Media violence, mostly on television, is often accused of affecting the
behaviour of children and adolescents. Madeline Levine, in her Viewing Violence
(Doubleday, US, $22.95, ISBN 0 385 47686 8) makes a strong case that the
effects are real, but manages to avoid becoming overheated. She writes about
American TV, but nearly all her points apply to British output. Her arguments
are topical too, in the light of the recent Bottomley initiative. Even the
sceptical will be interested by her remarks on the differences in perception
between adults and young people. And she even gives advice on how parents can
minimise the influence of TV violence on the adults of the future.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Space
The one film to watch before seeing Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day
Culture

ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Ditching cigarettes for vapes may curb the cancer benefits of quitting
News

Comment
Sci-fi horror film Backrooms is a triumph for its 20-year-old director
Culture

Life
New Scientist recommends a brilliant take on the evolution of birds
Culture
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
2
Millions of fossil whale bones found in deep-ocean ‘necropolis’
3
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
4
Why we should all take quantum physics extremely personally
5
A nuclear war between India and Pakistan could destroy the ozone layer
6
Hundreds of new moons are revealing our solar system's violent history
7
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies
8
Robots are about to overtake armed soldiers as the deciders of war
9
Wolves seen hunting European bison in rare camera-trap recording
10
Iron Age Britons may have removed the brains of the dead