Thursday, January 13, 2011

A Clinician's Perspective on the Question of Violent Language in the Public Media

I agree with the author of this article (a practicing psychiatrist) that the link between violent acts and violent language used on TV and in talk radio cannot be so easily dismissed.

This is much discussed in the setting of the shootings in Tuscon by Jared Loughner; it is reasonable to suppose that Mr. Loughner did not get the idea to shoot Representative Giffords simply because he follows Sarah Palin's website. However, I'd say that it's hasty to say that no connection exists between his actions and the general tone of Ms. Palin and others like her. "Don't retreat: Reload" is not a peaceful or reasoned exhortation.

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