Media Violence Related to

1178 words 5 pages
Show More
TO WHAT EXTENT IS MEDIA VIOLENCE RELATED TO
AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR?

Essentials of Psychology
May 28, 2013

Research project number 05020500

I have chosen to discuss the role that media violence plays in aggression in children, specifically as related to Albert Bandura’s experiments. I specifically chose this topic based on Bandura's observations with his famous Bobo doll study (which has been very influential to linking media exposure to violent aggressive behavior in children). In researching this paper, I hope to find an answer to satisfy my curiosity as to whether the media is to blame to the extent that Bandura would have us believe or are there other forces accountable. Is it logical to blame media for the …show more content…

The study used two test groups of boys who were exposed to either a violent or non-violent television over a six-week period. The boys who were only shown the non-violent broadcast displayed more aggressive behavior than the boys that were shown the violent shows (Feshback & Singer, 1971: p247). Moreover, Feshbach's hypothesis is supported by what is called the Catharsis effect (Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Melody, W.H., 1982: p.40), which theorizes that the boys were able to vent their aggressive thoughts and feelings though relation and not act those aggressions out physically. So does the Catharsis effect theory that by viewing violence on television, aggressive thoughts can be released hold weight?

If media can be held responsible for aggression and violence than shouldn't it also be praised for bravery and good-deeds in our civilization (Cooke, 1993, p.L19)? There have been countless programs that have demonstrated heroism and kindnesses as there have been those which have demonstrated the ugly side of human nature. Patrick Cooke believed that people went along with the theory that television violence causes aggression because we need to be able to justify the violence and aggression in others. Cooke also believed that television could be used as an instrument of teaching both in education and forming good role models. He also believed that if violence in TV causes more aggression than it should also be attributed to the good qualities of people.

Related

  • The Media Violence Debate
    3474 words | 14 pages

    THE MEDIA VIOLENCE DEBATE Introduction Television and video games are favorite ways teenagers spend their leisure hours. Parents and teens themselves have wondered about their effects because of numerous concerns raised with regards to the negative influences that these form of entertainment bring. Many of today’s children grow up with a television at home or even in their own rooms and there have been studies dedicated to the analysis….

    Show More
  • Cmn 277
    2495 words | 10 pages

    that falls within each major area. I. Lecture content from before Examination #1 A) Regulation of Media Content 1) Ways government can regulate speech 1. Law: passed by some government body 2. Agency regulation: FCC-Federal communications commission 3. Court decision regarding a law or regulation 4. Pressure/threats 2) Elements protecting the media 1. First amendment and specific laws/regulations 2.….

    Show More
  • The Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggressive Behavior
    2136 words | 9 pages

    on people, particularly children and adolescents. Today, concern has shifted from the addictive effects of video game playing to the possible effects that they have on players’ aggression levels. As defining aggression as any thoughts or behaviors related with the intention to cause harm. Many scholars have been researching videogames' effects on children. The most popular aspect of videogame research is whether or not games increase aggression. There are many views as to whether….

    Show More
  • The Media's Influence on Health
    2740 words | 11 pages

    The mass media (including everything from television and music to popular novels and fan cultures), creates an endless and accessible flow of information. "What we know about the world beyond out immediate surroundings comes to us via the media (Yates 1999)." The technology of electronic media and the art of advertising have combined to create very powerful tools of influence. These tools are capable of shaping the attitudes, values and behaviors of large numbers of people (Walsh.) By identifying….

    Show More
  • Negative Effects of Music on the Mind
    1103 words | 5 pages

    Communication Studies at the University of Michigan, in his article Media violence and the American public in American Psychologist for 2001 says, that ''measuring such correlation (between agressive music and its consequences in real life) in laboratory studies would clearly be unethical, much the same way as experimental studies of smoking and lung cancer would have been unethical.'' What Bushman means is that not every child is affected by violence in music the same way. And sometimes it is hard to determine….

    Show More
  • Is the Nature of Crime in Our Society Accurately Presented by the Media?
    1690 words | 7 pages

    accurately presented by the media? Discuss. Like every society, Australia has always had its share of criminal activity, from the founding of our country as a penal colony in the 18th century, bushrangers in the 19th century, underworld violence in the 20th century to recent youth violence on our city streets in the 21st century. In this essay, I will be discussing how the media presents crime in Australian society and how this does not necessarily reflect crime statistics. The media presents us with the….

    Show More
  • Song Analysis Micheal Jackson- Beat It
    1243 words | 5 pages

    would tell him “They Are Out To Get You, Better Leave While You Can” and the Devil would respond with “Don’t Wanna Be A Boy, You Wanna Be A Man”. The Devil and Angel scenario could be used for all of the Verses in the song (nersa). Besides violence and gang mentality, I could also see that this song could be about how Michael is struggling to find his own identity. During the time when the album was created, Michael experienced the feeling of sad and loneliness and felt undervalued in the….

    Show More
  • Islamophobia in America
    2011 words | 9 pages

    praised upon. As if people weren’t hateful enough as to so, the mass media plays a vitals role in the [developing] minds of Americans; most dramatically in times of war or protest. I am overwhelmed with disgust when speaking on the (for lack of a better term) ludicrous….

    Show More
  • Do Western Diets and Lifestyle Negatively Affect People’s Health?
    1517 words | 7 pages

    consumption of red meat and fatty food, the decrease in doing physical exercise in daily life not only can result in physical diseases like high blood pressure, obesity and cancer but also can bring about mental disease as depression, anxiety and violence. The use of media like Internet and TV can lead to discrimination, the feeling of loneliness, less contact with others and even suicide. Only by rational choices of less fatty and sugary food, doing more physical activities, having more contact with family….

    Show More
  • Unit 4 worksheet
    946 words | 4 pages

    similar ways as related to crime where the fraternal twins will be much more different. MZ twins will be much more similar in criminal activities and social interactions or lack of social interactions and the DZ twins are less likely to be the same in criminal activity. 5. What the 3 primary sources of aggressive acts? Behavior modeling is the process where violence is learned. The three principle sources are 1) family interactions, 2) environmental experiences, and 3) mass media. The family….

    Show More

Popular Essays