Posted on June 16, 2009 in Latest News
Do you think that your child is putting good things into his mind while watching cartoons? Do you believe your child is safer watching cartoons than other programs? Well, you need to think again.
Research has shown that watching violent cartoons increases aggressive behavior in children. A child who watched violent cartoons on TV in pre-school age is significantly more aggressive than others when he is 7 – 10 years of age.
If you observe the cartoon shows on TV, you will see that most of them are violent. We have been socially programmed to believe that cartoons cannot be harmful even if they are violent because of the comic presentation and unrealistic situations. But this is not true.
A research has shown that popular cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles are all harmful to children in terms of the depiction of violence.
Here’s how it works. There are two ways your child gets affected by violent cartoons.
Psychological: Children learn by observing. When they watch their favorite cartoon hero use violence as a means of problem solving without consequences of the violence, they make the connection in their minds that it is OK to use violence. When they go out into the real world, they behave more aggressively in their interactions with others.
Physiological: While watching violent cartoons, the child’s blood pressure, heart rate and perspiration levels increase. Prolonged exposure to violence makes the body remain in that ‘fight or flight’ state even while not watching violence. This predisposes the children to act aggressively.
What you can do about violent cartoons
- Give your children other sources of entertainment. Play with them, take them to the zoo, and encourage them to play outdoor games.
- Explain to your children how watching violent cartoons may affect them.
- Children learn by example. If you watch violent content, you cannot ask your children not do it. Set an example by not watching violence for fun.
- Make your children understand that they should not initiate the use of violence in any situation. Violence should only be used in self defence.
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