Media Violence

Return to Fall 2010 Critical Thinking Research Topics

Background Research

Desensitization from Media

Scharrer, Erica. "MEDIA EXPOSURE AND SENSITIVITY TO VIOLENCE IN NEWS REPORTS: EVIDENCE OF DESENSITIZATION?." Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 85, no. 2 (Summer2008 2008): 291-310. America: History & Life, EBSCOhost (accessed October 24, 2010).

Summary: Multivariate results provide partial support for the idea that heavy local news consumption--presumably due to the presence of violent content--can contribute to a blunted response to news stories regarding real-life violent events when individuals have low trait empathy

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Ian Bickel

Media leads to Higher Rates of Homicides

Phillips, David P. "THE IMPACT OF MASS MEDIA VIOLENCE ON U.S. HOMICIDES." American Sociological Review 48.4 (1983): 560-568. America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 24 Oct. 2010.

Summary: This paper examines the effect of mass media violence in the real world. The paper presents the first systematic evidence indicating that a type of mass media violence triggers a brief sharp increase in U.S. homicides.

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Ian Bickel

Beginning of Media Search Term:(Start of Media)

Stamm, Michael. "Newspapers, Radio, and the Business of Media in the United States." OAH Magazine of History 24.1 (2010): 25-28. America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 24 Oct. 2010.

Newspapers couldn’t compete. New media that was more effective was TV and radio. Media tried to get the youth’s attention from the start.

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Ian Bickel

Increasing Violence in Music Search Term:(Music + Violence)

Herd, Denise. "Changing images of violence in Rap music lyrics: 1979–1997." Journal of Public Health Policy 30.4 (2009): 395-406. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 24 Oct. 2010.

Summary: The discussion suggests that violence in rap music has increased in response to the complex interplay of changing social conditions such as the elevated levels of youth violence in the 1980s and changing commercial practices within the music industry.

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Ian Bickel

Violence in Video Games Leads to Aggression Search Term:(Video Games + Violence)

Möller, Ingrid, and Barbara Krahé. "Exposure to violent video games and aggression in German adolescents: a longitudinal analysis." Aggressive Behavior 35.1 (2009): 75-89. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. Summary: The relationship between exposure to violent electronic games and aggressive cognitions and behavior was examined in a longitudinal study.

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Ian Bickel

Attraction to Violence ST:(Violence + Attraction + Media)

Goldstein, Jeffrey. "The Attractions of Violent Entertainment." Media Psychology 1.3 (1999): 271. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.

Summary: Summarizes a project investigating the violent content of the entertainment media. Discussion on the nature of violence that attracts audiences; Analysis on sensation-making, context, justice motive and social control in the entertainment experience; Account on the evolution of violent entertainment.

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Ian Bickel

Early Signs of Aggression Search Term:(Early signs of aggression + Media)

Ostrov, Jamie M., Douglas A. Gentile, and Nicki R. Crick. "Media Exposure, Aggression and Prosocial Behavior During Early Childhood: A Longitudinal Study." Social Development 15.4 (2006): 612-627. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 26 Oct. 2010.

Summary: Preschool children (N = 78) enrolled in multi-informant, multi-method longitudinal study were participants in a study designed to investigate the role of media exposure (i.e., violent and educational) on concurrent and future aggressive and prosocial behavior. Specifically, the amount of media exposure and the nature of the content was used to predict concurrent and future physical, verbal and relational aggression as well as prosocial behavior for girls and boys.

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Ian Bickel

Linking Media Violence to Sexual Assaults in New York

Marks, Alexandra. "Central Park attacks on women--is MTV to blame?." Christian Science Monitor 19 June 2000: 2. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 26 Oct. 2010.[1]

In this news article, Alexandra Marks believes certain types of media presentations (music videos and motion pictures) shows evidence that suggests violence, especially against women, is extremely relevant in media. It relates real life scenarios, like columbine, to movies that came out before and directly after the fatal shooting. Children and Teenagers today are able to watch and play violent video games regardless of their rating. However, it is not just the video games that make a violent culture-- it's how the mass media objectifies certain groups of people (specifically to this article-women).

Gordon Warlaumont

Psychological Studies

IMITATION OF FILM-MEDIATED AGGRESSIVE MODELS

Bandura, Albert. "IMITATION OF FILM-MEDIATED AGGRESSIVE MODELS. "Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1963, Vol. 66, No. 1, 3-11 [2]

Abstract: In a test of the hypothesis that exposure of children to film-mediated aggressive models would increase the probability of Ss'(children involved in the study) aggression to subsequent frustration, 1 group of experimental Ss observed real-life aggressive models, a 2nd observed these same models portraying aggression on film, while a 3rd group viewed a film depicting an aggressive cartoon character. Following the exposure treatment, Ss were mildly frustrated and tested for the amount of imitative and non-imitative aggression in a different experimental setting. The overall results provide evidence for both the facilitating and the modeling influence of film-mediated aggressive stimulation. In addition, the findings reveal that the effects of such exposure are to some extent a function of the sex of the model, sex of the child, and the reality cues of the model.

