Prosocial messages inthe media

The articles that we read for class discussed the ideas of prosocial messages as opposed to violent messages and how they helped/hindered children's views of others as well as the world. The video game article discussed that violent video games cause aggression, anxiety, hostile expectation bias, etc. Contrastly, video games with prosocial messages caused the opposite effect on children. The point of prosocial messages in the media is to shape children into being helpful individuals. I completely agree with the concept of prosocial messages, but I'm still not necessarily sold on the idea that violence causes aggressive behavior; and I never really agreed with it. I know that there have been studies that have "proven" this, but I really think that it is the environment that children are placed in that may or may not cause aggressive and antisocial behavior.

I've studied George Gerbner's theory of cultivation, but I studied it from the violent behavior aspect of the theory. After taking a closer look, I understand why violent media may cause violent behavior, but I think that violent behavior is mainly caused by the environent that a child is placed in. It's up to the parents to step in and teach children right from wrong, but if parents, like many do, let television raise their children, then that's where the problems arise. If adults don't stay hands on with their children then of course children will cultivate their own ideas of what is right and wrong and these ideas are backed up by their peers whom have had the same upbringing.