The link between media violence and aggression

Exposure to violence in media, such as films, television, and computer games, has been associated with increased aggressive behaviour in individuals. This connection is often explored through the idea that observing violent acts can influence real-world actions, though the relationship is complex and not always directly causal.

Ways media violence may influence aggression

• Vicarious reinforcement - Observing characters in media being rewarded for violent actions can encourage similar behaviour in viewers, as they learn that aggression leads to positive outcomes.
• Correlation with real-world events - Studies have suggested links between violent computer games and incidents like school shootings, where aggressive behaviour appears to mirror media content.
• Non-causal factors - The association might reflect individuals with pre-existing aggressive tendencies preferring violent media, rather than the media causing the aggression.

Research studies on media violence and aggression

Several studies have investigated the potential impact of violent media on behaviour, using methods like meta-analyses and longitudinal observations. These highlight correlations but often struggle to establish clear causation due to ethical and practical limitations.

Anderson et al (2010) meta-analysis

• Method - A comprehensive review of multiple studies examining the effects of playing violent computer games on thoughts, emotions, and actions.
• Results - Found a consistent association between exposure to violent games and heightened aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviours across participants.
• Evaluation - Provides strong evidence of a link, but cannot prove causation; individual differences in players may influence outcomes.

Paik and Comstock (1994) meta-analysis

• Method - Analysed 217 studies from 1957 to 1990 to assess the impact of violent television and films on behaviour.
• Results - Identified a significant correlation between viewing violent media and engaging in violent acts; the link was stronger in males than females, and viewers of violent cartoons or fantasy programmes displayed more aggression.
• Conclusions - Supports the existence of a relationship between media violence and real aggression.
• Evaluation - Covers a large body of research, but many included studies were lab-based, potentially lacking real-world applicability; shows correlation, not direct cause.

Charlton et al (2000) longitudinal study

• Method - Examined children aged 3-8 on the island of St Helena before and after television was introduced in 1995, comparing anti-social behaviour levels five years later.
• Results - Observed a minor reduction in anti-social behaviour after TV introduction, contrary to expectations of increased aggression.
• Evaluation - Offers real-world insight into long-term effects, but the isolated setting may not generalise to other populations; challenges assumptions about media causing aggression.

Mechanisms linking media violence to aggression

Three key psychological processes explain how repeated exposure to violent media might lead to increased aggression: desensitisation, disinhibition, and cognitive priming. These mechanisms focus on how media alters emotional responses, inhibitions, and thought patterns.

Desensitisation to violence

Repeated viewing of violent media can diminish normal anxious reactions to real violence, making individuals less sensitive over time. This blunted response may make aggressive acts seem more acceptable or normal.

Supporting research - Carnagey et al (2007):

• Participants who played violent video games showed reduced physiological arousal (e.g., lower heart rate) when later exposed to real violent scenes.
• This was compared to those who played non-violent games.

Disinhibition of aggressive behaviour

Social norms usually inhibit aggression, but media portraying violence as justified can reduce these barriers, encouraging similar actions.

Supporting research - Berkowitz and Alioto (1973):

• Participants who watched films depicting revenge violence as acceptable were more aggressive towards a study confederate afterwards.
• This suggests media can override inhibitions.

Cognitive priming for aggression

Violent media creates mental cues that link to aggressive memories, which can be triggered in real situations, prompting hostile responses.

Supporting research - Fischer and Greitemeyer (2006):

• Exposure to songs with negative lyrics about a specific gender led participants to recall more negative traits about that gender.
• Participants also behaved more aggressively towards that gender.

Explanations for institutional aggression in prisons

Institutional aggression refers to violent behaviour occurring within structured environments like prisons, where individuals are confined and subject to strict rules. Two main models explain this: one focusing on inmates' personal traits and another on the prison setting itself.

Dispositional explanation

Aggression arises from the inherent characteristics and backgrounds that individuals bring into the institution.

Importation model (Irwin and Cressey, 1962):

• Suggests inmates import social norms and behaviours from outside, such as gang affiliations or violent histories.
• These contribute to prison aggression.

Supporting research - Harer and Steffensmeier (1996):

• Analysed 58 male prisons and found violence patterns (e.g., higher rates among certain ethnic groups) mirrored societal trends outside prison.
• This supports the idea that personal factors are imported.

Situational explanation

Aggression is triggered by the prison environment, including stressful conditions that provoke conflict.

Deprivation model (Sykes, 1958):

• Prisoners experience "pains of imprisonment," such as loss of freedom, autonomy, and safety.
• This leads to frustration and violence; overcrowding exacerbates this stress.

Supporting research - Megargee (1977):

• A three-year observation in a prison showed a strong correlation between overcrowding and increased disruptive incidents.
• This highlights environmental pressures.

Research studies on institutional aggression

Research on prison aggression often combines dispositional and situational factors, revealing that no single explanation fully accounts for violence. Studies suggest an integrated approach may be most effective.

Integration of dispositional and situational explanations

Evidence is mixed, indicating both personal traits and environmental factors interact to influence aggression.

Supporting research - Jiang and Fisher-Giorlando (2002):

• Analysed prison violence data and found the importation model better explained inmate-on-inmate attacks.
• The deprivation model was more relevant for assaults on staff.
• This supports a combined view, where imported traits interact with prison deprivations to produce aggression.