All the World's Frustrations

We had a written assignment for Psychology due today (Sunday). The first question was along the lines of violence in the media and how it correlates with childhood aggression. While writing I was getting more and more angry, so I guess I found where a passionate subject of mine lies. I thought I'd post it.

Violence in media, meaning the often bloody, gory, painful, or otherwise harmful injuries and assaults endured by characters of television programs and video games, can be a touchy subject to many people. Some believe that the sole cause of the rise in aggression of the youth population is the fact that they are desensitized to violence because they have seen it on television, or are causing it in video games. There are also those who believe that the two don't correlate at all. When a person is desensitized to something, it no longer appears threatening or frightening; it matters very little.

Aggression can be defined as "hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront", or as "the action of attacking without provocation" (dictionary.com). A child constantly bombarded with the fictional deaths on television and video games, is more apt to be aggressive, especially if he/she isn't able to express anger effectively with age-appropriate peers. Children, I believe, need to play and run and have arguments with each other relatively free of close parental supervision. Children allowed so to work out disagreements from a young age, begin to understand how to interact with others. Problem-solving becomes familiar. With the advent of both parents working, daycare, and the general disinterest or distrust of neighbors that has become commonplace in America, children have almost nothing to do but sit around playing games and watching television.

Is it then so strange that our children become frustrated with what the world has to offer them? Hardly more than temporary entertainment and fleeting fun. Lasting, lifelong friendships become rare treasures. Is it any wonder that people have mental disorders? Our lives are so far removed now from physical labor, is it any wonder we have trouble sleeping? Frustrations build and the people don't know why. Frustrations can build to the point that violence is seen as inevitable, but we are taught to not get involved, to back off, and so we let troubling signs slip by us until someone explodes. Then we look back and say, "What a tragedy."

Yes, there is a definite link between what a child watches and ultimately what he does, but more of the responsibility lies with parents and guardians. Children need to do what children have always needed to do: laugh and scream and play, and most importantly, learn.