Television viewing and violence in children: the pediatrician as agent for change.
Three decades of research suggest a causal link between exposure of children to violent images on television and subsequent violent behavior. The epidemic of violence in American society mandates a critical reappraisal of the televised images that children see. To slow the cycle of violence, pediatricians can: (1) Help shape parental attitudes toward children's viewing habits; (2) lobby for school systems to adopt curricula that include critical viewing skills; and (3) work with Congress, Federal regulators, television producers, and broadcasters to reduce the exposure of children to televised violence.
Sege
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Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Dietz
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D001294:Attitude to Health; D002170:Canada; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002669:Child Welfare; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D010819:Physician's Role; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D013690:Television; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*