2005) Ravelli, B., & Webber, M., (2010). Exploring Sociology: A Canadian Perspective, Volume 1, Foundations in sociology: Society, Structure, Process. Pearson Canada. Ravelli, B., & Webber, M., (2010) Exploring Sociology: A Canadian Perspective. Volume 2. Foundations in Sociology: Social Construction of Everyday Life. Toronto: Pearson Education. Wikipedia. (2010). Columbine High School Massacre. Retrieved November 29, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre