As indicated, there are both advocates of the view that the watching of violence on television by children causes them to commit violent behavior, and there are people who disagree with this view and feel that other factors besides violent television viewing can be attributed for the cause of violent behavior in children. This paper will start by first discussing the views of those who disagree with the statement that the viewing of violence on television by children is the cause of violent behavior by children.

One reason given for the cause of violence that is commited by children is given by The National Institute of Mental Health ( N.I.M.H. ). According to the N.I.M.H. when kids beat up their siblings or abuse animals they may have a chemical problem. Children prone to violence may have low levels of the important neurotransmitter serotonin that helps regulate emotions. Researchers have found deficiencies of the neurotransmitter serotonin in adults who commit violent crimes and try to take their own lives. If one ultimately discover that kids with low serotonin go on to repeat the adult pattern the results are chilling and we must conside

The following contextual patterns of violence are found consistently across most channels, program types, and times of the day. Perpetrators of violent crimes on television go unpunished 73% of the time. The portrayal of rewards and punishments is probably the most important of all contextual factors for viewers as viewers interpret the meaning of what they see on television. When violence is seen without punishment , viewers are more likely to learn the lesson that violence is successful. The Negative consequences of violence are not often portrayed in violent programming. Most violent portrayals do not show the victim experiencing any serious physical harm or pain at the time violence occurs. For example, 47% of all violent interactions show no harm to victims, and 58% show no pain. Even less frequent is the depiction of any long-term consequences of violence. In fact, only 16% of all the programs studied portray any long-term negative consequences of violence, such as psychological, financial, or emotional harm (National Television Violence Study 1994-1995).

Another cause given for violence in children is explained in a study conducted by the Erikson Institute in Chicago. In this study the Erikson Institute discovered how children from dangerous urban environments experience loss and threat, and how therapeutic play can be a positive vehicle for effective intervention. They list two hypotheses relevant to domestic concerns, most particularly in the "War Zones" of urban public housing projects. They were: (1) Children will continue to cope with difficult environments as long as their parents and other caretakers are not pushed beyond their capacity to adapt to stress and make sense of their children's experience, and (2) As an adverse unintended consequence of adapting to dangerous environments, children will develop patterns of behavior and emotional expression that hinder successful functioning in the normal load of school, work, and the community ( Brown University Child Behavior and Development Letter,1 ). The researchers in this study were attempting to identify the relationship between children and violent behavior. They identify three critical elements, which included parent-child attachment, parental self-esteem, and the stability of routine care taking arrangements.

Another study, concerning the effects of television violence worth looking at is the one that Rowell Huesmann conducted in the mid seventies. For most of television's early years, it was difficult to find role models that would inspire young girls in the viewing audience. In the mid-1970s, a new era of programs such as "Charlie's Angels", "Wonder Woman", and "The Bionic Woman" entered the scene. Now, there were females on television who were in control, aggressive, and were not dependent upon males for their success ( Huesmann,1985 ).

In one final study done, that is worth noting researchers in the study concluded that, the context in which most violence is presented on television poses risks for viewers . But, more important is the contextual pattern in which most violence is shown. According to the research the risks of viewing the most common depictions of televised violence include learning to behave violently, becoming more desensitized to the consequences and harm that comes out of violence, and becoming more fearful of being attacked (National Television Violence Study, 1994-1995).

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