Media influences on aggression Flashcards
(15 cards)
What role do violent computer games play in aggression?
Porter & Starcevic - interactive violence in video games has potential to exert more influence that tv violence (where viewer plays a passive role) + aggression is rewards and is portrayed as appropriate and effective
What have experimental studies shown about computer games?
Gentile and Stone - lab experiments have found in short-term increases in levels of physiological arousal, hostile feelings and aggressive behaviour following violent games compared to non-violent games
What have longitudinal studies shown about violent computer games?
Anderson et al - surveyed 430 children (aged 7-9) at 2 points during school year
Children who had high exposure to violent video games became more verbally and physically aggressive (as rated by themselves, peers and teachers)
Adachi and Willoughby - longitudinal link might be due to the competitive nature of the games rather than the violence
What were the procedures of Greitermyer and Mügge study?
meta-analysis of 98 studies carried out since 2009 (in total nearly 37000 participants)
- Testing the effect violent video games (aim to harm another game character) - tested alongside a game that encouraged pro-social behaviour
What were the findings from Greitemeyer and Mügge study?
Found a small average effect size in these studies
Video games were linked to an increase in aggressive outcomes and a decrease in prosocial behaviour - prosocial games had the opposite effect
These effects were evidently regardless of the type of study
What is desensitisation?
Repeated exposure to media violence has lead to removal of anxiety and disgust
Someone who becomes desensitised to violence may perceive it as ‘normal’ and are more likely to engage in violence themselves
What is the main indication that desensitisation has occurred?
Reduction in physiological arousal (e.g. heart rate and skin conductance response) when exposed to real violence after being repeatedly exposed to violence in the media (Linz et al)
What is another indication of desensitisation?
change in cognitive and affective reactions that would be there in the absence of desensitisation e.g. less likely to have sympathy for victims and have less negative attitudes towards violence
What is disinhibition?
Watching or playing violent media may change moral standards of what is considered acceptable behaviour - legitimises the use of violence because media undermines the social sanctions that usually inhibit such behaviour
Can have an immediate effect and a long term effect
What does disinhibition do?
Violence on tv or in game triggers physiological arousal which leads to a greater probability of behaving aggressively as inhibitions are temporarily suppressed but the drive to act
Long-term = prolonged exposure to violent media violence gives message that violence is a normal part of everyday life - when violence is justified of left unpunished, viewers guilt or concern about consequences is reduced
Who proposed and what is cognitive priming?
Berkowitz - temporary increase in the accessibility of thoughts and ideas - he proposed when people are constantly exposed to violent media this activates thoughts or ideas about violence which in turn activate (prime) other aggressive thoughts through association in memory pathways
What research support is there for desensitisation>
Carnagey et al
Participants played either a violent or non-violent video game for 20 mins, then watched a 10 min film clip containing real life violent scenes while their heart rate and skin conductance response (a measure of physiological arousal) were monitored - those who had been playing violent game had lower heart rate and skin conductance response = demonstrates disinhibition
(LACKS ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY)
What is an issue with desensitisation?
It can lead people to feel ‘comfortably numb’ to the pain and suffering of others and are consequently less helpful
Can be adaptive for individuals such as those in the army but can also have detrimental effects
What research support is there for priming?
Bushman - 200 male/female undergrads - watched a 15 min segment of a violent film and non violent film - participants who watched the violent film had a quicker reaction time
Supports idea of cognitive priming (media primes aggressive behaviour making it more accessible
Why is disinhibition determined by other factors?
e.g. younger children are more likely to be affected by(less likely to consider motives or consequences of the violence - Collins) - children who grow up in households with strong norms against violence - children who experience physical violence are more likely to identify with violent heroes
Shows individual differences
