![20180224_080011.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPwCDUAV1iRBYcVLCu1P3PmjPLhJvXBeocTjc27pLPUJZ/20180224_080011.png)
>When viewers are hooked into engaging  theirselves with media's persuasive influence it wouldn't be surprising that they would also imitate and model it into their respective lives. 

I grew up in a family where our usual pastime is to huddle in the living room to watch television programs. I spent my younger years fighting over the remote with my brothers. They wanted to watch shows with a lot of fight scenes and superhero storylines. I would hide the remote because I fear for my life. Well it may be exaggerating but it was really dangerous to give them what they want because it would mean that I would be their punching bags as they imitate what they see on tv. I always wanted to watch my favorite Barbie shows but my brothers are die hard fans of Superman. Well I love Superman too but the sad thing is I get to play the villain in my brothers  re-enactment of the scenes they saw on tv. 

As my brothers displayed aggression and channelled violence from their favorite television shows I on the other hand suffered from it. I would tell my mom and dad about it but they would just tell me that it's just merely childplay.So I accepted my defeat & dropped my chance to watch Barbie and stayed in my room,far from my annoyingly violent brothers.It would be nice to win over them just for once but I wouldn't let myself be hurt again because of what my parents call as "child's play". What my brothers consider plays are a bunch of mindless games,of me being beaten up just to fulfill their desires to copy superman. 

Since it's saturday morning here in this side of the world and as a weekend bonding of our family we are currently gathered in front of the television again. My childhood living room experience with my brothers suddenly popped into my head so I decided to put it into writing. And since  it's also an ongoing problem of the society to prevent aggressive behaviors of viewers acquired from film,television,video games and internet related influence.

 _What do we learn from violence in media? Does it suggest learning to be affected by aggressive skills?_

##  An Overview on Observational Learning
Learning from observation and imitating others defines observational learning in Psychology.While this can occur in any phase of our lives,observational learning usually manifests and is very crucial in our childhood years. Children being ignorant of the world would still depend on the adults guidance thus allowing them to follow or model the adult's behaviors & actions. In it's simplest sense observational learning is about engaging in a response imitating a certain model.

 It occurs when as children we watch our parents do the household chores and learning to execute it ourselves because of constant observation. In psychological experiments on observational learning Albert Bandura and his colleagues initiated experiments to determine the relevance of learning through observational pespectives. These was all manifested in **"Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment."**

![20180224_104308.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZSYwq8f46yCdgYwnrZXpcZY1vrKWYPYm3DZCg8JJe8iR/20180224_104308.png)

He conducted a series of experiments to check if social behaviors are caused by observation and imitation.I will highlight his first set of test which involves nursery children in Stanford University a school where he is also working. Some children of this group was placed in a room where they were asked to observe the behavior of adults with a bobo doll. They watched adults aggressively hit and punched the clown looking doll that was popular in the 1960's. When the children were given the chance to play with the doll themselves,surprisingly they also exhibited the same violent behavior that adults showed.The researchers found out that even if children are not positively or negatively reinforced they will still behave disturbingly copying what they see from others. 

<H3> Social Learning Theory</H3>proves the findings of this experiment.Formulated and coined by Albert Bandura himself this theory emphasizes the impact of observational learning to social behaviors. As Bandura presented,children are more prone to imitate what they see from their surroundings including adult's actions and even the things that they have seen in television,films and in different media forms.

## Potential Harmful Effects of Media to Aggressive Social Behaviors
![portrait-3163518_1920.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWwUMiZWSgNkcyRG9Z3ZKQoyXAkYohTxMPqnhC8VfZ97a/portrait-3163518_1920.jpg)
The debate as to whether brutality and assault in media is fueled by violence in real situtions has been going on for years. However there are a lot of studies already that highly suggests media violence as a factor in aggressive behavioral arousals.We should concern ourselves with the disruptive effects of violent media to children. Violent video games with murderous intent are brainwashing the minds of its players since it requires participation. These games reward players by giving them points to level up on the next stage if they will kill some characters on the game. In these scenarios tough these games aim to create heroes but it is also not surprising that other players are assuming the roles of criminals. 

Television on the other hand is a classic source of cloning  tendencies especially to children.Children are exposed to killings,murders and sexual aggression,just by spending their time in front of televisions.Other media forms that contain aggressive related influences can be derived from movies,music videos,commercials,internet,online games and even comic books. In the first place why is media showing violence of all sorts? 

### It's plainly simple.Because violence sells. By selling violence through media it is also promoting real violence.

## Teaching children to not imitate violent behaviors in media

Though indecent scenes and disturbing shows cannot be easily controlled by the audience,it is wise to explain to the younger generation to understand the following:
□ Not everything that they see are real,so theres no need to impersonate everything that they see in media.
□ Conflicts of any kind can be easily resolved through communication and understanding aside from aggression and violence.
□ Violent behaviors shown in media does not represent all people's behavior.

> If we would just patiently explain to the younger generation that it is inappropriate to imitate media violence and other sources  then even if they are exposed to it,they will be less likely to elicit aggresive responses.


References:
[1. Violence in the Media,psychologists study potential harmful effects](http://www.apa.org/action/resources/research-in-action/protect.aspx)
[2. What Is Observational Learning?](https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-observational-learning-2795402)
[3.Social Learning Theory (Bandura)](https://www.learning-theories.com/social-learning-theory-bandura.html)
[4. Simply Psychology: Bobo Doll Experiment](https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html)
[5.Behavioral Psychology;Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment](https://www.psychologistworld.com/behavior/bobo-doll-experiment-albert-bandura-learning-aggression)
[6. Violent Media and Aggressive Behavior in Children](
https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-baby-scientist/201801/violent-media-and-aggressive-behavior-in-children%3famp)
[7. Psychological Effects Of Violent Media In Children](https://www.livestrong.com/article/95972-psychological-effects-violent-media-children/)


Image Sources:
[1](https://unsplash.com/photos/0Q33pyk-AXI)
[2](https://www.google.com.ph/search?as_st=y&tbm=isch&hl=en-PH&as_q=bobo+doll+&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&cr=&as_sitesearch=&safe=images&tbs=sur:fc#imgrc=r3ElQhQ3YmD9ZM:)
[3](https://pixabay.com/en/portrait-gamer-gamers-play-fantasy-3163518/)

Love & Light,
@sakura1012

![received_1997120210613645.jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZducTzNbPyafodFjrYrxvqzMFdXJ3QFyW4aJGACsQJLC/received_1997120210613645.jpeg)