Kids Who Watch R-Rated Movies More Likely to Start Drinking

[Lauren Admire]

Kids Who Watch R-Rated Movies More Likely to Start Drinking

According to a recent study, children whose parents let them watch R-rated movies were more likely to start drinking than children who weren't allowed to watch mature flicks.

Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School surveyed 2,400 children around the ages 10 to 12 on the amount of R-rated movies they were allowed to watch. The group was re-surveyed two years later, and the results appear to show a link between R-rated movies and underage drinking. About 3 percent of children who stated they had "never" seen an R-rated flick began drinking, while 19 percent of "occasional" R-rated movie-goers and 25 percent of "frequent" watchers began drinking.

Though one popular theory states that adolescents who watch R-rated films try to emulate the actors on the screen, Dr. James Sargent, a professor of pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire, claims that the influence of movies goes even further than that. "We think seeing the adult content actually changes their personality," explains Sargent. Other research has suggested that children who watch R-rated movies are more likely to become thrill seekers and risk takers.

However, it can also be argued that parents who restrict access to R-rated media are also the type of parents more likely to be the keeping strict tabs on all of their child's activities.

Source: Science Daily [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100426072115.htm]

(Image [http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwinbell/306041740/])

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[Treblaine]

It's still retarded that you have to be 21 to drink in every single American state.

How the hell can the US Govt get away with such laws? Nothing against it in the constitution? (I know it's essentially blackmail of funding for interstate roads)

 

[Cherry Cola]

Bullshit.

Odds are, if you're even remotely "popular" in school as a kid/teen, you're going to start drinking. Be it because of your own choice or because of peer pressure, people of your own age are going to be the ones introducing you to alcohol. This has nothing to do with movies.

 

[Mray3460]

It's still retarded that you have to be 21 to drink in every single American state.

How the hell can the US Govt get away with such laws? Nothing against it in the constitution? (I know it's essentially blackmail of funding for interstate roads)

The Amethyst Initiative, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and similar groups basically lobbied the congress to death until they finally passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which essentially allowed the federal government to withhold funds until a state changed its policies to be in-keeping with the act (Which technically DOES fall within the bounds of the constitution. While directly banning the sale of alcohol to people <21 years of age is prohibited by the 9th amendment)

Citations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_Act

 

[chromewarriorXIII]

I can disprove this using a personal example. I watch some of the most horrific, violent and weird films out there. Like Cannibal Holocaust and August Underground, stuff like that. They aren't even R rated, they aren't rated at all.

And I don't drink. I'm quite responsible and levelheaded, actually.

And in case you think I'm just a freak example, none of the people who I watch those movies with drink or do dangerous things either.

I think their study is flawed.

They did say that there was only 25% who started drinking. Even though that's larger than the other two groups it is a rather small percentage. So really, it is possible that you and the people you watched the movies with fell within that 75% majority.

I do think that they need a little more evidence though. Those aren't very big percentages.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

well if a parent let's them watch R-Rated movies, you cannot blame the kid, nor the movie. Ratings are there for a reason.

 

[Captain Schpack]

Bullshit.

Well put, HUBILUB.

I watch R-rated movies all the time and I don't drink, I don't smoke and I am a virgin.

Therefore, ...

Bullshit.

 

[scotth266]

Hmmm... might this have ANYTHING to do with the idea that parents who let their kids go to R-rated movies that young might have more lax parenting standards when it comes to other things? That, combined with

However, it can also be argued that parents who restrict access to R-rated media are also the type of parents more likely to be the keeping strict tabs on all of their child's activities.

this, would mean that this study tells us nothing but an idea that is already dictated by common sense. It's not the content: it's the way that the parents allow their kids to see the content. For example, I watched Die Hard as a kid and a LOT of the James Bond films, both of which contain glorious amounts of violence, drinking, and smoking. But I watched them with my parents, as a family activity. I don't seem to have turned out too badly for it either: I don't drink, I don't smoke (though more because I'm allergic) and I'm not violent.

