Violence in the media does not cause violent behavior. Does Media Violence Cause Violent Behaviour? 2022-10-11

Violence in the media, including television, movies, music, and video games, has long been a controversial topic. Some people believe that exposure to violence in the media can lead to aggressive and violent behavior, while others argue that there is no causal relationship between the two. In this essay, I will argue that violence in the media does not cause violent behavior.

First of all, it is important to recognize that correlation does not equal causation. Just because two things are correlated, it does not necessarily mean that one is causing the other. For example, there is a strong correlation between ice cream sales and crime rates: when ice cream sales go up, crime rates also tend to go up. However, this does not mean that eating ice cream causes crime. Similarly, just because there is a correlation between media violence and aggressive or violent behavior, it does not mean that one is causing the other.

There are also numerous other factors that can contribute to aggressive or violent behavior, such as genetics, upbringing, and environmental factors. It is likely that these factors are at play in the development of aggressive or violent behavior, rather than media violence alone. In fact, research has shown that individuals who are prone to aggression and violence may be more likely to seek out media content that is violent in nature. This suggests that media violence is not the cause of aggressive or violent behavior, but rather a symptom of underlying issues.

Additionally, it is worth noting that media violence is not a new phenomenon. Violence has been depicted in literature, art, and entertainment for centuries, yet the overall level of violence in society has not consistently increased over time. In fact, studies have shown that levels of violence in the United States have actually declined in recent decades, despite the fact that media violence has become more prevalent. This suggests that media violence is not the primary driver of violent behavior.

Finally, it is important to recognize that media violence is not the only form of violence that people are exposed to. Many people experience violence firsthand, whether it be through abuse, bullying, or other forms of aggression. It is therefore difficult to attribute aggressive or violent behavior solely to media violence, as there are often multiple contributing factors at play.

In conclusion, while it is understandable that people might be concerned about the potential impact of media violence on behavior, the evidence does not support the idea that media violence causes aggressive or violent behavior. There are likely to be a variety of factors that contribute to aggressive or violent behavior, and media violence is just one of many potential influences. It is important to consider the full range of factors that may contribute to aggressive or violent behavior, rather than focusing on media violence in isolation.