Regulating Violence Portrayed in the Media

dickens themes slang emerged as dominant in recent media broadcasts sex and personnel. These two themes have proven to gather up high ratings from attestators and they further ensure the success of television programs and cinema movies. Viewers themselves rank programs which accept either or both of these themes as favorites. Of greater imp behave it seems is the evolution of military force as render in the media.With the aid of modern technology, especially as employed in animation and special force plays, the photo of ferocity has been further facilitated and enhanced. Furthermore, the proliferation of gaga programs provides easy access to the aforementioned(prenominal) by pictureers of all backgrounds, young and old as well as impressionable and guarded alike.This reflects that regulatory boards and associations ar no interminable able to keep up with the numerous programs deployed containing raving mad satiate. On the other hand, the ease with which red-faced c ontent may be accessed efficiency be attributed to a slackening in standards. This is reflected in the programs which depict unpeaceful and gory images aired for children. Sometimes, as is the case with a lot of Japanese animation, the violence represent for the youthfulness surpasses even that depicted for mature viewing.Scope and Nature of the ResearchThis research in run fors to study the role of violence as portrayed on the strain on aggressive behavior of viewers. It is the goal of this constitution to assess whether or non there is a read to regulate the design of depicted violence on screen. Should it be shown that such a need exists, and so the reasonableness of the order to be made testament be broached.No indication will be made between programs aired on television and those shown in movie theaters. neither will distinction be made between programs with purely violent content and programs which only return a portion of the airtime to violence. Included in th e programs and movies to be analyzed will be news programs, assumed stories, and even animation. It will be borne in mind that what is of importance in this study is not so much the manner in which the violence is depicted but more on the effect that portrayals of violence has on the viewing creation.What will be taken into account will be the effect that violence has on the case-by-case behavior as well as on the society at tremendous bearing witness to it. Given the response of persons, whether implicit or explicit, to portrayals of violence, a close look will be taken as to the effect of regulating the violent content of movies and programs in the cinema and on television.A brief analysis will be made regarding the effect such a canon might have on viewer ratings and on the surgical operation of regulation itself. It is only as regards this aspect of regulation that an analysis of acceptable levels of violence will be made. Therefore, it is only in outlining a rational proc ess of regulation wherein the manner of depicting violence will be assessed. These argon the research goals and delimitations within which this root will be made.Research IssuesSuch goals have been borne out of an observation that the adjoin in violent programs shown on screen have resulted in a related increase in crime and violence in the community. some(prenominal) empirical research selective information have been obtained which support this observation. Although there has been contradictory evidence obtained which in any case tend to refute supporting evidence, the fact remains that in some populations and studies, a positive correlation has been move between television violence and violence in the individual and in the community.Furthermore, actual cases have been observe wherein felonies have been committed mimicking behavior aired on television or shown in a movie. This reflects the insecurity of giving free license to creativity in violent films. This is particularly so in programs wherein the characters are permitted to accomplish their criminal objectives without resulting in action by legal or law authorities.Not only as regards criminal behavior, but even in programs reflecting suicide behavior, there has been shown a duplication effect in the acts of viewers. Thus it is shown that concepts shown by the media give ideas to the audience regarding behavior that they themselves might engage in. Taking into consideration the extent of violent acts that can possibly be depicted in films today and the variety of programs accessible to distinct viewers, we are faced with the problem of having to control for an infinite number of varied atrocities in any accustomed community.Given these facts, the emerging issue is undeniably whether or not regulation may effect a elbow room of control for aggressive and violent behavior in societies exposed to violence in films. Given that violent programs have already been introduced into the regular broadca st of media, would its belated regulation result in a discernible change? Furthermore, up to what extent should regulation be made in order that an observable line is found in violent behavior of the public?Theoretical FrameworkThe focus and issues of this paper is based on several theoretical foundations. These theories serve to ground the rationalizations and argumentations made regarding the kind of media portrayed violence and actual violent behavior. An understanding of the theoretical framework of such a relationship will support the importance of regulation and provide a background for determining the level of regulation required.The first underlying theory bases the relationship on cognitive priming. Cognitive priming focuses on the ability of a stimulus to activate standardised stimuli causing a chain of reactions as a result of the initial stimulus presented. This type of deduction from one stimulus to another is stupendously dependent on built-in associations establ ished in the stock pathways of the individual.Applying this draw close to violence, it is theorized that the violence in films stimulates previously held aggressive thoughts or tendencies in an individual. In fact, the individual need not necessarily have entertained such aggressiveness nor is there a need that the individual be attracted to violence. The only aspect required on the part of the individual when considering the cognitive priming approach is that there is a natural link made between the violent