71 p.c. want less TV violence

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 15

71 p.c. want less TV violence

More New Zealanders are opposed to violence on television, a Heylen poll commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation and the “Auckland Star” shows. Seventy-one per cent of those polled want to see less violence on television, compared with 62 per cent who wanted less violence in a similar Heylen poll two years previously, the foundation says in a statement. The survey polled 1000 people over the age of 15 throughout New Zealand in April using random sampling methods. The sampling error was plus or minus 3 per cent. Some 70.7 per cent of those surveyed want less violence on television, 15.9 per cent want about the same amount, 3.6 per cent want more, and 9.8 per cent do not care or never/almost never watch television. Women are more opposed to television violence, 80 per cent wanting less, as compared with men, 61 per cent of whom would like to see less. Older people are more concerned about violence, 86 per cent of those over 55 years wanting to see less violence; other age groups are 40-54 years, 82 per cent; 25-39 years, 69 per cent; and 15-24 years, 48 per cent. The higher a person’s so-cio-economic level, the more he or she is likely to

want a reduction in violence — 81 per cent at a high socio-economic level, 71 per cent at medium, and 66 per cent at a low level want less violence. The swing against TV violence since the 1981 poll occurred across the board, regardless of age, sex or socio-economic level, the foundation says. The greatest swings against television violence occurred among young married people with children and in older married people (the grandparent stage). Asked how many children they think are harmfully affected by violence on TV, nearly all respondents (96.5 per cent) believe that at least a few are affected, and 32 per cent believe that most or all children are affected. Some 92 per cent think that at least a few adults are harmfully affected, and 13.0 per cent think that most or all adults are affected. Some 14.4 per cent of the sample believe that they personally have been harmfully affected. Respondents were shown a list of 10 television programmes, and asked whether they contain harmful levels of violence for adults or children. They were also asked whether the programme in question should not be screened because of levels of violence,

and whether the programme is a favourite of theirs. “The Professionals” and “Sweeney” received particularly high ratings in terms of their harmful levels of violence. Some 63 per cent think “The Professionals” has a harmful level of violence for children, and 51 per cent think it is harmful for adults. Sixty per cent think “Sweeney” is harmful for children, and 47 per cent think it is harmful for adults. Thirteen per cent

think that both these programmes should be removed because of their levels of violence, although they were both popular, particularly “The Professionals.” “Hill Street Blues” was the most popular programme, with 53 per cent of those polled enjoying it. Although 47 per cent think it contains harmful levels of violence for children, only 6 per cent think it should not be screened. The adults surveyed were

also asked about general children’s programmes: “The Dukes of Hazzard” provoked the most concern about violence, with 38.5 per cent believing it has a harmful level of violence for children, as compared with “CHiPS” (19.9 per cent), “The Greatest American Hero” (16.8 per cent), and “Chic Chat” (which contains cartoons), 2.4 per cent. Only 8.6 per cent of those surveyed think that the news has a harmful level of violence for children, and 3.7 per cent think it is harmful for adults. Virtually no-one (0.2 per cent) thinks it should not be screened because of violence levels.