Title: The Impact of Entertainment Media Violence on Children and Families
1The Impact of Entertainment Media Violence on
Children and Families
2Types of Violence in the Media
- Violence with a weapon
- Violence without a weapon
- Crashes and explosions
- Verbal violence
3By the time the average American child graduates
from elementary school, he or she will have seen
more than 8,000 murders and more than 100,000
other assorted acts of violence (e.g., assaults)
on network television (American Psychological
Assocation,1992).
4National TV Violence Study (1996-1998) 8,000 hrs
of TV analyzed
- 60 of programs were violent.
- "Good" characters perpetrated nearly 40 of the
violent acts. - 40 of the violent acts perpetrated by "bad"
characters went unpunished.
5National TV Violence Study (1996-1998) 8,000 hrs
of TV analyzed
- 75 of the perpetrators showed no remorse.
- Over 50 of the victims showed no pain or
suffering.
6National TV Violence Study (1996-1998) 8,000 hrs
of TV analyzed
- 35 of victims experienced unrealistically low
levels of harm. - 15 of the violent programs portrayed long-term
consequences (e.g., to the victims family). - 50 of the violent scenes were lethal, 40 were
portrayed as humorous.
7What makes observational learning more likely?
- Repeated exposure is the 1 factor!
- However, the effects of media violence may be
increased or decreased by - Characteristics of the individual viewer and the
environment - Characteristics of the media presentation and how
the viewer perceives it
8Individual and EnvironmentalRisk Factors
- Age Media violence affects kids 2-11 the most
- Gender Media violence affects both boys and
girls - Family Co-viewing, discussion, and anti-violence
norms reduce effect - Cultural and gender role norms Can reduce or
increase effect
9Individual and EnvironmentalRisk Factors
- Existing Aggressiveness Media violence affects
aggressive and non aggressive kids - Intellectual ability Media violence affects both
high and low IQ kids - Social class Media violence affects upper and
lower class kids, but lower class kids watch more
media violence
10Characteristics of Program that Affect Risk
- Identification with aggressor Effects are larger
for violent behaviors committed by charismatic
heroes with whom the viewer identifies - Perceived realism of aggression Effects are
larger when violent shows are perceived as
telling about life like it really is
11Characteristics of Program that Affect Risk
- Consequences of aggressive act Effects are
larger when aggressor is rewarded for his/her
actions - Justifiability of aggressive act Effects are
larger when aggression is portrayed as justified - Attention to scene Effects are larger when
viewers attention is riveted on scene
12Fifty Years of Studies
- it is clear to me that the causal relationship
between exposure to televised violence and
antisocial behavior is sufficient to warrant
appropriate and immediate remedial action
there comes a time when the data are sufficient
to justify action. That time has come. - --Jesse Steinfeld, Surgeon General of the
- United States, March 1972