Cody Allen

The mind-altering effect of media

Phillips, Helen. "Mind-altering media. (Cover story)." New Scientist 194.2600 (2007): 33-37. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. [3]

The article discusses research on electronic media use and its possible effect on human behavior. It notes murderer Devin Moore and comments he made relating life to a video game after he killed 3 policemen. Surveys and studies are said to show a link between electronic-media use and violence, depression, and attention-deficit disorders among youth. Researchers are said to believe that the use of electronic media products will change brain function and thought. Researchers Steven Johnson, Shawn Green, and Daphne Bavelier are noted in regard to studies of brain-function changes associated with exposure to electronic media. Bobo doll studies of researcher Albert Bandura are noted for having linked violent behavior in children to viewing of violent images.(Abstract from Author)

Gordon Warlaumont

The Desensitization of Violence Due to The Media

Fanti, Kostas A., et al. "Desensitization to media violence over a short period of time." Aggressive Behavior 35.2 (2009): 179-187. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 Oct. 2010.[4]

This is a study that showed the desensitization to violence through media. Participants watched nine violent movie scenes and nine comedy scenes, reporting whether they enjoyed the violent or comedy scenes and if they felt sympathetic towards the victim of violence. The results of this study show when a person is exposed to media violence, the person is likely to become sensitized towards the violent acts reducing the psychological impact of the violence over short periods of time. Viewers tended to feel less sympathetic toward the victims of violence and actually enjoy more the violence portrayed in the media.

Gordon Warlaumont

Short-term and Long-term Effects of Violent Media on Aggression in Children and Adults

Brad J. Bushman and L. Rowell Huesmann. "Short-term and Long-term Effects of Violent Media on Aggression in Children and Adults. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, Apr 2006; 160: 348 - 352. [5]

Abstract:

Objectives To test whether the results of the accumulated studies on media violence and aggressive behavior are consistent with the theories that have evolved to explain the effects. We tested for the existence of both short-term and long-term effects for aggressive behavior. We also tested the theory-driven hypothesis that short-term effects should be greater for adults and long-term effects should be greater for children.

Design Meta-analysis.

Participants Children younger than 18 years and adults.

Main Exposures Violent media, including TV, movies, video games, music, and comic books.

Main Outcome Measures Measures of aggressive behavior, aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, physiological arousal (eg, heart rate, blood pressure), and helping behavior.

Results Effect size estimates were combined using meta-analytic procedures. As expected, the short-term effects of violent media were greater for adults than for children whereas the long-term effects were greater for children than for adults. The results also showed that there were overall modest but significant effect sizes for exposure to media violence on aggressive behaviors, aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, arousal levels, and helping behavior.

Conclusion The results are consistent with the theory that short-term effects are mostly due to the priming of existing well-encoded scripts, schemas, or beliefs, which adults have had more time to encode. In contrast, long-term effects require the learning (encoding) of scripts, schemas, or beliefs. Children can encode new scripts, schemas, and beliefs via observational learning with less interference and effort than adults.

Cody Allen

Enjoyment of Mediated Fright and Violence: A Meta-Analysis

Hoffner, Cynthia A., and Kenneth J. Levine. "Enjoyment of Mediated Fright and Violence: A Meta-Analysis." Media Psychology 7.2 (2005): 207-237. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. [6]

In this meta-analysis, we synthesized data from published journal articles that investigated viewers' enjoyment of fright and violence. Given the limited research on this topic, this analysis was primarily a way of summarizing the current state of knowledge and developing directions for future research. The studies selected (a) examined frightening or violent media content; (b) used self-report measures of enjoyment or preference for such content (the dependent variable); and (c) included independent variables that were given theoretical consideration in the literature. The independent variables examined were negative affect and arousal during viewing, empathy, sensation seeking, aggressiveness, and the respondents' gender and age. The analysis confirmed that male viewers, individuals lower in empathy, and those higher in sensation seeking and aggressiveness reported more enjoyment of fright and violence. Some support emerged for Zillmann's (1980, 1996) model of suspense enjoyment. Overall, the results demonstrate the importance of considering how viewers interpret or appraise their reactions to fright and violence. However, the studies were so diverse in design and measurement methods that it was difficult to identify the underlying processes. Suggestions are proposed for future research that will move toward the integration of separate lines of inquiry in a unified approach to understanding entertainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gordon Warlaumont

Criticism of Media Violence

Media Violence Research and Youth Violence Data: Why Do They Conflict?

