Is 'Matrix' to Blame for Teen Violence?
July 10, 2003 -- — Are violent movies to blame for troubled teens' acts of violence? Experts say the answer is not so simple.
Three New Jersey teens were arrested this week for allegedly plotting to kill three of their peers, then embark on a random shooting spree. When the teens were apprehended in a Philadelphia suburb following a failed carjacking attempt, they were in possession of guns, swords, and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, police said.
The oldest of the group, 18-year-old Matthew Lovett, is said to be a troubled teen with an obsession with the science-fiction movie The Matrix. Classmates said he often dressed up as a character from the movie and even referred to himself by the character's name.
Given Lovett's interest in The Matrix, some are wondering how much violent movies influence young people involved in violent acts.
"I think that movies or other media may be able to provide the spark for anxiety and consequent violent acting out by teens, although I'm quite skeptical about movies doing this in the absence of other triggers," says Jay Reeve, a senior psychologist at Bradley Hospital in Providence, R.I.
Can Movies Trigger Violent Acts?
Experts emphasize that violent movies coupled with a troubled past have an especially significant effect on youths and their actions.
"I believe that vulnerable youth [with emotional, behavioral, learning or impulse control problems] may be more easily influenced by these types of movies and videos. The problem is aggravated if they role-play through fantasy, or if they lose reality testing and believe they are amid the violence," says Dr. Beth Ann Brooks, professor in psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Lovett's mother died 10 years ago. He was very protective of his younger brother, who was often ridiculed for his speech impediment, their father says. Fellow students saw Lovett was seen as an introvert who harbored a great deal of anger and desire for revenge.
Experts say incidents such as this are reminiscent of the April 20, 1999, massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., where two students went on a shooting rampage, slaughtering 12 fellow students and a teacher before killing themselves.
"Recall that the Columbine shooters were isolated, troubled boys who were apparently rejected by their peers and ignored by their parents," says Dr. Thomas Van Hoose, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas' Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
He says excessive exposure to violence in the media often desensitizes viewers to the effects of real violence. "Couple [it] with the immaturity of teenagers, their self-centeredness, and their often unrealistic views of death and you can get a deadly combination of motives and actions that can lead to tragedy."
Early Warning Signs?
While millions of people around the world have seen movies like The Matrix, hardly anybody would respond with an act of violence, says Dr. David Fassler, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
"Kids who are already vulnerable may certainly pick up ideas and copy behavior that they see in a movie. However, there are almost always other warning signs and other contributing factors," he says.
George Scarlett, assistant professor of child development at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., agrees.
"There are always far more compelling reasons in any given case — the quality of family relations, the degree to which a school environment is caring of all, the degree to which a culture provides a spiritual tradition that can guide — these and other considerations come first," he says.
While teenagers are infamous for being moody and difficult, an adolescent who talks about killing is sending a warning sign.
"There's been a misperception over the years that some teens go through 'phases.' It's true that they go through phases, but if they are repeatedly talking about killing or revenge fantasy, it's worthwhile to get professional help," says Reeve.