Violence in the Media and Its Effects on Society

Violence in the Media and its Effects on Society: Definitions, Effects on Society, Statistics, and Prevention ABSTRACT This paper discusses the effects of violence in the media and how it effects our society. First a definition of media and violence will be presented. Then an explanation about who violence can effect and what effects of violence are evident in our society today. Finally, various ways of prevention are explored and a discussion of whether these paths are just or appropriate in our present day society. Violence in the media has been proven to be an ongoing problem in our society. The more relaxed nature that the mass media has been moving toward has caused great disturbances in the minds of the people in our society. In order to understand this problem, if there is one, we must first define what exactly the mass media and violence are. Next, we must see how it effects the people that watch it and examine the statistics to back this up. Then, we will see why our society is attracted to violence. Finally, we should look to see if the ways that we are addressing this problem are actually helping to resolve it. Definitions Mass Media Mass media is defined as “those means of communication that reach and influence large numbers of peoples, especially newspapers, popular magazines, radio, and television” (McKechnie 1976). This means that not only is television at fault for infecting our society, but that everything from movies to comic books are as well (Larsen 1968). Violence Violence is defined as “to assault; to injure; also, to bring by violence; to force” (McKechnie 1976). This means any type of fighting, blood, gore, or killing would constitute as violence in the mass media. Who it effects This issue undeniably affects virtually everyone, considering that almost everyone takes part in viewing some aspect of the media everyday. The average American spends eleven years in front of the television set during a seventy-two year lifespan (Jeffries 1998)....