Even before JFK’s assassination in 1968 turned the tide against Saturday morning cartoon violence, many were already sounding the alarm bells about the graphic antics of favorites such as Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry.
And despite decades of anecdotal and empirical evidence and research, we’re still learning how exposure to violence at a young age can shape our brains – regardless of what form that violence takes.
Now, a new study adds to that with data on the long-term consequences of early childhood exposure to violent media content. The paper singles out notable links to antisocial behavior in mid-adolescence — particularly in boys.
“Although past evidence showing causal links between modeling and getting rewarded for violence had an immediate impact on aggressive behavior in 4-year-old children, few studies have investigated long-term risks with antisocial behavior. We studied such risks in mid-adolescence,” lead author and CHU Sainte-Justine researcher Linda Pagani explained. “It was ideal to study this question with typically developing middle-class children because, as a population, they have the lowest chances of engaging in aggression and behavior harmful to others.”
Appearing in the most recent International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the paper underscores the need for both parents and policymakers to do more.
Methodology – And Results
The researchers drew on data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), involving 963 girls and 982 boys born in the late 1990s. In that study, parents reported the frequency of their children’s exposure to violent television content at three-and-a-half and four-and-a-half years of age.
More than a decade later, once the kids turned 15, the participants self-reported behaviors indicative of aggression and antisocial tendencies, such as proactive aggression, physical aggression, and delinquent behavior.
Pagani’s researchers then used statistical models to examine the connections between early exposure and later outcomes – while controlling for confounding variables, such as pre-existing family dynamics and socioeconomic factors.
The team uncovered a significant gender disparity. Specifically, they found that boys who often watched violent television in early childhood appeared to be prone to aggressive and antisocial teen behavior. Behaviors included:
- Increased proactive aggression.
- Physical aggression.
- And general antisocial tendencies.
Interestingly, the study failed to find a similar link with the female participants.
Exploring Developmental and Long-Term Risks
The study’s authors attribute this disparity (in part) to gendered social and biological factors. Boys are more likely to embrace action-packed entertainment and identify with male characters acting as “aggressive” heroes. Repeated exposure at such a critical stage of cognitive and social development seems to influence how children perceive conflict resolution. It also appears to normalize aggressive behavior while curtailing their empathy for victims of violence.
The research lines up with Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. Violent media usually portrays aggression heroic – or at the very least, effective. And, eventually, kids consuming these shows and playing these games can conjure up aggressive “scripts” for dealing with most social situations. This, in turn, can make them prone to delinquent or hostile behavior.=
But the ripple effects of this exposure can cascade past childhood, the researchers warn. Aggressive and antisocial adolescents can be at increased risk for academic struggles to social isolation to even legal issues. As adults, they can struggle with substance abuse, mood disorders, and trouble maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships.
“A seemingly minor behavioral shift in early childhood can influence decision-making and relationship dynamics over the life course,” Pagani, who’s also professor at the Université de Montreal’s School of Psychoeducation, added.
Recommendations
This paper underscores the importance of targeted interventions. The authors suggest:
- Public health campaigns and parental education programs to raise awareness about the developmental risks while promoting age-appropriate content.
- Policies that regulate violent programming aimed at preschoolers could help curb exposure.
- Additionally, the researchers advocate for integrating media literacy education into school curricula.
By fostering informed media consumption habits, initiatives like these could contribute to healthier developmental trajectories.
Further Reading
Researchers Identify Link Between Childhood Trauma, PTSD
Association Between Different Attachment Styles and Trends of Engagement in Violent Video Games
The Epidemiology of Antisocial Behavioral Syndromes in Adulthood
