AIRED: January 16, 2023
SPECIAL GUEST: Frieda Birnbaum, PhD
Are violent TV shows, movies, and video games triggering real violence? It’s a question many parents ask themselves and one that has been difficult to answer: Do violent TV shows and movies encourage real-world violence? Could keeping children away from fictional violence improve their behavior, or prevent it from getting worse?
In the 1960s, Albert Bandura conducted the famous “bobo doll experiment” which showcased how children tend to mimic observed violent behavior. Many people have doubted if TV, movies, and video games could have the same effect. However, these forms of entertainment have become more realistic and more violent since then, and we’re starting to see the unfortunate real-world consequences.
Research psychologist Dr. Frieda Birnbaum has noticed a concerning correlation between violent media and increased aggression that follows children into adulthood. In our interview, she shares her professional insight as well as a hidden benefit to ‘gaming’ in moderation.
FRIEDA BIRCHBAUM, PhD
Frieda Birnbaum, Ph.D. is a research psychologist and psychotherapist in Saddle River, New Jersey and the award-winning author of LIFE BEGINS AT 60: A New View of Motherhood, Marriage, and Reinventing Ourselves and WHAT PRICE POWER: An In-Depth Study of the Professional Woman in a Relationship.
An expert on topics such as family dynamics, parenthood, relationships, addiction, anxiety and depression, Dr Frieda is a seasoned media personality and commentator who is adept at discerning the psychological underpinnings of current issues and parsing the psychological profiles of various newsmakers- politicians, celebrities, criminals, etc.
Notably, Dr Frieda is the oldest woman in America to give birth to twins. The mother of five, her youngest sons were born when she was 60, lending her a unique perspective on issues related to parenting and the empowerment of women at any age.
