Today's children's violent and aggressive behavior has often been correctly attributed to television viewing. Television is not the only source from which such behavior can be learned, but is one of the most prevalent sources available to children of all ages in the United States. But how does television viewing cause children to be more violent, aggressive or anti-social?

Myriad studies show that television violence affect children by desensitizing children to the horror of violence, teaching them to accept violence as a solution to problems, teaching them to imitate the violence they see on the television and leading them to identify with characters seen on television (and thus imitate the characters they identify with) (Parenthood Web). The amount of violence in television programming is obviously directly related to the amount of violence witnessed by children. In 1985 alone, 85% of all television programming contained violence, with 92.1% of cartoons aired containing violence. These cartoons generally contain one violent act every three minutes! (Liebert and Sprafkin, 117) While cartoon are often seen as innocent and safe for children to watch, with such rampant violence in them, are they truly safe and innocent?

Any person watching a single violent television program can become more aggressive; in children, this phenomenon is also applicable. In reality, children are more affected by television than the average adult. Children who watch violent television programming, especially programming in which the violence or aggression is realistic, frequent and/or unpunished tend to become more violent and aggressive, immediately after the program and/or much later, sometimes even years later.

One of the most disturbing areas of television and children involve the types of programs children seem to be watching. For example, one of the most popular television shows of the 1990's, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, is almost entirely occupied with using violence to solve the various problems the characters must face. Additionally, these characters are praised rather than punished for using violence to solve their problem(s). Consequently, the viewers learn that violence is an acceptable solution, while also not learning any other problem solving techniques. In fact, according to recent research, "children's programs are the least likely of all genres [of television shows] to show the long-term negative consequences of violence. (5%)" (http://www.cep.org/tvviolence.html) Clearly, the children watching television all over the world are learning to embrace violence, often the wrong solution to any problem. Hence, what else can we expect from them when they bring the violence and aggressiveness into the community (i.e. to school)?