The Writing’s on the Wall

This is a followup to an earlier post entitled: What Are You Brewing. I recommend you read it first for context.

Believe the Science

Effects of Violent & Graphic Media on Children

A study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience found that exposure to violent media can desensitize the brain’s response to real-life violence. The study found that children who were exposed to violent media had a reduced brain response to images of real-life violence, compared to children who were not exposed to violent media. This desensitization could lead to an increased tolerance for violence and a reduced ability to empathize with victims of violence.

According to a study conducted by the University of Missouri, it found that exposure to violent images in media, *including street murals, can lead to aggressive behavior and desensitization to violence in children. The study found that children who were exposed to violent media were more likely to display aggressive behavior, and those who were exposed to violent media on a regular basis were more likely to become desensitized to violence. The study recommends that parents and caregivers monitor children’s media exposure and limit their exposure to violent images. Source: University of Missouri-Columbia. Exposure to violent media linked to aggressive behavior.

Another study by the American Psychological Association (APA) states that, exposure to graphic violence can have a negative effect on the mental health of children and adolescents. The APA states that exposure to violence can lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. This can also cause desensitization to violence and reduce empathy towards others. Source: American Psychological Association (APA). (2013). Violence exposure in childhood: A public health priority. Also see: Policy Statement on Social Practices that Induce Violence

Overall, frequent exposure to graphic violence shown in street murals can have a negative impact on the mental health and behavior of children and adolescents. It is important for parents and caregivers to monitor their children’s exposure to violent media and provide support to help them cope with any negative effects.

Also see: American Academy of Pediatrics

Believe the Lived Experiences

These colloquialisms in the English language are more than clever words. They are cautionary truths:

• The writing’s on the wall
• You’ll reap what you sow
• What goes around comes around
• Chickens come home to roost
• Actions have consequences
• A picture’s worth a thousand words
• You’ll harvest what you plant
• If you play with fire, you could get burned
• You can’t have your cake and eat it too
  • (to have or enjoy the ‘good’ parts of something without having or dealing with the bad parts)

I will add two of my own:

• Art reflects the heart of the artist.
• Art affects the heart of the viewer.

We can wring our hands about violence in the schools, but who will speak up and step up to protect the children from violent imagery? But it’s not just the children we should be concerned about. Let’s look out for the safety of the community at large.

Note: On the day I wrote this post (4-6-23), Cash App founder, Bob Lee was stabbed to death on the streets of San Francisco. There had been four stabbings in SF in the days leading up to Lee’s death. These four stabbings might not have seen the light of day had not Lee’s death been high profile. How many more go unnoticed; except by family and friends. No More Knives

*Someone mentioned on a social media site that they couldn’t find this quote, ‘including street murals’. In doing my research, I visited well over a dozen sites. As you can see, I attributed fewer than half of them. I might have misattributed this statement. However, I did read it. I’m not going to backtrack every site that I gleaned from almost week ago. Even if I exclude the words ‘including street murals’, the science is overwhelming. Violent imagery is harmful to children!