Media influences - Research evaluations

Question 1

Williams - Playground aggression

Answer 1

Observed children’s aggression in a playground.
Before and after they had been exposed to the media.

There was increases in both verbal/physical aggression.

Supports idea that viewing aggressive symbolic models can lead to children imitating the observed aggressive behaviour.

Question 2

Anderson et al - violent/non-violent video game experiment
Support for Desensitisation

Answer 2

Asked ppts to play a violent/non-violent video game. For 20 mins

After this they were asked to watch a 10 min video showing real world violence.

Results showed lower responses to the violence for the ones who played the aggressive game. (Lower H.R)

Support for desensitisation

Question 3

Berkowitz et al
Support for disinhibition

Answer 3

Males watched an aggressive scene from a TV show and were given written summaries on it.

Those who were given summaries suggesting the violence was justified were more aggressive towards a confederate in a follow up task.

Support for the idea of viewing aggression along with justification can create a disinhibited response to the viewer.

Question 4

Murray
Support for Cognitive priming

Answer 4

Scanned brains of 8 children while they watched violent/non-violent video sequences.

Some areas of the brain only activated to the violent videos.

The viewers see the violence as real due to the amygdala being activated. These are cognitively primed.
Aggressive scripts are being stored into long term memory.