Movies influence people differently. This varies with their age, sex and cultural background, among others. Exposure to horrific movies has raised concern over its influence on behavior. Some theorists suggest such exposures induce aggression on people although this is still arguable.
Clearly, children should react more to violence and aggression in horror movies than adults. Research conducted by psychologists suggests that violent music in horror movies may affect neurological and emotional stability of human brain. However, it has also been established that people have the capability of controlling their emotions.
Aggression comes in various forms namely, mental, physical or verbal. Horror movies present situations that induce or aggravate violence in people. Nonetheless, it is important to not that humans have the capacity to adapt to such situations. In fact, it enables them to understand violence. In essence, horror movies do not make people aggressive (Crawford 1).
Causes of aggression in people have had its debate over the years with some researchers pointing to external factors, while others pointing to internal causes. Moreover, others attribute it to both set of factors. Horror movies contain scenes that scare people. In fact, it has been suggested that violent music along with other scary scenes like extreme killings induces aggression in people, especially teenagers.
For instance, a section of theorists argue that boys who identify with violent heroes tend to experience aggression in their attempts to fulfill aggressive fantasies. In addition, they postulate that continued exposure to horrific scenes induces fear in people. In the process, they are said to develop adaptive symptoms, which may result in aggression.
However, the cases under this are quite few. In fact, research conducted in schools show that very few students imitate characters in movies. Moreover, this practice deteriorates as one grows. It is also important to note that people who come from violent families tend to be aggressive when they watch movies that relate to their respective lives. In this regard, the real cause of aggression becomes experience at home and not movies (Crawford 1).
Horror movies do not make people aggressive. This is mainly because aggression is caused in many ways namely intrinsic and or extrinsic factors. For instance, aggression can be caused by fatigue, anger, attitude and environmental factors like frequent experience of violence at home or in the neighborhood.
In fact, people have capabilities of controlling aggression even after watching scary movies. Moreover, one’s ability to be affected by movies depends on mental involvement. Consequently, they are less involved mentally in such movies. This results in ability to control emotions (Vidican 1).
Adolescents who are usually in high or middle schools have greater abstract reasoning than younger ones. This makes them less vulnerable to imitating particular scenes of crime, violence or obscene behaviors in horror movies. Moreover, as children grow, they uncover the truths about horror movies, which are merely fiction.
Finally, horror movies do not make people aggressive because they know and realize that such actions are unrealistic and extreme. In fact, very little, has been recorded as real events of horror in humankind. (Grant 1).
Entertainment offers a variety of content to its audience. This ranges from music to movies, among others. Movies and music are seen to have direct or indirect influence on people. This is mainly because they contain scenes that affect them physically, verbally or emotionally. For instance, horror movies captivate audience with thrilling and especially scary activities.
However, should not overcome their emotions because they know it is merely fiction, which is designed for entertainment. Moreover, events in horror movies are so extreme that it scares children, who are the only category of people that can be influenced. In essence, horror movies do not make people aggressive (Josephson 1).
Works Cited
Crawford, Tom. “Halloween Horror Movies May Cause Emotional Problems in Young Children”. New York-Presbyterian, 2006. Web.
Grant, Barry. “Critical Debates: Horror Films”. Film Reference, 2011. Web.
Josephson, Wendy. “Television Violence: A Review of the Effects on Children of Different ages”. Media Awareness, 2011. Web.
Vidican, Sergiu. “Why do we like horror movies?” Metrolic, 2010. Web.