TV violence harms young adults, says study

TV violence harms young adults, says study

MUMBAI: It is a known fact that real life emulates reel life. A recent study presented in the March issue of the journal Developmental Psychology by psychologists L Rowell Huesmann and colleagues at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research adds another dimension to this story.
According to the study, the children who watch a lot of violence on the television are likely to have a disturbed adulthood irrespective of how they are otherwise.
The result is not shocking and definitely does not reveal anything earth-shattering A few episodes of Crime files or New Medical detectives on Discovery or some reruns of Banwar on Sony and the few non-believers can change their view. 
What is worth noting here is the sheer magnitude of research and similar crime pattern in both the sexes. The associate press report states that the participants interviewed were between ages 6 to 9 and in their early 20s.
The study follows children into adulthood to gauge the long-term effects of televised violence. The fact that makes it even more intriguing is another study which shows that there are more kids turning couch potatoes than earlier.
While the action quotient for the young minds, some years back, was just few WWF matches and movies. The present television scenario has a slew of 'action' shows for the young minds. 
Huesmann in his study states that the televised violence suggests to young children that aggression is appropriate in some situations, especially when it is used by charismatic heroes. It also erodes a natural aversion to violence.
Despite the soaring popularity of the programmes, there is a need that for the programming to be more responsible. But the solution suggested by the psychologist seems more practical. He recommends that parents restrict viewing of violent TV and movies by young children and pre-teens as much as possible.