Jj is for Jottings 152.  The Effects of Watching Violence.

Did you know that the effects of watching violence are different from the effects of simply reading about violence?  Researchers consistently find that, the more often you watch disturbing scenes, the more anxious you become.  This can result in forming long-term traumatic memories.  Your brain is unable to distinguish between reality and fiction when viewing violence on screen.  This even applies to watching imaginary creatures such as zombies and aliens, or even watching politicians making threatening remarks.  Many neuroscientists say that the best “protection” from this effect is to read the news rather than watching it.

SOURCES OF VIOLENCE.

As mentioned above, a major source of violence is simply the news.  At present (October 2022), there seems to be more violence than even a year ago.  Other sources of violence include video games, movies and the internet.  These are more under our control than the news, in that you don’t have to engage with any violence at all in these media.  But beware of the algorithms – once you’ve watched something violent online in any form, you will be fed more of the same.  (Thankfully the converse applies: searches for good, calming, kind and positive things will also feed you more of the same.) You can read about what a neuroscientist has to say about technology rewiring children’s brains.  She is speaking more generally than just the topic of violence, but the principles are the same.

SOME RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF WATCHING VIOLENCE.

An article in the Journal of Adolescent Health reports that exposure to violence in television, movies, video games, mobile phones and on the internet increases the risk of violent behaviour on the viewer’s part.  This is just the same as growing up in an environment filled with real violence – it increases the risk of children behaving violently.  It’s really all about neuroplasticity.  Remember the saying “You are what you eat”?  Well, this is really a case of “You become what you see and think about”.  (And “Monkey see, monkey do” also springs to mind here.)  Especially when it comes to children, who have not yet developed filters to offset the effects in any way.

A review of video-game research literature reveals that violent video games increase aggressive behaviour in children and young adults.  (And, I suspect, older adults.)  Both experimental and non-experimental studies in laboratory and field settings support this conclusion.  This research included both males and females.  Analyses also show that exposure to violent video games increases physiological arousal and aggression-related thoughts and feelings.  Playing violent video games also decreases prosocial behaviour.  Prosocial behaviour is behaviour which benefits other people and/or society in general.  Examples of prosocial behaviours are helping, sharing, donating, co-operating, volunteering.

Seeing violence on television can numb people to the horror of violence.  It’s as if they become immune from its effects.  This can lead to their accepting violence as a way to solve problems and to imitate what they have seen.  Even watching a single act of violence can make a person more aggressive.

Early exposure to violence on television predicts aggression in adulthood, according to the American Psychological Association.

I should think it inevitable that watching violence can lead to bullying behaviour, which is all tied up with power. 

 

THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVE EVENTS WE NEED TO CONSUME.

Of course there are events with which it is important for us to interact, such as Covid-19, bushfires, floods etc.  We actually need to watch, read or listen to these negative events for our own safety, so there is a bit of balancing required.  But we don’t have to watch – we can read or listen – and, once we have the necessary updates, we don’t have to keep watching, listening or reading.

There is parallel research on repeatedly watching coverage of the attacks of September 11, 2001.  One broadcaster had an annual tradition of playing the complete 3 ½ hours of unedited, uninterrupted live footage of the attacks.  Over the 15 years during which these replays were broadcast, there was psychiatric research studying its effects.  This revealed that watching these events on television seems to have played a role in the presence of clinically significant psychological distress related to 9/11.  Thankfully, this is an event we no longer need to consume visually, but there are plenty of others on the news.

EXTREME RESULTS OF WATCHING VIOLENCE.

Have you ever watched true crime investigations on television?  In the majority of cases the perpetrator has had a violent childhood and/or consumes violence in screen form – video games or chat rooms devoted to violent acts.

 

PROTECTION FROM THE EFFECTS OF WATCHING VIOLENCE.

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves from the violence which occurs daily on our regular news cycle.  The first is, as already suggested: don’t watch it – read it or listen to it.

If you find you feel anxious or stressed after watching a news program, have trouble sleeping or keep replaying the events in your head, limit the amount and type of media coverage.  It’s also better not to consume news just before bed.

Don’t rely on news from social media.  It’s very likely to be inaccurate and lead you up the garden path.  Mind you, that also applies to many regular media companies, so be careful to choose a reputable, non-sensationalist, balanced source of news in the first place.  You want facts, not half-baked and twisted opinions.  Well at least I hope you do.

Here is some sound advice: For every minute you spend viewing, reading or talking about anything negative, spend at least 3 minutes immersing yourself in positive thoughts and memories, beauty, and self-loving actions.

I have read of a number of high-functioning people who have stopped watching the news and say they feel much better for it.

CHILDREN AND THE EFFECTS OF WATCHING VIOLENCE.

As mentioned earlier, all violence a child watches will go straight in, unhindered by the filters we develop as we become older and have more experiences.  Over the years I have been horrified about the sorts of video games even young children are allowed to play. And I have heard many children say they have been allowed to watch completely inappropriate violent movies. (And stay up late at night to watch them.)

There are two things we need to do to protect our children from exposure to violence (and any other undesirable behaviour) on screen.  The first is to vet what they watch on television.  And the other is to block them from undesirable websites and social media.  Parents need to be super-vigilant these days, because it is so easy for children to access really nasty material on the internet.  Vigilance and setting boundaries are necessary right from the start.  It’s not only watching violence which has a negative impact on our children, but screen time in general.

And one of the most important things we all need to counteract all this is to develop critical thinking skills. This will help people to distinguish between fact and fake news, and to become discerning in what they view.  And, as that article says, you can begin this process at quite a young age.

 

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