As we brought up in discussion this week was how watching a certain show or playing a certain video game can bring out a calming or "violent" behavior. When I was growing up the Power Rangers were one of my favorite shows and having a lot of experience with this topic, yes after watching the show I wanted to act out what the Power Rangers were doing, but that didn't mean that I went and punched a random person off the street. Children learn a lot by observing, but they also learn a lot when their parents tell them what's wrong and what's right. At a young age children need positive role models, like their parents or a family member, and I don't think that shows like the Power Rangers will make a child become violent. I do think that video games and T.V. shows have become more violent, but if the parents make it clear to their kids it's just pretend and there's a certain boundary you cross when you karate chop your sibling's arm. And the game of being a Ranger usually last for five minutes anyway before they get distracted by something else. There is nothing wrong with a little imagination.
I believe that shows like Power Rangers promote ideals above violence and aggression. Usually it would also promote doing the "right" thing and I think you are right when you say it's important for kids to have role models. This is a good example of how watching violence does not necessarily trigger aggression, but it can be used as a medium to trigger the learning of right and wrong.
I agree with you when you say that kids need role models in their lives. Sometimes though, when parents become busy or work all the time, the best role model a child can get is through a television show. I remember when I was little, my mom would work nights and my dad worked days, so tv shows like Power Rangers and Mighty Ducks were the only escape I had. My sisters were not a part of life as a little kid because they were much older, so it was hard for me to find a consistent role model. But, even as I watched these shows, it did not influence me to go harm someone randomly. Sure I wanted to run around and pretend play, but my parents, like you suggested, did teach me what is right from what is wrong. It is the parents duty to define boundaries within fun, and the entertainment business' duty to provide that fun. I agree that games have become more violent, but it could be that kids have more aggressive tendencies naturally, not that the games are causing the violence. All in all, I agree with you and found that you described the reality to a tee. Good job!
Great topic and support. I agree as I was a big fan of the Power Rangers as a child too. The need of a positive role model in a child's life can determine the rest of their life, from becoming a successful individual, or ending up working in a fast food restaurant until you decide to retire. Also, I agree with the Power Rangers not being a violent TV show because of a child's short attention span, they will become distracted so they will forget what even happened pretty quick. Having their parents tell them right from wrong is the best way for a child to learn, and considering that they are their parents, they will believe and listen to them.
I definitely agree with your statements about the quickness and lack of attention of the young child, and in review i can definitely see that the videos we watched may have been edited to blow the reactions out of proportions. Good editing can really change the truth and shape to a story, and of course they would want to make for exciting, gripping tv that every child bearing adult should want to see. If the parent is doing the right thing, the aggressive behavior will only be occasional, and if thats the case, whats wrong with a little physical play?
I agree with you. There are some pretty violent games, movies, and tv shows out there right now. I think that violence can be introduced to children this way, but I agree that it falls largely on the parent. As long as the child knows that it's for entertainment purposes, that usually helps. I think that good parenting is key in these situations to prevent any real-life violence resulting from seeing violence in the media. There are so many other factors that contribute to violent tendencies. In a way, maybe exposing children to moderate amounts of media violence is a good thing. This would prevent naiveté about the world...no matter how far away you go, you can't really get away from technology. I think being exposed to violent games or shows might make real-life violence boring and mostly unnecessary instead of something new and exciting that they feel they need to experience.
I agree that your role models have a larger impact on their children. I too used to watch shows like power rangers all the time but I never went around acting like them when I was younger, except on Halloween. I think that the show does have some sort of effect on the viewer because it is implanting those ideas in their head. However, the other aspects of a child's life, such as their role models, simply outweigh those thoughts.
I believe it's true when you say that kids do need role models and that if their parents lead them in a positive direction, such as letting them know that it's not okay to hit others and such, then the kids should be okay. Growing up, I honestly don't remember ever doing something that I saw on TV. I wasn't really into Power Rangers while growing up, but I was really into the Powerpuff Girls. The Powerpuff girls has some violence in it since they were fighting off bad guys. I just really think that it depends on the individuals themselves on whether or not they will do what they see on TV.
As a babysitter, this certainly rings true for me! I have noticed more aggressive behavior in the children I babysit after encountering violence in a movie or video game. That aside, if a child (or an adult for that matter) has issues with being violent, it is certainly not just a product of media. I do believe that violent programs and media can provoke questions from children and perhaps teach them things about violence. However, this by no means is the isolated cause of violence among children! It is absolutely true that real life role models play into this a lot. If taught, children can learn the distinction between what is played on TV and what is acceptable in real life. The children I babysit definitely know that it is not okay to be harmful in real life!
I was thinking about when I was a kid and I too watched Power rangers and shows like it I wanted to act like the characters. I realized though that the scenes that were created in these shows were very unrealistic and it was hard for me to actually believe that there were monsters of some sort running around and hurting people.