Explanations of Media influences on Aggression: Cognitive Priming

Question 1

Outline cognitive priming

Answer 1

Cognitive priming = exp of media influences on aggression which can explain the short-term effects of media violence.

Priming = temporary increase in the accessibility of thoughts and ideas.

In terms of aggression, exposure to violent media activates thoughts/ideas about violence -> activate other aggressive thoughts through associations made in memory -> aggression more likely.

Eg, a person plays a violent computer game in which they ‘kill’ other characters -> aggressive thoughts/feelings more easily/readily available.

If the person is then in a situation that causes conflict, their aggressive thoughts are the first thoughts accessible (primed) -> more likely to act aggressively.

Violent media (eg. computer games) can temporarily increase activation or ‘readiness’ of these thoughts, making them more accessible for a short time.

process is mostly automatic (i.e. drawing on implicit memory) so it can direct our behaviour without us being aware of it.

The primed response is triggered when we encounter cues in a situation that we perceive as
aggressive

Question 2

Evaluate cognitive priming:
STRENGTHS

Answer 2

P) Support from Bushman (1998)
E) undergraduates watched 15-minutes of a violent film, had faster reaction times to aggressive words than those who watched a non-violent film.
L) exposure to violent media increases ‘accessibility’ of violent thoughts and ideas

P) Suppory from Anderson and Dill (2000)
E) ppts who played violent computer games had more cognitively accessible aggressive thoughts than those who played non-violent computer games
E) concluded a single incident of violent game play was enough to prime aggressive thoughts
L) strong effects of cognitive priming as a factor in aggression

Question 3

Evaluate cognitive priming:
LIMITATIONS

Answer 3

P) reductionist:
E) blaming aggression on media ignores role of biological factors
E) eg genetic exp; Brunner (1993) found defective ‘MAOA gene in a Dutch family with a history of male violence. eg hormonal exp: testosterone determine some aggressive behaviour.
L) media influence explanations of aggression = limited in successfully explain aggression, need other approaches