Impact of violent television serial on aggression among adolescents: psychosocial study

INTRODUCTION

Television is one of the most effective electronic media used to promote all types of programmed. Unsupervised television serials watching in children can lead to early exposure to things they may not understand or may misinterpret. Television serials may influence the children to resort to improper measures. Mostly, presented serials, advertisements and film stories deeply impact young minds, thus influencing the thoughts and behavior of children. Many people are more time watching television serials, especially children and youngsters, start identifying with what is shown on television. They relate to television shows and serials to such an extent that they get bored of living a normal and simple life. They crave for fame and riches; they yearn for living the lives of their favorite TV characters. This may lead to dissatisfaction and frustration. As real life is the contrast of the life portrayed on TV, such TV addicts become hungry for power, money and status. Today’s much adolescent watch television for long time. Many a time, they spend their evenings watching their favorite serials-film on TV.

Today nearly every home in India is having at least one television set. Since 1983 when television was introduced in India and that too in Delhi only one test basis. But within 15 years its network is widened like anything. At first programmed was transmitted for 04 hours in the evening. Later the time was increased to 7 hours but evening itself, later morning transmission and almost for 18 hours the transmission is on. But private channels which are operated in India by cable operators are having 24 hours transmission. So any portion when switched on the television can watch it.

Definition of television

Television is a telecommunication system that transmits images of objects between distant points.

Concept of television violence

Today’s television violence is most of the social problem. Television have been covered all types of programmed. Television violence has become a pressing matter owing to an increasing number of reports about the illness effects of such visual exposure. Learn the facts about television violence and what arguments multiply against this form of media. According to the National Television Study research program funded by the National Cable Television Association violence is defined as 'Any overt depiction of a credible threat of physical force or the actual use of such force intended to physically harm an animate being or group of beings. Violence also includes certain depictions of physically harmful consequences against an animate being or group that occur as a result of unseen violent means. Thus, there are three primary types of violent depictions: credible threats, behavioral acts and harmful consequences.

Today’s media violence is critical issues of society. Media are involving the increases the social crime, political crime and overall crimes. An adolescent need is motivated for crimes. Violence is generalized issues for any adolescents. Every people are facing the lot of violence every day. Violence typically is defined by behavioral scientists as physical aggression that is so severe that the target is likely to suffer serious physical injury. Some critics argue that media violence is simply representative of real-world violence. However, research shows that violent crimes are greatly over represented on TV compared to real life.

Media and crime

Now days every house is having a TV set. It is observed that children are watching various kinds of violence in films, serials being shown on Hindi as well as Marathi channels. This may creates criminal attitude in children. Investigator have found that violent people tends to show more violent behavior by watching such types of aggressive content being shown on TV.

Relationship between violent television serial and aggression

Today’s children have to turn on the television to observe the more proliferate of violent and aggressive content in today’s media. These days television serials and programe is very violent. Television serial can be harmful influence in adolescent behavior. Many popular television serial are impact on adolescent’s aggressive behavior. Extensive watching of television violence by adolescent causes more aggressiveness. Sometimes, watching a single of violent serial can be increases aggressive behavior. Children who watch serial in which violence serial is very realistic, frequently repeated of offenders go unpunished are more likely to imitate what they see.

Aggression defined as harmful behavior which violates social conventions and which may include deliberate intent to harm or injure another person or object (Bandura, 1973).²

One of the earliest and most well-known studies was conducted by Bandura in 1963.² He had a group of children. They viewed a TV video of a model that kicked and punished an inflated plastic doll. After the viewing, the children were placed in a playroom with other children who had not seen the video. Those that saw the video displayed significantly more aggressive behavior than those who didn't.

In the study by O’Brien and Huston (1985), 14 for instance both boys and girls were revealed to prefer playthings that allowed moderate to high activity levels.

Possibly one argue that children enjoy active games is that they believe the arousal that comes with such games as pleasant. Maybe they show affection to watching violence for the same cause.

Aim of the study was to the specific problem under investigation of the present study was to examine the effect of violent TV serial on aggression of high school students of Jalgaon district.

Objective of study was to find out the difference in Aggression of the adolescents who watch violent TV serial and who watch non-violent TV serial.

To find out the difference in Aggression of private and government school going adolescents. To find out the difference in Aggression of male and female adolescents. To find out the difference in Aggression of rural and urban area adolescents.

METHODS

Hypotheses of study

There is significant difference in Aggression between the adolescents who watch violent TV serial and who watch Non-violent TV serial. There is significant difference in Aggression between private and government school adolescents. There is significant difference in Aggression between male and female adolescents. There is significant difference in Aggression between rural and urban area adolescents.

