10.0 Children and TV Violence American children watch an average of 3 to 4 hours of television daily.
Television can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behavior.
Unfortunately, much of today's television programming is violent. Extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness. Sometimes watching a single violent program can increase aggressiveness. Children who view shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated, or unpunished are more likely to imitate what they see. The impact of TV violence may be immediately evident in a child's behavior or may surface years later.