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Movies not behind toddler's murder, experts say
The recent murder of a toddler that was allegedly committed by a teenaged neighbor has sparked public speculation as to whether horror movies had played a part in the teen's behavior, but experts advise caution over the theory
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span>The recent murder of a toddler that was allegedly committed by a teenaged neighbor has sparked public speculation as to whether horror movies had played a part in the teen's behavior, but experts advise caution over the theory.
Watching movies or TV shows that feature murder, violence or other forms of abuse would not cause children to commit acts of juvenile delinquency, said Retno Listyarti of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI). She cautioned, however, that they could attempt to imitate scenes showing such acts without parental supervision.
“Movies or TV shows should not be solely blamed when children commit juvenile delinquency, because parents can deter them from [such acts] by monitoring their viewing [habits],” Retno told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
She also pointed out that parents should teach their children moral values to help them distinguish between good and bad examples on the screen, as well as between reality and fiction.
Her comment comes in the wake of an incident last week in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, that shocked local residents.
The incident involved a 15-year-old junior high school student who allegedly drowned the 5-year-old girl of a neighboring family while the girl was playing at her house, and then kept the girl's body inside her closet before turning herself in to police the next day.
Reports have been mixed as to whether the female teen allegedly choked or drowned the girl to death.
The police said that the preliminary investigation found that the teen liked to watch horror movies and "idolized" Chucky — the main character in Child’s Play, about a murderous, possessed doll.
The teen's confession led the police to suspect that her preference for horror movies could have driven her to commit the alleged murder. The police also surmised that the teen's mental health was a major motivation factor, noting that she came from a broken home. They also discovered that she channeled her feelings in her drawings and writings.
The narrative that has since developed among the public is that the teen had been inspired by the horror movies she had watched.
However, Retno denounced the theory that horror movies could be the primary motivational factor for a child to commit a crime.
Retno said that juvenile crime could stem from a youth's unhappiness with their lives, such as believing that they were unlucky to have been born in their families. If the youth did not seek help regarding their mental and emotional health, they could vent their frustrations by drawing inspiration from movies and TV.
“Parents and other adults, such as teachers and neighbors, should be more responsive toward children if they show signs of carrying an emotional issue," said Retno. "For example, while parents monitor the movies or shows their children are watching, teachers can also provide them counselling assistance to help prevent any misbehavior,” she added.
Child psychologist Ratih Zulhaqqi at Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Depok, West Java, also said that watching horror movies or shows would not automatically lead children to commit crimes. She noted that crimes were mainly motivated by personal events, such as divorce or being bullied at school.
Children needed to talk to someone they trusted for advice on how to deal with any issues or circumstances before acting out, Ratih said. “What children really need is a safe place to tell their stories."
However, she also said that speaking to someone could be a challenge for children, who feared that people might not want to listen to them.
"In such cases, parents should be available when children need someone to talk to. Parents should not underestimate what their children tell them, because it is the parents who must [protect] their children’s mental health,” she said.
Ratih added that it was vital for parents to comply with movie ratings and accompany their children to watch movies or TV shows that were rated above their age group. (glh)
