1 Child Protection Team, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Out Patient Clinic, 5310 St Antoine, Detroit, MI 48201
To the Editor.
The report by Wharton and Mandell (Pediatrics 1985;75:1120-1123) is frightening and well written. One obvious point, however, has been overlooked: If viewing of television violence causes aggressive behavior in children, should one be surprised that it causes aggressive behavior in child-parents? We are told that the mother in case I is young? How young? 16? 22?
Pediatricians tend to attribute maturity to a child's mother regardless of her age. The 15-year-old who is a patient may be asked "How are you feeling, Jane?"