Youth Vioelnce

Youth Violence

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in violence among our adolescent youth. They are more likely to resort to acts of physical aggression than once was the case. There are many factors that contribute to putting a child at an increase risk for violent behavior. Domestic violence is on the rise. Is the media to blame for this violence outbreak? Are In this paper we will take a look at the possible causes of youth violence comparing the past to the present day.

Studies have shown that over fifty percent of television and movies contain some form of violence. Studies have also shown that exposure to this excessive violence can have serious effects and extreme consequences that lead to event such as Columbine. The effects of media violence on children include the learning of aggression and the desensitization to violence. Comparing television shows & movies, now to fifteen years ago we can clearly see a violent trend. Today’s box office hits include some of the following; Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Mission Impossible and Resident Evil. The mentions movies are all violent and promote violent behavior. Fifteen years ago box office hits included:

1. Aliens

2. Stand By Me

3. Top Gun

4. Ruthless People

5. Star Trek IV

6. Ferris Buellers Day Off

7. The Color of Money

8. Little Shop of Horrors

9. Platoon

10. The Name of the Rose

In this list, the top three movies encompass themes of action/drama, family and science fiction. Comparing this list to the top ten movies on 2005 we see quite the opposite. Looking over the top ten highest grossing movies in 2005 five of the ten are violent based movies such as: War of the Worlds, King Kong, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Star Wars 3 and Batman Begins. As a result when we compare television and movies between a fifteen year span we can see that violence is overtaking the entertainment world.

In comparing violence from 1991 to 2005 we can compare