THE EFFECT OF VIOLENT TELEVISION PROGRAMMES ON ADOLESCENT’S
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Effects of violent television programmes on adolescent entails a detailed look at violent television programmes, which according to Ellen Casper (1997) are “programmes aired on television that portray aggressive actions in news, musicals, movies, particularly of late home videos etc, that children get attracted to. These programmes which make some impact in some of them which they exhibit in that tender age or later on in life”.
Although, the mass media acts as a means of transmitting information and materials from a diversity of national and international sources, especially those aimed at promoting child’s social, spiritual and moral well being and physical and mental health. The child’s personality can either be shaped positively or negatively by the mass media.
Today, children live in a world where violence is thee norm and so many people have come to believe that violent television programmes have contributed significantly to the increase in crimes of violence and low performance of students especially in the urban cities. Mass media industries do not take much time in warning viewers about the violence they will see, so aggressive videos find their way easily to students who should not see them.
As a result of the violent television programmes which adolescent watch, it makes them exhibit some violent actions in the society they live in.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This research is looking into violent television programmes, which adolescents are being exposed to daily and the effects these programmes have on them after watching such programmes.
In order for these problems to be solved, the researcher is aimed at informing the public about the problems and suggestions on how to control these problems. Therefore, the following questions have become necessary.
1. Is it true that because some adolescents watch television programme that they turn out to be violent?
2. Does the violent television programme which adolescents watch make any impact on them or make any impression on them after watching?
3. Has parental influence got anything to do with adolescent’s violent behaviour?
4. How does the society or the government see violence amongst Adolescent?
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Below are some stated research questions, which shall be carefully looked into and subjected to test in this study. They are:
1. Is it true that because some adolescents watch television programme that they turn out to be violent?
2. Does the violent television programme which adolescents watch make any impact on them or make any impression on them after watching?
3. Has parental influence got anything to do with adolescent’s violent behaviour?
4. How does the society or the government see violence amongst Adolescent?
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This research is aimed at achieving the following.
1. Whether the violent television programmes affects adolescents in a negative way.
2. How the family background of adolescent contribute to their exposure to television violence.
3. This study is also aimed at improving knowledge and providing solutions to these problems.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of the study is that, it will serve as a way of enhancing the knowledge of the general public especially parents, on how they educate their adolescents about what they watch, read or listen to from the mass media.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Violence: Rough, force in action, rough or injurious action, any just or unwarranted exertion of force or power as against rights, laws etc.
Adolescents: Person growing up from childhood before adulthood, ages between 12 and 18 years.
Mass media: The means of communicating to large numbers of people.