Youth Culture Update: That #$&^ Television Can Make Teens More Profane

Teens who hear a lot of profanity on TV are more likely to swear, and researchers say bad words seem to lead to bad behavior. Scientists from Brigham Young University polled 266 middle school students from the Midwest to determine how often they watched problematic TV shows or played profane video games. The scientists found those who are exposed to bad TV or games are more likely to swear and more likely to engage in violence. "Profanity is kind of a stepping stone," said Sarah Coyne, one of the researchers. "You don't go to a movie, hear a bad word, and then go shoot somebody; but when youth hear and then try our profanity for themselves, it can start a downward slide to more aggressive behavior." (LiveScience)