AMA warns lawmakers about effects of what kids are watching

The American Medical Association (AMA) told a congressional field hearing today that the time is long past due for the entertainment industry to recognize its adverse contribution to the epidemic of violence in our society, and that it should exercise greater responsibility in its programming content.

"The AMA has been increasingly concerned that exposure to violence in media is a significant risk to the physical and mental health of children and adolescents," AMA Trustee Ronald M. Davis, MD said when addressing the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. "America's young people are being exposed to ever-increasing levels of media violence, and such violence has become increasingly graphic."

Physicians, particularly those who treat children, are only too aware of the pervasive effects of violent content in television programs, movies, music videos, and computer and video games. An extensive body of research concludes that exposure to media violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior, particularly in children.

While duration, intensity and extent of the impact may vary, children exhibit several measurable negative effects when exposed to "entertainment" violence.

• Children accept violence as an effective way of settling conflicts and assume that acts of violence are suitable behavior.
• Children grow to be emotionally desensitized to violence and will be less likely to take action on behalf of a victim when violence occurs in real life.
• Children develop an increased fear of becoming a victim of violence, with a resultant increase in self-protective behaviors and a mistrust of others.
• Children have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed to violent media.

"As physicians, we need to counsel parents that watching violent TV shows can be bad for children," said Dr. Davis. "The AMA urges parents to monitor and control their children's exposure to violence through TV and other entertainment media."

Entertainment violence is certainly not the sole factor contributing to youth aggression, anti-social attitudes and violence. Numerous other factors may all contribute to these problems. However, there is no question that graphic violence does have pathological effects on children. The AMA believes that because violence is a public health threat, careful consideration must be given to the content of entertainment media.