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.
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