The effects of watching children's animated cartoons on the aggressive and prosocial behavior of primary school pupils

Cartoons have long been a beloved source of entertainment for children, yet concerns about their influence on children's behavioral development are increasingly coming to light. This study investigated the impact of exposure to selected animated cartoons on the aggressive and prosocial behaviors of primary school children. Using a quasi-experimental design, a treatment group (exposed to animated cartoons) was compared to a control group (watching documentaries). Data analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant reductions in both physical and verbal aggression among children in the treatment group, accompanied by significant increases in prosocial helping and sharing behaviors. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes in any of these behaviors. These findings align with Bandura's social learning theory, supporting the role of observational learning and imitation in shaping children's behaviour. The results suggest the potential for utilizing thoughtfully designed animated media as an intervention to promote prosocial behaviour and mitigate aggression in children. Further research should explore the long-term impact of such media exposure, delve into the mechanisms underlying imitation, and investigate the influence of individual and contextual factors on behavioral responses.