scene or act viewed with other violent behaviors both those personally experienced and those simply associated on basis of logic.Emotional arousal is different from cognitive priming in this sense because in emotional arousal, the natural tendency is key in bringing forth aggressive behavior as a result of witnessing a violent program. It should be noted that arousal merely energizes dominant behavior in a particular situation. Therefore, arousal produced by watching violent programs merely facilitates or intensifies a predisposition for violence. However, if there is no prior craving for aggression, then there is no object to be energized by the arousal resulting from violent films.Another reason why individuals are encouraged to act on their aggression after viewing violent behavior is a probable browse effect which operates on the mind of the viewer. This effect results from a perspective regarding the person of the sponsor endorsing the violent program.This effect is said to have relevance when certain socialization norms dominate the understanding of the viewer causing him or her to don respect for certain authority figures such as the ones who have permitted the ventilation system of the violent program. Given that the acts in the program were encouraged and not prohibited, then certainly the imitation of the same in actual life should warrant the same encouragement or at least a degree of tolerance.It can thus be seen from the above theories that repeated exposure to violence on films causes an increase in permissiveness for deviant behavior. Furthermore, the lack of portrayal of punishment of violence causes viewers to rationalize that they themselves are capable of escaping reprimand should they perform the same acts.As regards sensationalized victims of violence, individuals may even bring home the message that should they themselves gather the violence witnessed, they too should receive attention and momentary fame. All these signals represent misinformed ideologies about the role and effect of violence in society thus resulting in socially maladaptive and harmful behavior.The Research ProcessConsidering the reputation of the study to be made, several resources should be tapped in order to gain a holistic view as to the present standing of matters. Adequate research would also reflect the rational future stairs to be made in terms of regulation. First, relevant material pertaining to present regulatory guidelines pertaining to violence should be obtained. Given, the guidelines, an assessment should be made whether or not the same are applied.Next, an actual study should be made gathering data from a chosen population regarding the effect on aggression in viewers of the permitted level of violence in films. Should it be found that there is a significant relationship, then research must be made as to what level of viewed violence would not result in such violent viewer behavior.The results should then display the effect such a regulation would have on viewer behavior by reviewing the data collected from the population organized. Furthermore, television viewer ratings of violent programs should be noted in order that a determination may be made as to the effect regulation will have on the ratings of networks and movie houses. From the above it can thus be seen that legislative acts, experimental data, and media network data sheets will be utilized in order to change integrity a firm resource base for the results of the study.In obtaining such resources, several research methods will need to be used, first of such will be the interview method. Members of movie regulatory bodies will have to be interviewed regarding the process of review and the standard of violence permitted in movies. Also, officers of media networks or their representatives should be interviewed in order to gain an accurate estimation of the quantifiable effect of violence in shows on viewer ratings.Apart from interviews however, a area study should be conducted regarding the effect of particular levels of violence on viewers. In order to facilitate data collection, certain levels of violence will already be categorized and the viewers of such kinds of violence disseminated among the groups. selective information will then be collected through a series of questionnaires and self-report tests.It is hypothesized that the study will weaken that there is a lack if media regulation of violence on televis ion programs and movie shows resulting in heightened levels of violence in the community. Increased regulation of media portrayals of violence will however serve to dampen the awareness of the public regarding the variety of violent acts. Regulation will also serve to maintain the authority of legal and police figures in controlling violent behavior. Thus, there should be an increase in regulation of violence in the media.Works CitedFelson, Richard. Mass Media Effects on Violent Behavior. Annual Review of Sociology 22 (1996) 103-128.The author effectively synthesizes the large body of work related to the effects of mass media on resulting aggressive behavior in the viewer. The paper is objective and presents data supporting and defeating the relationship of depictions of violence with actual violent behaviors. The presentation sticks to the relevant data in the mass of previous studies conducted regarding the topic. Yet the detail embedded in the paper serves to enhance the lectors knowledge of past studies. The paper is holistic as it takes into account concepts and theories as well as empirical data gathered.Pirkis, Jane, Burgess, Philip, Blood, R. Warwick, and Francis, Catherine. The Newsworthiness of Suicide. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 37(3) (2007) 278-283.The authors herein take on a very limited perspective on the role of media on suicidal behavior. The theory implemented herein is that of modeling and emulation only. A further limitation of the paper is that it only considers those suicide attempts which were real and cover by news programs.The authors focus on the danger that viewers may imitate the behavior of sensationalized and diminutive suicidal acts. Several examples are given as to actual cases wherein media-covered suicides were copied by viewers of the news program. The authors themselves also suggest stricter regulation of suicides which are to be deemed as newsworthy and as to what aspects regarding the suicide should be reveale d to the public.