Symbolic violence: television as a means of generator of delinquency in children

Abstract

The. controversial topic of television as a generator-of violence is as old as television itself. The ways in which the problem has been approached have been as varied as the results obtained. However, it does seem cleár that what children see on television influences their behaviour in a significant way. In this article we carry out an approach to this medium using the content analysis technique, a method very much used in the study of mass media. Finally, and using content analysis, we shall carry. out an analysis of violence in cartoons, with a sample of them taken from Spanish public (TVE1, La 2, Telemadrid) and private television channels (Tele 5, Antena 3 and Canal Plus). Results and conclusions confirm that violence shown in cartoons is noticeably high, and this could be a decisive factor in children's behaviour.