Journal of Communication Research
Year:2008 | Volume:15 | Issue:54|Papers Count:10

The present article aims at investigating the effects of applying intervening styles or methods in watching TV's violent programs on the level of learned aggression on part of children watching such programs. For the purpose of this study, some 144 boys between 9 to 11 years from one of the Educational Districts in Tehran were selected using randomized cluster sampling. Given the two significant intervening variables, i.e.parents’ intervening style in watching TV programs, and economic-social class, the participants were studied under a factoral experimental plan. The research findings show that although the children's general level of aggression has not changed after watching 12 sessions of violent cartoons, but imposing experimental methods of intervention in watching violent cartoons has eventually changed the impressibility of the children by watching such cartoons.

The present article is based on a research which examines the relationship between social-economic status and exposure to TV violence, and children's violent behaviors. The study also explores the effects of parents' violent behavior on children resorting to violence.The findings show that children with greater exposure to TV violence and those experiencing more violent acts from their parents, are more likely to resort to violence and tend to watch TV violence.

Drawing on the related literature and the bulk of research carried out on TV violence, the present article aims at studying "the effects of TV violent programs on the viewers' violent behaviors." The article identifies moderator and intervening variables in the researches. The results of most of the researches corroborate that watching violence on TV leads to violent behaviors or increases these behaviors especially in children and adolescents. It is obvious that the need of society, particularly adolescents and teenagers, to excitement and considering the reality of what happens in most societies, makes TV programs without violence a rare or even impossible idea. This article tries to present strategies for minimizing the negative impacts of exposing violence on TV using intervening variables. Some of these variables are as follows: the nature of aggressor and victim, the motivation behind the violence, the extent and clarity of the violence, realism, reward and punishment, consequences, satire, etc. The article finally presents some strategies in this regard.

The present article is based on a study carried out in IRIB Research Center in 2007. The research was implemented using the quasiexperimental pretest-posttest control group design.The testees were 52 second graders from Jaber ibn-e-Hayyan high school located at Thehran' s Educational District 15. The independent variable in the study was screening a cartoon called "Rescuing Children", and the dependent variable was the violence on part of the students after watching the cartoon. The level of violence was measured two times with the space of twelve days.The findings show that watching the violent cartoon "rescuing children" had effects on the testees' level of physical violence, i.e. the level of violence increased after the students were exposed to the cartoon.

The present article aims at reviewing the recent researches carried out on the effects of TV violence.The paper, first, defines fictional violence and differentiates it from actual violence, then, it states some of the principal theories on the impacts of screening violence. The article further examines some of the researches implemented on the effects of fictional violence. A new research area called as "Secondary victimization" which relates to the ethics of media has also been introduced and analyzed in the article. The summery of the different research findings show that media can only promote violent acts if social grounds are appropriate for violence and aggression.

One of the most important amusing entertainments in recent years is computer games. Computer games are increasingly getting common among children and adolescents.Employing modern technologies, this type of entertainment is becoming more and more rooted in the users' lives. The most significant point regarding these games is their violent contents which can deeply influence on the users and prompt external abnormalities. However, the relationship between screening violence and the individuals' behaviors has not been definitively proved yet, and this is why the manufacturing companies are increasingly producing such games. Therefore, researchers should assess the effects of such violence on adolescents, and put forward good practical propositions in this regard. The results of researches on this filed can help producers in producing computer games.

Violence is a widespread dangerous phenomenon at the present time.Given the significant position attached to television as a medium with much audience and multiple potentials, the present article examines the effects of violent TV programs on the American community. The findings show that the excessive violence exposed to individuals, particularly children and adolescents, via TV programs has unpleasant impacts on them. The negative effects include violence-seeking, violent behaviors, desensitivization of children and adults to the violence-related issues, and even cases such as anger, sleep-related disorders. It seems that medium-related violence and actual violence are interrelated in the American society.