Study: Kids who are overexposed to violent images are at risk of developing aggressive behavior

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that adolescent boys who are exposed to too much violence in the media may become desensitized by the images and develop aggressive behavior.

The research, which was published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Nueroscience, found that violence in movies, television shows and video games can impact a child's brain, according to Business Week.

Researchers studied 22 boys aged 14 to 17, exposing them to a series of violent images. The teenagers' responses were measured by brain scans and by their sweat levels. The study discovered that brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex decreased, as did their skin conductance levels, with each additional image that they were shown. The frontal lobe of the brain is important for controlling aggression.

The study's author said that if individuals view something as acceptable in society, like violent behavior, then they are more likely to act aggressively because they believe it will not be strictly policed.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, violence prevention programs for younger adolescents should include efforts to reduce troublesome behavior in school and poor academic performance.