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Running Head: VIOLENT MEDIA EXPOSURE AND ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS ON
BEHAVIOR
Violent Media Exposure and its adverse effects on behavior: A Methodological Review
Q Mitchell
AMU
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VIOLENT MEDIA EXPOSURE AND ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOR
Abstract
The relationship between media exposure and violent and aggressive behavior has been a
developmental theory for many years. Mostly because there have been many questions raised as
to the validity of the experiments conducted (Freedman 1984, Cook et al 1983). In this paper I
will review the connection between media violence and the adverse behaviors associated with
said exposure and discuss some of the investigative finds by means of a few experiments, which
show there are indeed connections to media violence and aggressive behavior.
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VIOLENT MEDIA EXPOSURE AND ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOR
INTRODUCTION
Television has been the central part to American households for the past sixty
years. It has played a very pivotal role in some historic moments, documenting some of this
country’s best and worst times. However, today there is a different consensus that charges media
violence as triggering some very negative, aggressive and even desensitized behavior in the
viewer. How can this be avoided if media is everywhere? When we are in the comfort of our
homes the television is on- even if no one is actually watching it, when we are driving in our
cars- we listen to the radio and even when we are at the office- we are on the internet, which
displays internet media. This exposure is relentless and unavoidable, however the concern is that
the values that are being imparted by means of the media can shape and even trigger certain
behaviors in the viewers. If this is the case, then our ideals and values are primarily being shaped
by those on the screen, how much of your thoughts, wants and needs truly belong to you and is
not merely some information that was programmed, or transmitted into your subconscious by
way of media exposure? In reviewing some of the studies that were investigated, although there
were some scholars who determined there weren’t any causal effects of exposure to violent
media and aggression (Freedman 1984, Mcguire 1989) others such as; (Andison 1977) found
otherwise.
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BACKGROUND
Before we delve into the research literature there should be a strong emphasis on some
major points noted in this review. First, the evidence uncovered for this paper indicates violence
and aggressive behaviors are not the result of a single cause; but more-so due to various factors
that ultimately converge over a matter of time to create the aggressive and behavioral responses
witnessed in some adolescents.
Second, it would be important to note there are some developmental factors that might be
essential in gaining a better understanding as to the effects of media violence on adolescent
children. If we adequately assess media violence and children’s exposure we would have to take
into account that there are some children exposed to media violence that are also dealing with
