Viewing gun use in PG-rated movies by children increased trigger pulls. Children frequently mimic what they see in real life! Researchers randomized 52 pairs of children 8-12 years of age to watch a 20-minute PG-rated movie clip with or without scenes involving gun use. The pairs then played for 20 minutes in a room with toys and games. Hidden in a drawer was a disabled handgun with a trigger sensor. Children who watched gun scenes held the gun longer and pulled the trigger more often. They also played more aggressively. What the eye beholds frequently translates into actions!
Text: Fred Hardinge
Adapted from www.positivechoices.com