Children, Youths and Mediated Violence: A Reflective Evaluation of Some Selected Theoretical Models

The Nigerian Journal of Communication.

Abstract

Mediated violence especially as it affects children or the youths, has continued to benefit from scholarly attention in the area of research and theoretical explication. However, some of the research outcomes and theories show flawed arguments under serious theoretical interrogation. This paper uses a reflective analysis to interrogate further some of these theories and argues that they require a reassessment based on current thinking that the mass media alone could not cause violent effects to happen on children and the youths. In order words, media effects are not always direct, potent, and particular in causing significant effects on an individual or the entire society. There are always combination of factors that cause changes in audience behaviours and perception arising from the exposure to 
media stimuli, in this case, media violence. Theoretical models like Individual Differences perspective, Uses and Gratification theory, theory of Triadic  Influence, and the other selective processes further support this thesis. The paper recommends that current studies on
mediated violence and the use of theoretical frameworks must reflect the realistic position/actual conclusions rather than idealistic or impracticable ideas that are best sophistry.

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