Viewers are easily manipulated by violence in movies psychologically. For instance, people are more likely to imitate the actions learned by characters that they most identify with, who they think are similar to themselves, or even simply just the characters that they like, becoming the perpetrator. On the other hand, if one perceives that the victim of violence in the film is similar to themselves then heightened anxiety and an increase in fear may be experienced, and therefore becoming that victim. Another psychological affect that violent movies may have on some viewers is that after seeing so many brutal scenes, they may be desensitized toward real world violence. The overall effect can be the acceptance of violence as a way to solve problems. They are less bothered by violence in general and are less likely to see anything wrong with it.

Not being able to take responsibility and throwing the blame on someone else is what some believe is the reason that there is such controversy with violence in the movies. In “Games of a Scapegoat,” Steve Bauman argues that, “it is the media’s need for a scapegoat and for easy answers that makes video games, movies, and music easy targets” (Kirzner and Mandell 565). Although this statement makes a rather convincing point, it too lacks validity. We as the public are not trying blame the media simply because its the easiest thing to do, but because we believe that the violence in the movies we watch have an effect on some people. Innocent people are robbed, hurt, and even murdered by people who are desensitized and inspired by extremely violent films. It is not in the slightest bit that the media is being used as a scapegoat for the problems that exist in our society. We are merely realizing the problem and targeting it. Violent crime scenes and murder scenes are unacceptable and not intended to be emulated in real life.

Others argue that a person would have to already be mentally unstable or disturbed to be influenced by violence in movies. Lawrence Freedman, a University of Chicago forensic psychiatrist said, "No matter how powerful the visual depiction on the television screen, no

With all of the murders and crimes that we all see on the big screen, it is no wonder there is so much hostility in society. These past decades more a

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