College Counter Argumentative Essay Violence on Television and Its Effect on Children

Television is changing the world one viewer at a time, or is it? Does what our children view today really change how they act tomorrow? It is true aggression and violence can be found in sitcoms, cartoons and even commercials. The question is do children who view these acts, exhibit violence and aggression?

The majority of people will remember their favorite cartoons as children. Wyle Coyote, Elmer Fudd, and even the infamous Tom and Jerry are notorious pranksters and perpetrators of violence. Who does not recall the falling anvil that crashes atop the poor unsuspecting, cartoon character's head? There is no argument that this scenario is an act of violence and aggression. But does it cause a child to become aggressive and lead to a life of crime as an adult? The answer is no. If that was the case, then those individuals reading this right now, would be doing so from a jail cell. I am sure that is not the case. While it is true that children sometime imitate actions they see on television, there are not many anvils around for them to drop on their friend or sibling's head. Cartoons are obviously fictitious. Their scenarios are generally fictitious in nature. If children learn anything from cartoons, then it is that they can laugh and giggle at an imaginary world appearing right before their eyes.

Children learn morals and life lesson from some violence on television. In shows such as the Power Rangers, the good guys always win, and the bad guys are always punished. This idea helps children realize that bad acts are punishable. They will more often identify with the heroes in the story, and they themselves will aspire to be one of the good guys (Media Violence 53). Even children trick or treating at Halloween, more often then not will come dressed as a super hero. The numbers of batman, superman and other heroic characters are countless.

It is true that some children will choose to identify with the bad guy. Many of those children will exhibit hostile aggression. Their genre of television shows will encompass a large amount of shows that include violence. It is the child's predisposition that creates their urge for these types of shows. Their hostile behavior is not a result of the violence they are viewing, but from their own inclination of violence (Van Erva 63).

In closing we are not arguing the fact that violence and aggression is widely displayed on television. Nor are we arguing the censorship of violence. We are however arguing what effect television violence has on children. Will children who view acts of aggression on television exhibit hostile aggression? The majority of the evidence concludes that the answer is no. This answer does not promote children watching violence. It does however help alleviate some of stresses of parenthood. Parents will longer need to experience undo anxiety, when deciding on which shows are appropriate for their children.

Works Cited

Media Violence Opposing Viewpoints. California: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Print.

Van Erva, Judith. Television and Child Development. 2^nd ed. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 1998. Print.