 

[Neopopulas]

Of course they are. Its the same deal that people who play violent videogames are more prone to be violent. The problem is that its not the games (or the movies) its just that statistically the same people who do X (play violent games, watch "mature" movies, whatever) are ALREADY likely to be violent, to drink, to do drugs.

It just so happens that kids who are likely to do those things are also likely to play/watch these things in the first place. Which doesnt mean those things CAUSE drinking/violence it just happen to mean that people who are already going to be violent drunken douchebags are also the same people who are likely to watch R rated movies while playing the No Russian MS2 mission over and over again.

PS: There is a huge hint to the cause in the title too "According to a recent study, children whose ~parents let them watch R-rated movies~ were more likely to start drinking than children who weren't allowed to watch mature flicks.

Quick hint. Kids who have parents who "LET THEM WATCH" R-rated movies are also kids who have parents who are more likely to LET THEM drink and/or laugh and wave it off when they hear they ARE drinking. It has nothing to do with the movies themselves, it has everything to do with what said parents are ALLOWING their children to do. Children will do ANYTHING if you don't stop them. Their brains literally haven't finished growing the lump of grey matter that tells them not to do fucking stupid potentially damaging and/or deadly things and if they have parents who aren't going to reign in the universal 'i am immortal' attitude of children, then you are going to have kids who get to watch R-rated movies, drink and get into fights (probably drunkenly and poorly) and then have few repercussions (because, come on, by this point its a bit late). Hard to blame the medium when, while certainly a part of it, it was by far not the cause.

Surprise!

 

[Treblaine]

It's still retarded that you have to be 21 to drink in every single American state.

How the hell can the US Govt get away with such laws? Nothing against it in the constitution? (I know it's essentially blackmail of funding for interstate roads)

The Amethyst Initiative, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and similar groups basically lobbied the congress to death until they finally passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which essentially allowed the federal government to withhold funds until a state changed its policies to be in-keeping with the act (Which technically DOES fall within the bounds of the constitution. While directly banning the sale of alcohol to people <21 years of age is prohibited by the 9th amendment)

Citations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Minimum_Drinking_Age_Act

That's what I can't accept. The idea that "oh, well we can't enforce it as a federal law, why don't we threaten them till they pass it at the state level"

I mean if the government collects federal taxes yet refuses to spend money on them... isn't that taxation without representation? Isn't that what the entire American War of independence was (started) over?

How could the Constitution have missed that out!?!?

And 9th Amendment is kind of a weak one, that basically says you have right even if they aren't actually listed (natural rights), but it's all too easy for a court to simply not see certain rights as inherent.

Aren't States guaranteed some certain and distinct amount of independence? Wouldn't the 10th amendment prevent the united States (federal) from forcing the states to change their laws?

Surely only a constitutional amendment could bring about something like enforcing a law for all states.

Only then it is less a case of "Bill of Rights" more a case of "Bill of restrictions"

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

This is just like every other study trying to prove that violence is cause by M-rated video games. I watch plenty of R-rated movies and i actually laugh at them most of the time.

 

[UberLemonBoy]

Oh crap
I'm screwed

 

[zidine100]

the group was re-surveyed two years later

unless the scientists controlled there whole lives, you can take this study with a pinch of salt.

since the stutdy is quite large i would say a large percentage of chance could also be involved.

oh and might i mention if a kid isnt allowed to watch a r rated movie by there parents... they are not likely to be allowed to drink. This is plainely obvious...

 

[SonicKoala]

This is complete bullshit - my sister has been watching R-rated movies since she was 8 years old, and she's one of the most straight-edge people I know. There are other factors involved here, the movies have nothing to do with it.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

I can disprove this using a personal example. I watch some of the most horrific, violent and weird films out there. Like Cannibal Holocaust and August Underground, stuff like that. They aren't even R rated, they aren't rated at all.

And I don't drink. I'm quite responsible and levelheaded, actually.

And in case you think I'm just a freak example, none of the people who I watch those movies with drink or do dangerous things either.

I think their study is flawed.

Not flawed, falsified.