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Jordyn Terry Prof. Allison Fernley English 1010 April 30, 2013 Desensitization to Violence While watching television, whether it be the news, fictional shows, on commercials, or even while playing video games, more likely than not you are watching something violent. Because of this, the rates of aggression and abuse, both mental and physical, are going up in children and adolescents. Not only do we see violence in the media, but it is also around us in our everyday lives. There are so many ways to be exposed to it that it may be too hard to stop all exposure, but lowering the amount of violent fictional television shows we watch for fun could definitely be a good start. We may see a fight on our way to school or work; our children may be around bullying and physical abuse at school or even at home. Does being exposed to this cause violence to seem less of an issue than it is in children and adolescents? Children are being exposed to violence every day. Many people believe that it is causing desensitization in both young children and adolescents. Many people believe that violent video games are having a negative effect on children and adolescents (ages birth-19). Though there are some people who believe that it isnt just violent games having an effect on them. Some believe that all video games are having a similar effect on children and adolescents. Those who think it is just

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violent games causing problems claim that starting children out younger and allowing them to play violent games more often sets them up for a life of more aggression and violence (Myers). Letting them play more violent games later on in life and less often leads to a lot less of the issues caused by letting them start young and play frequently. The less violent the video game is, the less of a negative effect it will have on children and adolescents as they age. Also, the less gameplay allowed, whether violent or nonviolent, the less chance of negative side-effects. Not only is it making violence seem like less of an issue than it is, but it is also causing them to have anger issues both physically and mentally. I agree that it most likely is having that sort of effect on children. I dont feel like there is a way that the amount of time spent exposed to that much violence could possibly turn out to be a good thing. There is nothing good about the fact that video games are desensitizing children and parents are continuing to let it happen. Others believe that the effects of real life violence, either being the victim of the violence or being a direct witness to it, are worse than those of video games (Mrug). Being part of the violence, as the victim, causes children and adolescents to see that if they can go through the violence, so can others. If they want to put others through it, they feel as though they are doing nothing wrong since it has happened to them. Being the cause of the violence is showing children that since others can do it, they can too; if they feel like they want be like the others. All of this is causing children and adolescents to become more violent as they age not only because they have been subject to, but also because the more they see it or are part of it, the more acceptable it seems. I am on the fence about this one. I dont know whether I agree that real -life violence through

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victimization is worse for children and adolescents than overexposure to violent media, whether it be video games or television. I do agree that there probably is not going to be anything good coming out of children being victimized and abused as that does directly show that being a bully, so to speak, is normal and acceptable in todays society. There are even some who believe that witnessing real-life violence in the media is the worst kind to be exposed to. The wars that are going on, bombings around the country, fictional television shows that have a lot of violence in them, and even cartoons that have violent acts going on within them are all things that children probably shouldnt be watching but are. The more they see of those they look up to, those in the army or marines, fighting for our country being violent toward others, by shooting and bombing them, the more children want to do the same. When a child sees their favorite cartoon character either fighting, wrestling, karate chopping, or even just hurting someone else it causes them to want to join in and do the same to their friends, peers, and even just those around them. Many children are put in front of the television to watch fictional shows with violence because their parents want to watch them and the children sit beside them and watch. All of these cause desensitization in children and adolescents which leads to aggression, both verbal and physical (Scharrer). I agree with the idea of real-life violence in the media being an issue. I know that, as a child, when I saw people fighting on the news it made me feel like playing war or gangs was fun. Looking back on it now, that is something I never should have been doing. I feel like the more children see of the real-life violence in media, and the more they connect it with something that is actually going on, the more they start to see it as a normal occurrence and begin to reenact it with their friends. Not only do children see it as ok to pretend to walk around

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and shoot people to kill them as a game, they see it as the right thing to do. They have to keep up with whats going on in the news. I dont think that children should be exposed to media covering war and other violent acts or crimes even if it is on the news. I feel like parents should be pickier about what they let their children see to prevent the ideas of violence being an acceptable act. I feel as though many children are exposed to too much violence. They arent living as children should; which, in my opinion, is playing outside with their friends much more often than sitting in front of a television screen. Instead of having fun playing games with their friends, they spend endless hours watching TV and playing video games. They even end up being suspended for saying and doing mean things to other children at school. I feel like parents should take more time to make sure their children arent being exposed to unnecessary violence any more than they have to be. Limiting violent video game play and violent television shows would help lower the rate at which children become overly aggressive and desensitized. Growing up, my mom and dad made sure my exposure to video game violence stayed minimal. They didnt take my games away from me or stop me from picking the violent games that I wanted, but instead limited the amount of time I spent playing them. My grandmother was one who encouraged video game play at a young age just so she wouldnt have to play by herself. She didnt necessarily pick the most or least violent ones for my brother and me to join in on, but she did make sure we did things other than just the video games. We would go outside, do coloring pages, bake, and play board games to have fun without violence and television.

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Children and adolescents are no longer seeing violence as an issue. Violence has become a normal thing to younger generations. Since this is happening, abuse and crime rates will go up. They are our future and we arent taking enough caution toward their seeing violence as a severe problem. The sooner we lessen the amount of violence children and adolescents are either a part of or witnesses to, the less the chance of more severe violence issues in the future. The longer they are allowed to witness or be a part of the violence, the more normal it will seem to them and eventually violence will be an everyday part of life.

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Works Cited Mrug, Sylvie, and Michael Windle. "Prospective Effects Of Violence Exposure Across Multiple Contexts On Early Adolescents Internalizing And Externalizing Problems." Journal Of Child Psychology & Psychiatry 51.8 (2010): 953-961. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. Melissa Myers, et al. "Aggression And Psychopathology In Adolescents With A Preference For Violent Electronic Games." Aggressive Behavior 28.2 (2002):

134-144. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. Scharrer, Erica. "Media Exposure And Sensitivity To Violence In News Reports: Evidence Of Desensitization?." Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 85.2 (2008): 291-310. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. Schwartz, Kelly D. "Chronic Violent Video Game Exposure And Desensitization To Violence Behavioral And Event-Related Brain Potential Data." Journal Of Youth Ministry 5.2 (2007): 95-98. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Apr. 2013. Wartella, Ellen et al. "The Influence Of Media Violence On Youth." Psychological Science In The Public Interest (Wiley-Blackwell) 4.3 (2003): 81-110. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Apr. 2013.

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1. Describe the feedback you got on your presentation and on your rough draft during peer review. I was advised to add in naysayers and lengthen my paper a little by using quotes and going into more detail on the topics.

2. How did you revise your paper to make it more appealing and persuasive to our class as your audience? I used more points while describing the various opinions on the subject.

3. How well do you think you have met the criteria for this paper? I feel as though I have met the criteria decently well. I know I havent met it 100% but I dont think Ive done too poorly.

4. If you had another 24 hours to work on this, what would you do?Honestly, Id put it off another 24 hours.