MMAscientist

Hey guys,

Im a middle school teacher. With the recent uprising in popularity in MMA and UFC, some, if not all my kids are obsessed with MMA.

I personally like watching a big fight card once in a while.

I noticed that the more aggressive children in my classes are the more avid UFC/MMA fans.

Do YOU guys think there is a direct correlation between watching MMA/UFC show and violent behaviours and attitudes? Or if maybe it is desensitizing them to violence?

G_Land

No more violent then any other children. It falls back on the parents.

Kids will emulate what they see no matter what it is. So it's up to the parrents to tell them not to be choking other kids out

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Gluteal Cleft

You do realize that correlation does not equal causation, right?

It's a whole lot easier to think that aggressive kids are more attracted to fighting than to think that seeing some fighting will make kids aggressive.

If you want to take it farther than that and be of any validity, you need to get a whole lot more fancy (and scientific) in your study than "I noticed that....". Assuming that watching some MMA would overwhelm all of the other cultural, familiar, sociological, and biological underpinnings of aggression is... well, pretty silly.

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Toxic

As children I would agree with the assertion based on the fact that they try to emulate there heroes in all sports. Its why honestly I really don't like the idea of kids mma training. Traditional martial arts really emphasis the respect and honor principles that are going to be lacking in a modern mma gym. Its not to say they could not be taught in the same way but I suspect very few schools would.

That said if I had a boy I would put him in BJJ or some similiar form of martial arts, as somebody who was bullied heavily in school its not the actual act of being able to win a fight that matters but rather the confidence in the kids own confidence in himself that would be beneficial above all. Children who are picked on tend to have a damaged self image and therefore begin to lack self confidence. The simple fact a kid knows they can handle themselves goes a long way. For me personally puberty was a big factor as I went from being small for my age to being a decent sized kid, I wasn't a big kid but I was big enough that it gave me confidence I lacked as an undersized kid and with that confidence and some boxing training I actually begin to fight less. I didn't feel the need to attempt to fight to earn the confirmation of others. Although in all honesty the kids you feel are aggressive are ussually the ones who are more likely to be desperate. I was considered a very aggressive kid an almost expelled numerous times but the truth is I was a scared little kid who overcompensated out of desperation. The truth is though that teachers are just as likely not to relate to the victim and in I would estimate 90% of school yard fights the victim gets labeled the troublemaker.

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No_Mercy

Did a huge essay on this topic and it would have been my university thesis on how media effects youth. Focus was on crime though. The answer is yes just like video games, parenting as another member mentioned, socio economic class, and surroundings. Disregarding everything else, kids and even adults emulate what they see in the media some more than others. Statistics have shown that violence amongst teens are higher than before notwithstanding gang members. Think about how many first person shooter games there are today + the content on TV. Man back when we were kids we were all watching WWF + Transformers. I did wrestling moves and injured myself lots...haha!

My advice is to show them that you know about it and can relate. Maybe bring in a local MMA fighter that he or she can teach the kids about discipline and respect. Thus helping you gain their attention. In fact I'd bring Rich Franklin...

Kids are a lot more care free these days and are quite precocious especially with the social mediums at their disposal. The I-Generation is extremely spoiled in my opinion.

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MMAscientist

I really appreciate your guys' responses. Especially from Toxic and No_mercy.

You guys have helped shed light on what was a dim subject for me and my students.

thanks again

kantowrestler

I think it's more about the fact that MMA is more of a conduit for their aggression rather then the source of their aggression.

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The Emoticon Guy

KillerShark1985

violent behaviours and attitudes existed long before MMA, long before TV and music as well for that matter,

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kantowrestler

Like I said MMA is probably serving as an outlet for those kids.

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The Emoticon Guy