NCJ Number
19207
Date Published
1975
Length
167 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT, RESULTS AND RESPONSES TO THE GOVERNMENT RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN TO INVESTIGATE ANY CAUSAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TELEVISED CRIME AND VIOLENCE AND ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR BY INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.
Abstract
IN 1969, SENATOR JOHN PASTORE REQUESTED THAT THE SURGEON GENERAL APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY INTO TELEVISION VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECT ON CHILDREN. WHEN THE SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT WAS FINALLY RELEASED IN 1972 - AFTER A THREE-YEAR INQUIRY AND A COST OF OVER 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS - IT ANGERED AND CONFUSED A NUMBER OF CRITICS, INCLUDING POLITICIANS, THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY, MANY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS WHO HAD HELPED CARRY OUT THE WORK, AND THE PUBLIC. THIS BOOK DEALS SUCCESSIVELY WITH TELEVISION AS AN OBJECT OF CONCERN; PASTORE'S INQUIRY; THE RESPONSE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE; AND THE SURGEON GENERAL'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ALSO CONSIDERED ARE WHAT THE RESEARCHERS FOUND IN THE LABORATORY, THE FIELD, AND THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY; HOW THE FINDINGS WERE COMMUNICATED; AND HOW THE CRITICS AND THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY RESPONDED. IT IS STATED THAT THIS REPORT DID PRESENT SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS INDICATING SOME CAUSAL RELATION BETWEEN VIEWING TELEVISED VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. FINALLY, THE AUTHORS ALSO CONSIDER THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFECTIVENESS WHEN DEALING WITH SOCIAL OBJECTIVES AND THE INFLUENCE OF CITIZEN ACTION ON OUR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)