The Psychosocial Effect of Violent Movies on Children in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
The major objective of this study, is to ascertain the psychosocial effect of violent movies on children in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are as follows;
1. To ascertain if there is an over emphasis of negative themes in movies.
2. To identify the negative effects or disadvantages associated with watching violent movies by children.
3. To find out how violent movies can affect the behaviours of children.
4. To suggest ways to prevent or reduce the negative effects or malevolence caused by violent movies in children in our society.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
CONCEPT OF VIOLENCE
Violence implies physical attack of an individual on another person. Activities that may legally involved violence include hunting, law enforcement, sports and war. Crime includes many illegal forms of violence such as armed robbery, burglary, arson suicide, rape, gansterism toughness, thuggery, murder, karate and judos, illegal forms of firearms and all illegal forms of violence that ate recognized in the rules and regulations of a given society. Webster’s dictionary of English language defines ‘violence’ as the quality or state of being violent, intensity fury, also unjust exercise of power, injury, outrage, physical force unlawfully exercised and act tending: an act tending to intimidate or overawe by causing apprehension of bodily injury. Violence is not just physical. People inflict psychological and emotional damages after viewing televised violence. Episode in which someone is reduced to tears, humiliated or simply made fearful (perhaps by threat of violence) are still violent. Violent is the adjective meaning the situation whereby injury is caused by exhibiting intense emotional or mental excitement. So the inherently different nature of televised violence becomes yet another variable. Television violence do not exist in isolation, so our understanding of what is violence behaviour is the formation of our attitudes towards violence and it happens through a collection and accumulation of experiences from various media and texts. Graeme (2005) posits that violence is not a single act of a single text within a single medium. The underlying fact about violence (especially televised violence) is that the viewers form different reactions towards a given violence movie. Whereas some viewers might exhibit non-aggressive attitudes; others might be aggressive after watching televised violent movies. (Odenigbo and Adejefor, 1997) Regrettably, it has equally been found that females, children and the elderly are usually victims of violence; they have already been cast in this role by the prevailing mythologies which inhabit texts. We are disinclined that women will commit violence as their male counterparts.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the psychosocial effect of violent movies on children in Nigeria
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information the psychosocial effect of violent movies on children in Nigeria. 200 200 staff of selected residents in Uyo local government in Akwa Ibom state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was the psychosocial movies on children in Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of violent movies on children
Summary
This study was on the psychosocial movies on children in Nigeria. Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain if there is an over emphasis of negative themes in movies, to identify the negative effects or disadvantages associated with watching violent movies by children, to find out how violent movies can affect the behaviours of children and to suggest ways to prevent or reduce the negative effects or malevolence caused by violent movies in children in our society. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made married women, married women, students and youths were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Some scholars (Huesmann and Moise) are of the opinion that media violence promotes violent behavior in young people, that viewing habits of young people predicts subsequent aggression and also that exposure to violence leads to arousal, desensitization and acceptance. Some other scholars (Wilbur Schramm, Jack Lyle, Edwin Parker etc.) are of the opinion that for some children under some conditions, watching violent films might be harmful, for some under other conditions, beneficial and for most children under most conditions, it might be neither harmful or beneficial (Vivian, 1999: 401) while some scholars (Freedman etc) are of the opinion that media violence does not promote violent behavior in young people. That the results are inconsistent, unrealistic and inconclusive, and that young people know the difference between real and fiction. Vivian (1999:397) opines that “some experts however say that the negative effect of media-depicted violence is too often overstated and that media violence actually has a positive side”. It therefore means that some people when they have viewed violent films might tend to act positively. A woman who is abused at home by her spouse and who has bottled up her emotions might decide to check an NGO on domestic violence or seek help from a counselor. George Gerbner theorizes that the media violence has negative effects on society. He calls it, “the mean-world syndrome”, that people has been exposed to so much violence that they now see the real world as a mean place and can easily adapt to violence in the world
Recommendation
The study advocates for control on the depiction of violence in the media, there should be strict and monitored policies on violent programmes in the media since some heavy viewers will be affected. Parents are enjoined to know what programme their children are viewing on the media, if possible they should watch with them explaining some of the issues to them, thereby educating them. This will make them to have positive parental influence on their children
REFERENCES
- Al – Adawi, S. and Al-Blilani, S. (2007).Domestic Violence: “what is love got to do with it? Sultan QabossUniv Med Journal 7(1)5-11 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles 2.
- Anderson C.A., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein E., Huesman L.R., Johnson J.D., Linz J.D., & Warterlla E. (2004).The Influence of media violence on youth psychology science in the public interest. http://www.psychology.iastale.edu/facult/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/03ABDHJLMW.pdf 3.
- Anaeto et al (1980), Models And Theories Of Communication, Bowie, Maryland: African Renaissance Books Incorporated. 4.
- Bitner, J.R . (1989), Mass Communication : An Introduction (Eaglewood Cliffs, New Jersey : Prentice Hall) 5th Edition. 5.
- Centre for Children and families in the Justice System (2002). Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: A Teacher’s Handbook to increase understanding and improve community Response.http://www.ifcc.on.ca/teacher-us.pdf 6.
- Chapter 31- Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura.http://www.highered.mcgrawhill.com./sites/dl/free/0073385026/22836/sociallearning.pdf 7.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway (2009).Domestic violence and the child welfare system: impact of Domestic violence on children. Bulletins for professionalshttps://www.childwelfare.gov/ pubs/factsheets/domestic_violence/impact.cfm 8.
- De fleur .M.L (1990), Theories Of Mass Communication (N.Y. Longman), 2nd Edition. 9.
- Ferguson C.J (n.d). Media violence effects and violent Crime: Good scie
