AMA calls for movie industry to revamp rating system

ILLINOIS — Violent movies breed violent behavior, the American Medical Association said in approving a resolution that asks the movie industry to revamp its rating system to better protect children.

The AMA set out eight recommendations on June 13, during its annual five-day meeting in Chicago.

The AMA also suggested creation of a Television Violence Code to address issues such as violence in news reports. The AMA recommendations would also extend to video and audio tapes.

The resolution cites scientific studies that indicate exposure to violent television and movies contributes to aggressive behavior in children. More movie rating categories would better protect children at different levels of psychological development, and signals such as a “V” for violence and a “S” for sex would better inform parents of a movie’s content, the AMA said in the resolution.

“Movies that are rated as “G” or “PG” are deemed appropriate for any child under 13, without recognizing that a 5-year-old, for example, is likely to respond quite differently than a 12-year-old to a portrayal of violence,” the resolution stated.

Movie makers should also consider the context in which violence occurs and the ages of movie characters when assigning a rating, the resolution added.

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