Question

Most of the TV shows that 9-year-old Fred watches involve violence. This is most likely to lead Fred to

A. become desensitized to violence on TV or in real life.
B. overestimate the level of injury experienced by victims of real life violence.
C. react with a heightened sense of distress at the sight of two children fighting on the school playground.
D. be more inhibited about personally starting a fight on the school playground.

Answer 1

Answer: A. become desensitized to violence on TV or in real life

Explanation: Because he is exposed to so much violence at such a young age, Fred will believe that the victims of the violence he sees on television are not in as much pain as they really are. This will carry into reality, thereby desensitizing him to violence both on television and in real life.

Seeing a lot of fictional violence may also have other lasting effects on Fred. Research shows that being exposed to fictional violence develops aggression in young children.