Objective: Contrary to media headlines and public perceptions, there is little evidence of a substantial link between exposure to violent interactive games and serious real-life violence or crime.

Conclusion: Further research is needed on whether violent games may affect less dramatic but real concerns such as bullying, fighting, or attitudes and beliefs that support aggression, as well as how effects may vary by child characteristics and types of games. There is also a need for research on the potential benefits of violent games for some children and adults.

Olson, C. "Media Violence Research and Youth Violence Data: Why Do They Conflict?" Academic Psychiatry. 2004. 28, 144-150. [7]

Cody Allen

Movie Violence May Decrease Violent Crime

Abstract: In the following viewpoint, Gordon Dahl and Stefano DellaVigna maintain that violent movies may actually decrease crime by attracting potential criminals and incapacitating them in theaters. Dahl and DellaVigna insist that box-office attendances of strongly violent, mildly violent, and nonviolent movies correlate with crime rates, declaring that assaults decline during highly attended showings of strongly violent movies during evening weekend hours. This counters several scientific studies claiming that violent media arouse aggressive behavior, the authors conclude. Dahl is an associate professor of economics at the University of San Diego, California. DellaVigna is an assistant professor of economics at the University of Berkeley, California.

Restrictions: This article seems rather situation, where they only focus on movies seen in a movie theater and the research fails to mention what long-term effects arise from watching a violent movie.

Movie Violence May Decrease Violent Crime. Opposing Viewpoints: The Film Industry. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. [8]

Cody Allen

Researchers Have Not Proven That Media Violence Merits Policy Changes

There's no solid evidence that violence in media causes violence in society.

At Issue: Is Media Violence a Problem?. Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C71%2529%2522Researchers%2BHave%2BNot%2BProven%2BThat%2BMedia%2BViolence%2BMerits%2BPolicy%2BChanges%2522%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R5&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C71%29%22Researchers+Have+Not+Proven+That+Media+Violence+Merits+Policy+Changes%22%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010187227&docType=GSRC

Ian Bickel

Research on the Effects of Media Violence on Children Is Inconclusive

real-life experiences are far more important than media violence in determining whether children commit violence.

At Issue: Is Media Violence a Problem?. Ed. James D. Torr. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C69%2529Research%2Bon%2Bthe%2BEffects%2Bof%2BMedia%2BViolence%2Bon%2BChildren%2BIs%2BInconclusive%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=gonzagaufoley&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C69%29Research+on+the+Effects+of+Media+Violence+on+Children+Is+Inconclusive%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010187202&docType=GSRC

Ian Bickel

Supreme Court Hearings

Supreme Court Justices Skeptical of Video Game Law

Totilo, By Stephen. "Justices Appear Skeptical of Violent Video Game Law - Technology & Science - Games - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- Msnbc.com. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. [9]

The Supreme Court is hearing the case California v. the Entertainment Merchants Association and Entertainment Software Association. An on going issue started in 2005. The Supreme Court Justices are very skeptical that video games have such a large impact on violence in today's culture. California wants to make it harder for children and teens to purchase video games by instituting a new rating system, however the video game industry already has a very active board that establishes ratings.

Gordon Warlaumont

PCworld's take on California v. the Entertainment Merchants Association and Entertainment Software Association

"Violent Video Game Ban Could Set Dangerous Precedent - PCWorld." Reviews and News on Tech Products, Software and Downloads - PCWorld. Web. 5 Nov. 2010. [10]

PCworld stands on the Entertainment worlds side. They believe if the government starts making such drastic laws towards video games, the chances of making laws towards other sources of media and entertainment will follow. There is a lot more interactive material other than just video games that can cause a person to act a certain way. PCworld does not want this law to be passed.

Gordon Warlaumont

Zap California's Video Game Law

"Our View on First Amendment: Zap California's Video Game Law - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. [11]

The author of the USAtoday article opposes the idea of having a law set to protect minors from violent video games. Like many others, the author believes it should be up to childrens guardians to make sure they are not playing hostile and violent video games. He argues that even after multiple studies "playing video games is no more harmful than playing with a toy gun."

Media around the world

Over reporting violence from peaceful nations

Contrast, By. "Study Shows How Media in Peaceful Countries 'over Report' Violence | Media | Guardian.co.uk." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. [12]

A new article written about a meta-anaylsis study of violence around the world. Countries like the US and Britain show far much more violence in the news than the Al-Jazeera network in Afghanistan. The total amount of peace actually shown in news around the world makes up only 1.6%.