DOES MEDIA VIOLENCE



Does Media Violence Adversely Affect Human Temperament?



Abstract

The theme of Media violence has been the subject of hated question in latest decades. There is a huge empirical publication on the consequences of TV on violent behavior but no released comprehensive reconsider has ever concentrated on those investigations that use lawless individual violent behavior as their outcome. The present paper comprises a try to load up this void and supply an asset for those who do not desire to delve into four decades of initial study in alignment to consider this line of investigation. Studies are assessed founded on up to designated day measures of study in the area of criminology. Although the likelihood that TV and movie violent behavior has an influence on brutal criminality continues? it is resolved here that? regardless of continual released reconsiders that state the opposing? the body of released? empirical clues on this theme does not set up that examining brutal portrayals determinants crime.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction4

2. Methodological criteria12

3. Aggregate-level studies16

3.1. Cross-sectional studies16

3.2. Longitudinal studies18

4. Individual-level studies24

4.1. Experiments? quasi-experiments (group comparisons)24

4.2. Correlational research34

4.3. Prospective longitudinal studies37

4.4. The Eron/Lefkowitz/Huesmann et al. studies39

4.5. The Milavsky et al. study43

4.6. The Huesmann? Eron? et al. cross-national studies46

4.7. Johnson et al. (2002)51

5. Summary and conclusions54

Does Media Violence Adversely Affect Human Temperament?

1. Introduction

A vast empirical literature on the impact of television exposure on violent behavior has accrued over the last four decades? mostly in the fields of psychology and broadcasting. Reviews of this literature typically conclude that there is evidence that viewing violent media is associated with violent behavior (e.g.? Donne stein & Linz? 1995; Huesmann & Miller? 1994; Paik & Comstock? 1994 and Wood et al.? 1991). It is not this particular conclusion that is going to be called into question in the present paper. Instead? the present paper focuses on the extension of that conclusion to apply to violent or criminal behavior. For example? Donne stein and Linz (1995) conclude that studies “strongly suggest that exposure to media violence is a causal factor in criminal behavior?” (p. 250). Palermo (1995) writes “There is no doubt … that excessive and extended exposure to television violence may promote violence in some children …” (p. 19). Huesmann and Miller (1994) summarize? “… the existing empirical studies do provide support for the conjecture that the current level of interpersonal violence in our societies has been boosted by the long-term effects of many persons' childhood exposure to a steady diet of dramatic media violence ” (p. 155)? and Sage (1998) concludes? “Although this phenomenon is complex and multifactorial? with deep historical roots? one of the best documented causes of the modern upsurge in violence appears to be childhood exposure to television violence ” (p. 129).

This idea has been reified through the popular press and other published works. Although many publications have tamed their rhetoric on this topic in recent years (Anderson and Bushman? 2002)? one still may find many highly overstated comments on the TV violence -violent criminal behavior ...