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Research by Iowa State University psychology professor Douglas Gentile--who in the past has conducted studies on the effects of violent media on children--and Linfield College associate psychology professor Jennifer Linder has shown that ratings of children's TV shows are not always indicitive of the aggressive content they may have.

For the study, 95 fifth-grade girls were asked to name their favorite television shows and how often they watched them. The psychologists then analyzed the nominated TV shows for indirect, verbal, and physical aggression and compared them with their industry ratings.

"Indirect aggression is identified as harmful behaviors that are non-physical," Linder said. "These include attempts to harm through techniques such as rumor-spreading, social exclusion and ignoring."

Higher levels of physical aggression were found in children's programs rated TV-Y and TV-Y7 than among programs for general audiences rated TV-G, TV-PG. Cartoons such as "Digimon," "Pokmon," and "Scooby Doo" were found to contain the highest level of physical violence, more the next highest category (TV-14).

To read the study in its entirety, visit Dr. Douglas Gentile's web site.