“The Influence of Media on Youth”-- The Journal of the National Medical Association.

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/pspi/pspi43.pdf

This article describes many studies that have been done in the past in relation to the influence of media. In the summary of the article it states,

"Research on violent television and films, video games, and music reveals unequivocal evidence that media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts.... The research base is large; diverse in methods, samples, and media genres; and consistent in overall findings."

The article explains that the authors do not feel that the media is the catalyst of heinous criminal activity, but that it does have influence on youth violence. It uses an analogy between a teen playing violent video games and an old man that has been smoking for years. The point these researches want to make is that, just because the man that has been smoking for years happens to still be cancer free, does not mean that the cigarettes are not harming him. Taking that part of the analogy, the researchers are trying to communicate that just because the young adult has not gone out and slaughtered anyone does not mean that he is not somehow being harmed or influenced by the violent media.

I agree with this. While talking to a friend the other day about this topic, he said to me, "Well isn't it obvious? Art reflects life, life reflects art. It is obvious that it is not entirely one ore the other." So these radical views on blaming the media or defending it entirely make no sense. It is a cycle. It probably began, slowly as a cycle. If people had never 'craved' violent and sexual media, it wouldn't have lasted because it would not have been bought. It has all just creeped up gradually, and now society is starting to see some disturbing visuals and social statistics.