Resources

Violence

The level of violence in popular media is both hard to miss and easy to ignore. Studies have shown excessive exposure can result in:

• Increased anti-social behavior and aggression
• Violence desensitization and lower levels of empathy toward others
• Increased levels of fear due to perceiving the world as violent
• Acceptance of violence as a way of settling conflict
• Higher tolerance and threshold of violence leading to a desire to experience more violence in both video games and real life

While these facts have been known for some time, more violent media gets produced and marketed every day. Video games have taken center stage as an especially powerful and violent influence. Players actively engage in maiming, killing, and raping victims in an effort for a high score or to "win" the game.

Parents are encouraged to ask themselves what influence violent media is having on their kids. Use Media Violence and Kids to help you figure it out.

For more information and research, see below.