KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Exposure to Violence Leads to Aggression

The more children are exposed to violence, the more they think it is normal.  New research says it doesn't matter whether that violence is on a TV screen or in a child's neighborhood.  According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science researchers say that the more children are exposed to violence, the more they think the violence is normal.  The researchers in the study, titled 'Monkey See, Monkey Do, Monkey Hurt' say the kids become desensitized over time.  Doctors say the violence and the aggression seem commonplace.  They say the more they are exposed to that type of behavior, the more likely they are to use that kind of behavior to solve problems.  Parents can't eliminate all violence in a child's life but they can do a lot to screen what their kids see and what video games their kids play.