Columbia International Affairs Online
CIAO DATE: 8/5/2007
Literature Review on Media Violence, Children and Small Arms
2006 November
South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons
Abstract
One of the key issues in examining the impact of small arms on children is the role of the media. The SEESAC Education Consultant has developed a Literature Review of some materials that are relevant to considering the need for education programmes on media violence and small arms. Research has now confirmed the link between media violence and aggressive behaviour. If young people also have ready access to guns, then the likelihood of violent behaviour, against themselves and others, increases. Most of the resources are from the USA, with the exception of the UNESCO study; however, US media, films, TV, video and computer games are increasingly available to children all over the world, so the US research data is relevant.
