t automatically trigger aggressive behavior. Many other factors, including the quality of the home environment, are involved. A loving, comfortable home life is not likely to feed into aggressive tendencies. In conclusion, it is parents’ and educators’ responsibility to inform children that the violent behavior they observe in the media does not represent the behavior of most people. Also, the apparently aggressive behaviors they watch are not real. They reflect camera tricks, special effects, and stunts. Another important thing to tell children is that most people resolve conflicts by nonviolent means. Since it is impossible to censor television because of first amendment rights and television is a small contributor to real-life violence, parents should concert their efforts towards spending time with their children and actually watching a violent show with their children and discussing in depth what is being shown. If children consider violence inappropriate, they will probably not act aggressively, even if they have acquired aggressive skills. For in the words of Andrew Greeley, “Music, film, and television reflect behavior rather than cause it.” (C2) If I had known all this years before, maybe my brother wouldn’t have a headache all the time and my dog’s head wouldn’t be facing the wrong way. ...
