LITERATURE REVIEW ON CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ON LITERATURE REVIEW ON WOMEN LIBERATION STEREOTYPED COVERAGE AND REPORTING IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF THE NATION AND VANGUARD NEWSPAPERS

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0     INTRODUCTION

          This chapter seeks to x-ray the written works of authors whose works have relevance to this work. Since literature review involves building one’s research project on specific foundation of earlier studies and in a given area of interest, it becomes necessary to make a review on the following:

a.     Conceptual review

b.    Empirical review

c.      Theoretical review

2.1     CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

          Darling and Steinberg (1993) defined parenting style/mediation as the emotional climate in which parents raise their children. Meanwhile, Diana (1966) posit that, many parents chose and create their own style from a combination of factors and that parenting is mostly affected and influenced by parents, culture and child’s temperament.

          On the other hand, violence has been the talk of the moment in films and our society at large. (Orsini 1999) defines violence as the expression of hostility and rage through physical force directed against person or property. Since violence is always at the negative side of life, it will be good to also look on the other hand, violent films/movies.

          Mohammed (2011), asserts, the importation of violent films, which are shown on television and the everyday brutalities of Nigerian life such as cult clashes, assassination and public violence written about the media with the gony details and photographs merge the frontiers of fantasy with realities for youths.

          He concludes by saying, youths merely act out what they have seen on video or television.

          The debate on the impact of media violence on children and youths has also been a concern for many countries. Evidence points to a causal association between media violence and aggressive behaviour in some children. The magnitude of media violence effects on violent behavior is almost as important as gang membership. (American Medical and Psychological Association, statement in 2000).

          Media violence has been defined as “visual portrayals of acts of physical aggressive by one human or human-like character against another”(Huesmann, 2007). However, others have argued that even violent lyrics.

          However, Huesmann states that some agree the fact that media violence affects behavior negatively while others do not.

          Lovass (1973) had a similar view with Himelevelt that stated the viewing aggressive film serve to arouse children aggressive impulse to some degrees. Lovass said that in (1972) America set up a commission to study film violence and their submissions were:

1.     There is an indication of a causal relationship between viewing violent film and aggression.

2.     There is an indication that such casual relationship operates in some who are predisposed to aggression.

3.     There is an indication that film violence and aggressive behavior operates only in some environmental context.

2.2     EMPIRICAL REVIEW

          Villain and Susan (2003), in their work: “media violence”, assert that, violence is literally everywhere in media. And it is becoming harder to avoid. However, parents have to play a great role in making sure their children escape the snare of violent behaviours. Parents have to make a choice to consistently expose their kids to media that reflect our own personal values and say “no” to the ones that do not. Doing research about television programmes, movies, or game before your kids watch, play and interact with them will go a long way in helping kids avoid violence.

          Villain and Susan have concluded that media violence is pervasive. While experts agree that no one single factor can cause a non violent person to act aggressively, heavy exposure to violent films/movies can be a risk factor for violent behavior.

          Caroline knorr, a parenting editor for common sense media, in the USA, states that “prolonged exposure to violence films in the media is a risk factor. And it is kids who have multiple risk factors who are likeliest to behave aggressively”. Research has shown that connections between children playing violent video games can cause later aggressive behavioural problems. In retrospect studies have also shown a twelve (12) percent increase in aggressive behaviour after watching violent television of films (Villani and Susan, 2003).

          Also, the American psychological association says viewers who view violent movies/films for more than four hours a day, put in less effort of school, have poorer reading skills, play less friendly with friends, have fewer hobbies and activities and are more likely to be overweight.

          The association went further to state that, resent research shows that risky behaviour by children and young adults can include violence against others, lack of remorse for consequences and children who view media violence are more likely to have increased feelings of hostility, decreased emotional response to the portrayal of violence and injury that leads to violent behaviour through imitation. However, positive parenting role models indicate that in the best interest of our children, we should limit their exposure to violent acts/films. But unfortunately, violence is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Meanwhile, the media who market the violent television, video games, films always argue this is safe entertainment, while others argue this is safe entertainment, while others argue that violence promote violence.

          The USA academy of pediatrics says, “more than one thousand scientific studies and reviews conclude that significant exposure to media violence increases the risk of aggressive behaviour in certain children, desensitizes them to violence and makes them believe that the world is a “meaner and scarier” place than it is”. In order to mitigate violence among children, young adults, students and our society as a whole, violent films, games and other forms of violence used as entertainment, should be given less (30 minutes) air time on television and other media in order to make our world a better place to live in.

          Ivory (2001) stated that violent video games usage and content contained “antisocial values of violent nature”. He also agreed with other researchers that violent films/media type are not the only cause of children committing violent acts.

          The involvement of parents in what their children watch, how the family interacts with each other, what the children are exposed to in their environment are also indicators of how they will behave and what value system they will follow.

          According to Cesarone, (1994), parents actually have no clue as to what their children watch on television and other media. Parents need to be attentive to the content these games have and question whether they are appropriate for the ages of their children. Because violent situations are all too common in everyday entertainment and there are far less programming, choices that are non-violent than there are violent (Cesarone, 1994).

          The USA child development institute acknowledges the violence inherent in media games but also, gives advice on parental mediation and control to help our kids avoid living in an  environment full of violence, controlling the time spent on films and games etc.

2.3     THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

          The theories on which this work is based are: theory of parenting style, social learning theory, rational choice theory.

2.3.1  THEORY OF PARENTING STYLE

          This theory explains the role of parents in the society which might either help their children against violence or encourage them venture into violence.

          The theory was propounded by Diana Baumrind in (1966), the theory assets that parenting styles propounding influence the behaviour, personality and emotional balance of the individual.

          Diana outlined there (3) exclusive parenting styles: permissive, indulgent and negligent parenting styles. (Binger 1991) posits that permissive parents encourage their children to be independent and prefer reasoning and manipulation to power assertion, indulgent parents allow their children do what so ever they wish negligent parents disregard their children or wards to focus on other areas of interests. The methods used in reaching the child gives him the ability to behave or misbehave in the society and parenting styles from the basis of the child’s behaviour from the tender age to adulthood.

2.3.2  SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

          Albert Bandura… propounded this theory in 1977. The theory upholds that people develop motivation to commit crime and the skills to commit crime through the people they associate with.

          Shaw and Mckay, (1942) discovered that the rate of crime were not evenly dispersed across time and space, instead tends to concentrate on areas the physical and social environment are primarily responsible for the behaviour choice that persons in particular neighborhood with poor school buildings, vacant and vandalized buildings, high rate of unemployment are major causes of social disorganization.

2.3.3  RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY

          The theory was one of the classical criminologists theories which holds reasons people commit crime. The theory which underscores the purposive behaviour designed to meet the offenders common place needs for such things as money, sex, excitements, status act was propounded by Ronald V. Clark in 1987. Rational choice theory is based on fundamental tenets of classical criminology which holds that people freely choose their behaviour and is motivated by the avoidance of pain and pursuit of pleasure and happiness. The theory explains that people generally act in their self interest and make decision to commit crime after weighing the potential risk (including getting caught and punished) against the rewards.