In this study TV serial, school, area and gender were treated as independent variables while aggression were treated as dependent variables. Aggression questionnaire was constructed and standardized by Perry and Buss (1992).³ This questionnaire consists of 29 items and each item is provided with five alternatives. Obviously, a 2x2x2x2 factorial design was used and to avoid any complications, cell frequency in each group was kept constant. The data were first treated by Mean, SD and later on by Four Way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Sample of study

The sample of the present study consists of 640 students (320 boys and 320 girls) Sample of the study was selected purposive sampling from the secondary schools students of Jalgaon Dist. Sample selected from four high schools namely, 1. Lohara high school, Lohara Tal-Raver 2. Pahur High school, Pahura Tal- Jamners 3. Asharam School, Galan Tal- Pachora and D. N. High School, Faizpur Tal- Yawal in Jalgaon Dist (2013-2015). Sample was also divided into two levels of violence and non-violence TV serial. Their educational standard was secondary school and their age range was 14 to 16 yrs.

P at 0.05 = 1.96, 0.01 = 2.59

Interpretation

The researcher has found that the mean value on aggression of adolescent who watch violent TV serial was 76.66 and SD was 12.30. Similarly the mean value on aggression of adolescent who watch Non-Violent TV serial was 72.05 and SD was 13.94. The calculated “t” value was 4.43. It is interpreted that the adolescent who watch violent TV serial are more aggressive than the adolescent who watch Non-violent TV serials.

The mean value and SD score for private school adolescent was 73.56 and 14.26, respectively and mean value and SD of government school adolescent was 75.15 and 12.31 respectively. Its calculated “t” value was 1.51 only; it means that there is no significant difference on Aggression between private and government school adolescents. The mean value and SD score for male adolescent was 76.00 and 12.17, respectively and mean value and SD of female adolescent was 72.72 and 14.25 respectively. Its calculated “t” value was 3.12 only; it is significant at 0.01 levels. It has been interpreted that male adolescent are more Aggressive than female adolescents.

The mean value and SD score for urban area adolescent was 72.38 and 14.48, respectively and mean value and SD of rural area adolescent was 76.34 and 11.77 respectively. Its calculated “t” value was 3.79 only; it is significant at 0.01 levels. It has been interpreted that rural area adolescent are more Aggressive than urban area adolescents.

It was observed that the “F” value for the TV serial (A, C, D) was 22.96,12.09 & 6.56. It is significant at 0.01 levels.

Interaction effect A x B, A x C, A x D, B X D is not significant. Hence, Interaction effect B x C is significant (F=4.28, df=1 and 624; p>0.05) It means that there is intergroup difference between the private – government school going adolescent and urban – rural area adolescent on aggression. Then, Interaction effect main C and main effect D are significant (F=8.01, df=1 and 624; p<0.01) It means that there is significant difference between the urban – rural area adolescent and male – female adolescent on aggression.

Above three way interaction effects of A x B x C, A x B x D, are significant (F=8.34, df=1 and 624; p<0.01) (F=5.30, df=1 and 624; p<0.05) It means that there is significant difference between the adolescents who watch violent TV serial and who watch non violent TV serial, private – government school going adolescent and urban – rural area adolescent on aggression. It means that TV serial, school and area was interacting with each others. Hence, above three way interaction effect of A x C x D and B x C x D are not significant difference. (F = 3.60, df = 1 and 624; p>0.01) (F = 0.04, df =1 and 624; p>0.01)

Above table four way interaction effects of A x B x C x D, It was also found no significant difference (F = 0.57, df=1 and 624; p>0.05). Thus the entire four main affects namely the TV serial, School, Area and Gender was not interacting with each others. Above four variables are functioned independently while no influencing the about aggression.

*significant at .05 level** significant at .01 level

DISCUSSION

On the basis of this it could be clearly concluded that aggression is significantly more among the adolescents who watch violent TV serial than the adolescents who watch Non-violent TV serial. The adolescents who watch violent TV serial content caused an increase in aggressive behavior. This study verifies that younger children are likely to experience more profound negative effects from viewing TV violence. That is why the above finding can be supported by the conclusion of the studies carried out by Huesmann, Eron, Lefkowitz and Walder (1984).⁴ On the basis of this it could be clearly concluded that aggression is significantly more among the male adolescent than female adolescents. In almost all the cultures the males are relatively more aggressive than the females. It is because among the females aggressive behavior is not appreciated. In almost all the families in India the females are taught to be submissive; on the contrary, the submissive male children are encouraged to be assertive. On the basis of this it could be clearly concluded that aggression is significantly more among the rural area adolescent than urban area adolescents. The studies result indicates that rural area adolescents found more aggressive than urban area adolescents. Rural area family system structure indicates that father is a head of the family became even today in the rural areas. Attitude appears more dominate in the same family of structure.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that the adolescents who watch violent TV serials are aggressive than the adolescents who watch Non-violent TV serials. It means that violent television serials content and shows caused an increased anti-social and aggressive behavior in adolescents. Second conclusion means there is no significant difference on Aggression between private and government school adolescents. Male are aggressive than female adolescents. In the Indians family cultures is appreciated aggressive behavior of male. Third conclusion, Rural area adolescents are aggressive than urban area adolescents. This study recommends that the parents, you are your family members and child’s first line of defense. It's your responsibility is protect your child from the negative and bad effects of excessive TV violence. Here are some suggestions for parents: 1. Pay attention to what your family members and children’s are watching. 2. Watch TV with your family members and children.

Funding: No funding sources

Conflict of interest: None declared

Ethical approval: Not required

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