Game Playing and Television Viewing: The Influence of Visual Media on the Acquisition of Behavioural Norms in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

This study will explore the influence of media on the acquisition of behavioural norms in children and adolescents. The forms of media discussed in this article are television and video games, which are grouped under the term "visual media". These visual media can have both negative, or antisocial, and positive, or prosocial, influences on a child’s behavioural norms. Mechanisms explaining these influences are discussed, using the findings of critical and contemporary research. The behavioural norms as mentioned in the article are derived from the ideal image of the child in Western society, and include altruism, tolerance and respect. A highly emphasized antisocial norm in this article is the portrayal of aggressive or violent behaviour. The article concludes with a discussion section, in which implications for future research are explored.