Question

Discuss the reliability of anecdotal evidence that movie violence causes violence in real life. What are some of your own thoughts and experiences in encountering violence and other negative images on the big screen? What effect did your family background and viewing habits have on your perceptions and attitudes about violence and sex in movies?

Answer 1

Discuss the reliability of anecdotal evidence that movie violence causes violence in real life.

I think movie violence does influence, has an impact and causes real life violence to some degree. People especially youngsters are vulnerable and susceptible to what they see on the big screen. They may try to imitate and copy acts and behaviour to appear cool or accepted in peer groups. Being continuously exposed to violent movies causes a high tolerance to violence in society. There are studies that show that people turn indifferent to real life crimes on the streets because they have become immune to seeing lots of bloodshed and violent acts already in the movies so they don’t react or help the victims easily as they are supposed to. To conclude, anecdotal evidence does have a certain reliability to it.

What are some of your own thoughts and experiences in encountering violence and other negative images on the big screen?

My thoughts and experiences have included disbelief at the violent things shown, feelings of shock, fear and distress while watching gruesome and gory scenes, sometimes I have been traumatized too by watching extremely violent incidents unfold on the big screen.

What effect did your family background and viewing habits have on your perceptions and attitudes about violence and sex in movies?

Coming from a conservative and traditional family background, violence and sex in movies was considered as unimaginable, unrealistic and over exaggerated to say the least.