The link between violence in the media and aggression

Violence in the media, including television, films, and computer games, has been associated with aggressive behaviour in real life. This connection has been explored through various studies, though opinions differ on whether media violence directly causes aggression or merely correlates with it.

Evidence connecting media violence to aggression

• High-profile cases - The perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in the USA were reportedly enthusiasts of violent computer games, prompting speculation about a link to their actions. Similar suggestions have arisen regarding other school shootings in the USA.
• Vicarious reinforcement - Observing characters in games or shows being rewarded for violent acts may encourage similar behaviour in viewers or players through indirect learning.
• Correlational studies - Research has identified a relationship between exposure to violent media and increased aggression, though this does not necessarily imply causation. It could be that individuals with aggressive tendencies are naturally drawn to violent content.

Key research on media violence and aggression

Paik and Comstock (1994) meta-analysis:

• Method - Conducted a meta-analysis of 217 studies from 1957 to 1990, examining the impact of violent media, such as television and films, on behaviour.
• Results - Found a significant correlation between viewing violent content and displaying aggressive behaviour. The link was slightly stronger in men than in women, and violent cartoons or fantasy programmes had a notable effect compared to other genres.
• Conclusions - There is a clear association between exposure to violent media and aggressive tendencies.
• Evaluation - Despite the extensive scope of the analysis, many studies were conducted in laboratory settings, potentially lacking real-world applicability (ecological validity). Additionally, the findings show only correlation, not causation, as aggressive individuals might prefer violent media.

Charlton et al (2000) study on St. Helena:

• Method - Investigated the impact of television introduction on the remote island of St. Helena in 1995 by observing children aged 3-8 in playground settings before and five years after television arrived.
• Results - Noted a small decrease in anti-social behaviour (such as shouting or pushing) among children post-television introduction compared to before.
• Conclusions - Suggests that media exposure does not always lead to increased aggression, challenging the assumed link.
• Evaluation - The natural setting enhances ecological validity, but the specific context of a small, isolated community may limit generalisation to larger, more media-saturated populations.

Theories of media violence effects: desensitisation, disinhibition, and cognitive priming

Several psychological theories explain how repeated exposure to violence in the media might contribute to aggressive behaviour by altering emotional responses, social norms, or thought patterns.

Mechanisms of media influence on aggression

• Desensitisation - Normally, people react with anxiety or distress to violence. Continuous exposure to violent media can dull this emotional response, making individuals less sensitive to real-life aggression.
• Disinhibition - Social norms typically discourage aggressive behaviour as unacceptable. However, seeing violence frequently portrayed in media may normalise it, reducing inhibitions against acting aggressively.
• Cognitive priming - Violent media content can create mental associations with cues like weapons. When encountering these cues in real life, stored violent memories may be triggered, potentially prompting aggressive responses.

Explanations of institutional aggression in prisons

Institutional aggression refers to violent behaviour within structured environments governed by authority, such as prisons. Two primary explanations—dispositional and situational—offer different perspectives on why aggression occurs in these settings.

Dispositional explanation: the importation model

• Core idea - According to Irwin and Cressey (1962), aggression in prisons arises from the personal characteristics and social norms that inmates bring with them from their lives outside, termed the importation model.
• Imported traits - Inmates may carry over attitudes or behaviours from criminal subcultures, where aggression is valued or respected, into the prison environment.
• Supporting evidence - Harer and Steffensmeier (1996) analysed data from 58 male prisons in the USA, finding higher violence rates among Black inmates and higher drug offence rates among white inmates, reflecting societal patterns outside prison. This supports the idea that external norms are imported.
• Evaluation - This research provides insight into how pre-existing traits influence behaviour but has been criticised for being androcentric, as it excluded female prisons, limiting its scope.

Situational explanation: the deprivation model

• Core idea - Proposed by Sykes (1958), the deprivation model suggests that the harsh conditions within prisons, known as the 'pains of imprisonment', create stress that leads to aggression.
• Specific deprivations - Inmates experience losses such as autonomy, liberty, and personal security, which can heighten frustration and conflict.
• Supporting evidence - Megargee (1977) studied a prison for young offenders in the USA over three years, finding a strong correlation between overcrowding and disruptive behaviour, highlighting environmental impact.
• Evaluation - This model effectively explains how situational factors contribute to aggression but may not account for individual differences in how inmates respond to these conditions.

Research on dispositional and situational factors in prison aggression

Research indicates that neither dispositional nor situational explanations alone fully account for institutional aggression in prisons. Instead, both factors often interact to influence behaviour.

Combined influence of explanations

• Contradictory findings - Studies supporting the importation and deprivation models often present conflicting results, suggesting that no single explanation is sufficient on its own.
• Context-specific relevance - Jiang and Fisher-Giorlando (2002) examined disciplinary reports from a USA prison and found that the importation model better explained violence among inmates, while the deprivation model was more applicable to aggression towards staff.
• Conclusions - Both personal characteristics brought into the prison and the stressful environment within it play significant roles in institutional aggression, with their impact varying depending on the specific context or target of the violence.
• Evaluation - Integrating both perspectives provides a more comprehensive understanding, though further research is needed to clarify how these factors interact in different prison settings.