5 Things Every Communications Student Should Know About:

Children

and

Television

First Off, What is

it?!1

The study of children and television simply dives into the effects mass communication in

television can have on children.

+

Who !uses !

it?!2

So !What?!3

Mass communication through television is extremely important in communication

studies.

When watching television for that duration, a child can be influenced in such a way that affects his or

her morals and beliefs that are just beginning to be independently formed.

Children between the ages of 2 and 11 average around 30 hours a week of television viewing.

4

5 5

Many studies have been created to find associations between children’s aggressive behavior and watching violent TV content.

These studies have found that children viewing violence on television can leave these young viewers with feelings of hostility. It may also decrease their emotional response to the portrayal of violence and injury, which can lead to violent behavior through imitation.

Picture Citations (In Order)

•  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/9192 •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/inaflashproductions/4714840389/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorolimited/4573483320/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/tommilton/3498530507/ •  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/271056 •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cincinnatipubliclibrary/3359177283/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/theanswerisnotinthetv/4625040508/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/largeprimenumber/465666536/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/25666278@N04/4967736056/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/dbowler78/4436108268/ •  http://www.flickr.com/photos/34228744@N07/3186833195/

Brocato, E., Gentile, D. A., Laczniak, R. N., Maier, J. A., & Ji-Song, M. (2010). Television commercial violence. Journal of Advertising, 39(4), 95-107. doi: 10.2753/JOA0091-3367390407

Hawkins, R. P., & Pingree, S. (1982). Television’s influence on social reality. In D.

Pearl, L. Bouthilet, & J. Lazar (Eds.), Television and behavior: Ten years of scientific progress and implications for the eighties (Vol. II, pp. 224-247). Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.