It is often argued that violent films encourage people to behave aggressively, whereas others believe that films cannot be held responsible for violence because such behaviour has existed throughout history. While I accept that violence is not a product of the film industry, I largely agree that violent films can contribute to aggressive behaviour, particularly among certain groups of people.
Admittedly, it would be inaccurate to claim that films are the root cause of violence. Long before the invention of cinema, wars, crimes and conflicts had already been a part of human society. In reality, violent behaviour is usually the result of far more complex factors, including family upbringing, poverty, peer influence and mental health issues. A person who grows up in a stable environment is unlikely to become violent simply because they watch action movies. Therefore, blaming films alone ignores the broader social and psychological causes of aggression.
Nevertheless, violent films should not be regarded as completely harmless. Repeated exposure to scenes of violence may gradually make viewers less sensitive to its consequences and more likely to perceive aggression as an acceptable way of dealing with conflicts. This influence is particularly noticeable among children and teenagers, who are generally more impressionable and have not yet developed strong critical thinking skills. Although the vast majority of viewers can distinguish fiction from reality, a small proportion may imitate what they see on screen, especially when violent characters are portrayed as heroic or successful. For this reason, violent films can reasonably be seen as one factor that reinforces aggressive attitudes, even if they are not the primary cause.
In conclusion, although violence clearly predates the film industry, I largely agree that violent films can encourage aggressive behaviour to some extent. Rather than creating violence, they are more likely to reinforce existing tendencies in susceptible individuals.