Much violence in TV imports

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 4

Much violence in TV imports

[ Many of the TV programmes imported from the United States contain violent episodes, and most are shown, at prime viewing times, says a research report issued by the Council for Educational Research. The report is part of a set of six in an information kit published for teachers. It concludes that repeated exposure to violent programmes increases the aggressive be-i haviour of children. Reliable figures on thej amount of TV violence shown in New Zealand have not been collected. New Zealand imports about 40 per cent of its programmes from the United I States. Of the 15 American I programmes rated as “most) violent” by’ large samples of viewers, 14 have been shown in New Zealand recently, and all at prime viewing times, savs the report. The typical child watches TV for between 20 and 25 hours a week, and therefore sees “countless episodes where heroes gained their ends violently,” it says. “Unfortunately, the available evidence shows that; less than half of parents surveyed exercise control over the TV knob, and fewer still [ view along with their child- ’ ren.” Aggression in children ] seems to be greatly reduced • where adults watch violent . programmes with children and criticised the characters who commit violent acts. I However, it is usually the ( children needing adult help . the most who receive it the least, according to the report. 1 Far too many children be- I lieve that the screen portrays j life as it really is. Programme content and control should be . a matter of concern to parents and teachers, it says. •' TV producers seeming tots

■’be reluctant to change th s ■ responsible for selecting and t [scheduling programmes could ilsurely exert more pressure > by grading programme-; for general viewing <G). adult 1 (A), and adults only (ALU as in Australia, the report savs. Such a policy would not : stop children staving up late, : to watch adult programmes, but it would help parents ; make rules for home viewing. iThe Swedish authorities have Igone further by censoring [violence from their imported ■ programmes. Research has shown that TV violence blunts sensitivity, and children who watch violent material have a higher tolerance of violent behaviour jin real life, says the report. (Research also shows that [violent programmes cause aggressive behaviour, not that aggressive children have a preference for violent programmes.