Television Violence and Child Murder Today, children are translating the fiction of television shows into real acts of violence. "Television becomes less and less an escape into fantasy, it becomes reality" (Palmer). Horrific murders, even by twelve-year-olds, support Palmers' claim. Television may not be the primary cause of these terrible crimes, but there is evidence that some of these unimaginable crimes are caused by violence seen on television. In our world today, television is a part of almost everyone's life. Researchers say that, on average, American children today spend at least three to four hours a day watching television. This means that on average weekly a child could spend up to twenty-eight hours in front of the television. Therefore, the television programs that children watch certainly make an important contribution to the development of values ​​and the formation of their behavior. Because of the many violent programs on television today, it is really not a good thing for children to be taught by television. While there are many good shows on television, there are most shows that kids love, that show them that "violence" is the way to go. The main problems that people have encountered across hundreds of studies have come to these four conclusions: Children:o Become "immune" to the horror of violence;o Gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems;o Imitate violence violence they observe on television;o Identifying with certain characters, victims and/or perpetrators (Int2, 1); One researcher stated: "Prolonged viewing of violent television episodes by children causes greater aggression. Sometimes, watching a single violent program can increase...... middle of paper ......see. htmlInt2: "Children and violence on TV" 1992 Available on the Internet: http://www.psych.med.umich.edu/web/aacap/factsFam/violence.htmInt3: "New study shows decline in television violence" 1996 Available on the Internet: http://www.screen.com/mnet/eng/NEWS/NEWS/ucla2.htmInt4: "Television Violence Report Card Act of 1993 (introduced in the House)" 1993On-line. //www.duke.edu/~cars/cill2.htmlInt5: "The TV Violence Chip Makes Its Debut!" 1998Online. Internet /1998Mar13/273.htmlInt6: "Television violence study confirms fears" 1996On-line. Internet Available: http://www.dove.org/dove/columns/1996/column9605.htmInt7: Magee, Mary "On. Television: The Violence Factor" 1984On-line. Internet. Available: http://www.newsreel.org/films/violence.html