Psychological question need proper answer

Question

I believe that viewing violent media can lead to aggressive behavior in children. The Bobo Doll experiment conducted by Bandura in 1961 demonstrated that children who observed a model behaving aggressively towards a Bobo Doll were more likely to imitate that behavior themselves, compared to children who observed a non-aggressive model. This experiment and subsequent research have suggested that children can learn aggressive behaviors through observational learning, or imitation, from violent media.

Researchers propose three main reasons why violent media may promote aggressive behavior in children:

1. The social learning theory suggests that children learn through observation and imitation of the behaviors they see in the media.
2. The catharsis theory suggests that viewing violent media can serve as a release for pent-up aggressive impulses, reducing the likelihood of aggressive behavior. However, research has found that this theory is not supported by evidence and may even have opposite effect.
3. The desensitization theory suggests that exposure to violent media can lead to a decrease in empathy and sensitivity to violence, which can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior.

One media source that I believe promotes pro-social behavior in children is the television show "Sesame Street." This show is designed to educate and entertain young children, and it often incorporates positive social messages and pro-social behaviors into its storylines and characters. For example, the character of Elmo frequently teaches children about sharing, kindness, and empathy. Studies have shown that viewing "Sesame Street" can improve children's cognitive and socio-emotional development.

References: Bandura, A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63(3), 575-582. Friedrich-Cofer, L., & Huston, A. C. (1986). Television and aggression: the debate continues. Psychological Science, 1(4), 34-41. Lillard, A. S., & Peterson, J. L. (2011). The immediate impact of different types of television on young children's executive function. Pediatrics, 128(2), e440-e449.

note: The information is based on the knowledge cut off of 2021-09 and the references provided may not be the most recent sources available on the topic.

Answer 1

Part of learning is observing. There are specific neurons in our brains that activate when we observe another's behavior. These mirror neurons were discovered in 1992, when a research team lead by Giacomo Rizzolatti, observed specific neurons, which had been active only when the monkey had been performing a behavior and not when the monkey was not performing that behavior, activate when the monkey observed a researcher performing the same action. The function of these neurons is to allow us to learn through observation. The use of motor neurons could explain why Social Learning Theory, learning from observation, is a good answer for why these children performed the same violent acts they saw adults do.

article link: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2016/mirror-neurons-quarter-century-new-light-new-cracks/