Young children's exposure to screen violence plays a role in real-world aggression
Thursday 8 May 2014 - 1am PST
Research has demonstrated a link between screen violence and real-world aggression, both in traditional media like violent movies and in newer media including first-person shooter games. Minimizing exposure to virtual violence will not completely eliminate acts of aggression, but it is an important strategy to investigate, according to experts who presented a session on the topic at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Scientists, pediatricians, clinicians, and advocates of reducing media violence gathered for a state-of-the-art plenary session. Leading researchers discussed the ongoing controversy about the role that screen violence plays in real-world aggression, and ways to address the public health implications.
"Exposure to media violence in all forms increases the risk of real-world aggression," said plenary chair, Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, FAAP, of Seattle Children's Research Institute. "The recent epidemic of mass shootings and latest Supreme Court ruling striking down a California law banning the sale of mature video games to minors is disturbing, and the reason why additional research is critical in understanding the existing evidence."
Topics and presenters include:
"Overview of Violence and Children," presented by Frederick P. Rivara, Seattle Children's Hospital
"Video Game Violence," presented by Craig A. Anderson, Iowa State University
"Screen Violence," presented by Dimitri Alexander Christakis, Seattle Children;s Research Institute
Citations
American Academy of Pediatrics