Cause and effects of television violence on children: An analytical study

One of the notable changes in our social environment in the 21st century has been the saturation of our culture and daily lives by the mass media. Unfortunately, the consequences of one particular common element of the electronic mass media have a particularly detrimental effect on children's well being. It is now not just kids in bad neighbourhoods or with “bad” friends who are likely to be exposed to bad things when they go out on the street. A “virtual” bad street is easily available to most youth now in their very homes. Through television, advertisers can reach a whole spectrum of consumers. Children are exposed to an overwhelming amount of advertising as there is little regulation controlling the programme to advertisement ratio. Children watch over eight hours of television a day during holidays, and are exposed to over two and half hours of advertisements a day. As Television is one of the strongest means of advertisement, due to its mass reach; it can persuade the individual's mind-set, conduct, life style, experience and other aspects like culture of the country and repeated exposure to real life may alter cognitive affective and behavioural processes. Children of course are the most dreadful fatalities of TV sways. From various studies it has been found that children with profound contact come under the forces of violence and aggression portrayed on television than children with moderate exposure and they learn and imitate TV behaviours more than children with less exposure. Television is extremely popular with children as it has a multi-sensorial appeal. The objective of research is to analyse whether this exposure to television violence leads to real life violent behaviour or not. The children in India from age 9–14 years are the target group the behaviour of which in real life is observed because of exposure of voilence in television.The part of the study has been limited to three diverse aspects though there were other aspects which felt less alluring. Findings of the study will certainly assist in expansion of resources to assist parents in the positive and edifying use of media with their children. A descriptive method is used here. The conclusion of the study is efficient and regular parental mediation of their children's viewing is essential by restricting the types of programs being watched.