Violence Today / In Our News Violence Today

Because of todays news http://www.pravdareport.com/news/russia/27-08-2002/16738-0/

I want to give you a insight to the topic of violence...

[sources from different papers, books and school stuff]

 

Theories

 

-One theory says that violence is an instinct, which we all have, because it’s

necessary for survival. It’s always with us and therefore we have to find harmless

ways of acting out this strong emotional overcome. Sports competitions help to

get rid of it.

 

-Secondly violence is something that we learn from other people or from the

media. This learning process can be stopped.

 

-Violence is the result of frustration. When people don’t get what they want, they

become frustrated and this strong emotional overcome might lead to aggressive

behaviour.

 

-All people want to let off steam. In general, this is a normal and natural reaction,

such as slamming the door. However there are people who do this in a cruel and

brutal way.

 

 

Screen-Violence

 

On the one hand horror movies, action films and thrillers offer aggressive

entertainment. Lots of people believe that these movies cause more violence on

the street, in urban and rural areas, in schools and at work. Experts are of the

opinion that the audience identifies with the aggressor and with his cruel acts, such

as murder, robbery or rape. So they suppose that the viewer of these movies

might imitate the brutal acts. Some specialists believe that especially children and

teenagers might be influenced in a bad way.

 

Statistics prove that non-violent films are more popular, although Hollywood

claims that these movies are merely produced, because the vast majority of our

society wants to watch them. Moreover opponents of screen violence complain

that these movies cause “cultural pollution” and that there is no escape from it.

 

On the other hand fans of horror films claim that screen violence is just good fun

and that it merely offers innocent pleasure. The supporters of these movies are of

the opinion that freedom is limited in ordinary life. They are convinced that violent

scenes are liberating and that they help the viewer to let off steam in a non-

violent way. Furthermore they are sure that just crazy people imitate the acts that

are shown on TV and that there is nothing that can be done against them anyway.

Also Hollywood regards these films as harmless entertainment. In film-makers

opinion there are absolutely no effects of the brutal scenes.

 

What can be done against this “cultural pollution”? Horror movies should be

censored or forbidden. However, some experts believe that censorship isn’t

effective enough. Therefore they want the audience to be more critical. Above all,

film-producers should be made responsible for the pollution they have caused?

 

 

Schools and Violence

 

Public schools’ problems have changed dramatically in the cause of history. In the

40s the most severe problems were talking out of turn, chewing gum, running in

halls and littering. Today the difficulties have changed significantly.

 

In recent years the most serious problems are drug & alcohol abuse, pregnancy,

rape, assault and robbery. Experts believe that gang activity must be made

responsible for the developments. They are concerned that many students believe

that murder by a gang is no real crime. The only crime is to disobey a gang order.

In Detroit, for example, attacks on teachers and school employees jumped an

astounding 900 per cent in five years.

 

 

Violent Kids

 

No one is shocked of atrocities committed by mobsters, drug pushers or

psychopaths. However, there is a new development that scares everybody. More

and more teenagers, who should be the most “innocent”, are running amuck and

kill, beat and rape others. Adolescence is often a troubled time of rebellion and

rage like in the West Side Story. But juvenile crime appears to be the most brutal

one, because young criminals very often don’t show any remorse or conscience.

 

Teen crime includes all races, classes and life-styles, although the offenders are

overwhelmingly male. There are several reasons for this behaviour. Experts

believe that physiological, psychological abnormalities, gang movements and

cultural and family decay may contribute to this tendency. Some specialists are of

the opinion that aggression is biologically rooted. The roots of this reason can be

found in the production of testosterone, the male sex hormone, which makes

young teenagers aggressive.

 

Others are convinced that beatings by parents or others, alcohol or drug

consumption influence the youngsters in a negative way. Overburdened parents

with demanding jobs can’t supervise their children all the time and so kids often

feel neglected. Therefore the lack of parental supervision is a decisive factor for

juvenile violence. Also verbal attacks, sexual abuse by parents or relatives make

kids more violent.

 

Teenagers often adopt the values of their peer rather than those of parents and

teachers. Surveys show that group influence is the most important factor. In some

gangs the committal of something “brave and powerful“, like killing or raping

somebody, can give the child a great status and reputation in the group.

 

Apart of these factors also the entertainment media plays a curtail role in juvenile

crime. Stats show that the vast majority of youngsters witnessed thousands of

murder and crime on TV. Some of the teenagers believe that they have to imitate

the acts. Also the music industry contains of some aggressive, brutal, satanic and

sexual themes in album covers, videos and lyrics.

 

In some cases poverty plays the most important role. On the one hand ghetto

residents, teenagers of ethnic minorities are more likely to commit a crime than

others. However on the other hand also children, who have got everything, kill

and do violent things. These kids believe that they are entitled to anything,

because of their better financial situation.

 

Solutions are difficult to find, but society calls for stronger laws and punishment.

Furthermore the access to guns, alcohol and drugs must be made more difficult.

Others are of the opinion that the parents of violent kids should be made

responsible for the criminal activity of their children. Governments should offer

more rehabilitative treatment in form of individual and group therapy for the

young offenders. Moreover political parties should increase their battles against

drugs, poverty and racism at all levels.

 

So... don't fight.. talk...

 

 

Greetings

Harry1984