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Section Three

Key Areas of Research

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Chapter 11

Effects of Media Violence

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Media Violence Research Methods Laboratory experiments Field Experiments Correlational surveys Longitudinal panel studies Natural experiments Intervention studies

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Laboratory Experiments

Strictly controlled experiments Designed to show a causal relationships

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Field Experiments Take place among children in an

institutional setting Avoid the problem of unnaturalness

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Correlational Surveys Survey conducted to find a correlation

between consumption of violent media and aggressive behavior: Viewers asked to read a list of program titles and

select what they watch regularly Amount of violent programming per viewer and

aggressiveness or hostility is measured. Two measures are correlated to ascertain any

relationship between the two variables. These studies ultimately cannot demonstrate a

causal relationship with certainty.

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Longitudinal Panel Studies Identify relationships between

consumption of violent fare and antisocial attitudes and behaviors that develop over time

Take into account that exposure to media violence has a cumulative effect over time

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Natural Experiments A longitudinal assessment is conducted in

a natural setting where television is being introduced into the community for the first time.

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Intervention Studies Designed to inoculate viewers against the

harmful effects of TV violence Attempt to alleviate the negative effects Increased television literacy may reduce

negative effects

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Measuring Violent Content

Content analysis A research method used to determine the

amount of violent content in TV programs Message system analysis

Used to measure the amount of violence in the media

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Measuring Violent Content (Cont’d)

Violence “the overt expression of physical force

against self or other compelling action against one’s will”

Violence profiles are developed for each television program based on the amount of violent content.

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Measuring Viewer’s Perceptions 5 key elements that make people

susceptible to negative effects:1. A perpetrator who is an attractive role model2. Violence that seems justified3. Violence that goes unpunished4. Minimal consequences to the victims5. Violence that seems realistic to the viewer

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Meta-Analyses when researchers examine a vast body of

research studies and use statistical methods to combine their findings and look for an overall indication of effects as well as general trends

Have shown effects such as imitative behavior, fear and desensitization

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The Psychological Impact of Media Violence 3 levels of impact:

Behavioral Affective Cognitive

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Behavioral Effects 5 major mechanisms through which

behavioral effects may occur:1. Catharsis2. Arousal3. Disinhibition4. Imitation5. Desensitization

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Behavioral Effects (Cont’d) Catharsis

Viewers vent their aggressive impulses harmlessly through viewing televised violence.

Arousal Viewing violent content may enhance aggression and

anger due to excitement or emotional arousal. Disinhibition

Viewers grow more accustomed to seeing violence on television and become less inhibited by social sanctions against committing violent acts.

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Behavioral Effects (Cont’d)

Imitation Viewers learn from what they see on

television and try to mimic actions themselves.

Desensitization Viewers repeatedly watch violent acts on TV

and become less sensitive to seeing violence and more likely to accept real-life violence.

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Affective or Emotional Effects

Effects may be short or long term Fright reactions

Young children are more likely to be frightened by threatening characters and situations

Older children are more frightened by threats of either realistic or abstract stimuli

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Coping Strategies

Help children reduce their fears Cognitive strategy:

Change the child’s mental conceptions of the frightening content.

Non-cognitive strategy: Desensitization- repeated exposure to the

frightening matter in a secure atmosphere

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Cognitive Effects Research: George Gerbner and Associates (1970s)

Regular exposure to mediated violence made viewers develop an exaggerated view of real-life dangers in society.

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Cognitive Effects Research: Wober and Gunter (1982) A person’s perception of the world can be

mitigated by levels of judgment: Program specificity Viewer perceptions or interpretations Personal judgments about crime Situation specificity

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Media Violence Research and Public Policy: History Violence on Television (1996) The Payne Fund Studies (1920s and 30s) The Seduction of the Innocent (1954) 1950s and 1960s, researchers found a

connection between viewing televised violence and aggressive behavior among youngsters.

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Media Violence Research and Public Policy: History (Cont’d)

National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence (1960s) Television is not the primary cause of

violence. Scientific Advisory Committee on

Television and Social Behavior (1960s) Viewing violence on television increased

viewers’ tendencies to behave aggressively. Children’s Television Act of 1990 The Telecommunications Act of 1996

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Media Violence Research and Public Policy: Future

Recent research has focused on reducing the negative consequences of viewing mediated violence.

As research continues, changes in public policy are inevitable.

Increased public awareness should make public policy makers more inclined to make positive changes.