Media Violence And Childhood Aggression Analysis

Media violence and childhood aggression Entertainment media influences our lives (Anderson & Dill, 2000). A large body of research contends that a positive relationship exists between the consumption of violent media and aggressive behaviour in children (Joint Statement, 2000). Violent media has a range of channels, such as film, television programmes, video games, online content and other interactive forms (Gentile, Linder & Walsh, 2003). The increasing presence, use and accessibility of media are believed to play a significant role in childhood development (Wilson, 2008). This assertion is aligned with the theories of observational learning, in particular modelling. Another view adds to the understanding of this phenomenon, by contending that media is merely a stimulus which provokes a response and that the consequences of those responses is what maintain violent behaviour into adulthood. A third view is considered which proposes that the link between violent media consumption and childhood aggression is mediated by underlying individual and contextual factors. Essentially, this essay proposes three possible mediators to the development of aggressive behaviour in children. Supporting Evidence Over 1000 studies have demonstrated the effects of media violence and aggressive behaviour on children (Joint Statement, 2000). Aggressive behaviour is purported to be learnt vicariously through the modelling of violence (Chance, 2014). In terms of short-term behavioural effects, the modelling of violence in the media has been found to influence children’s arousal levels, thoughts and emotions (Browne and Hamilton-Giachritsis, 2005) and the frequency of violent and fearful behaviours (Miranda, McCluskey, Silber, Von Pohle, & Bainum, 2009). Moreover, it is hypothesised that measurable behavioural changes are observable within a six month exposure to violent media (Gentile et al., 2003), while changes to children’s schemas can be observed following exposure to a single episode of a television episode (Wilson, 2008). Long-term effects have also been found, with long-term exposure to media violence predicting: increased aggression in young adults (Huesmann, Moise-Titus, Podolski, & Eron, 2003, as cited in Gentile et al., 2003) and more aggressive attitudes, beliefs and perceptual biases (Gentile et al., 2003). This translates as an increase in the likelihood of violent behavior, such as physical and domestic abuse (Miranda et al., 2009). Finally, long-term exposure is believed to construct aggression-related schemas, such as hostile attribution biases and beliefs in the efficacy, appropriateness and commonality of violence (Gentile at al., 2003). It is evident that the consumption of media violence produces measurable short and long-term effects on children. However, media consumption is not the sole determinant of aggressive behaviour; this is discussed next. Behaviour’s Consequences Clearly media violence generates effects in children. …show more content…
However, according to the principles of operant learning, behaviour is regulated by its consequences, via reinforcement or punishment (Chance, 2014). Accordingly, in order for violent behaviour to recur, it must be reinforced. It is proposed that while violent media is an easily accessible stimulus for violence, it is the social consequences received by the child (either vicariously or directly) which mediate the relationship between observed media violence and aggression. For example, an experiment by Miranda et al., (2009) demonstrated that children demonstrated less aggression (versus a comparable control group) after watching a violent cartoon when an adult provided a commentary which expressed disapproval of the violence shown. This demonstrates that social disapproval (i.e. a positive punishment) can reduce the performance of aggression mimicry. Similarly, another experiment found that an observer child would more likely reproduce aggressive behaviour when the actual model (a confederate child) was present, versus another unobserved child. This suggests that the actual model provides cues for aggression; therefore indicating that the observer learns with whom the behaviour is socially acceptable (O 'Carroll, O 'Neal, McDonald, and Hori, 1977, as cited in Miranda et al., 2009) and acceptance is a strong positive reinforcer. However, a key problem is that violent behaviour is not always immediately or clearly connected with the consequences of the …show more content…
However, media is not the sole determinant of violent behaviour. The understanding of this phenomenon would not be complete without an acknowledgement of the consequences of behaviour, i.e. how violent behaviour is moderated by its punishment and reinforcement. Finally, it is important to understand these in conjunction with knowledge of the underlying variables that can also moderate the expression of aggressive behaviour. Only when the three factors are understood together, can a holistic view be taken and the effects of media violence on development be understood in