Influence of Media Violence on Youth

• NCJ Number: 234151
• Journal: Psychological Science in the Public Interest Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: December 2003 Pages: 81-110
• Author(s): Craig A. Anderson; Leonard Berkowitz; Edward Donnerstein; L. Rowell Huesmann; James D. Johnson; Daniel Linz; Neil M. Malamuth; Ellen Wartella
• Date Published: December 2003
• Length: 30 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents an overview of studies that have examined whether exposure to media violence increases aggression and violence in youth.

Abstract

Reviews of research indicate that exposure to media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both the immediate and long-term timeframes, with milder forms of aggression being affected more than severe forms of aggression. Research has also found that even short-term exposure to media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive emotions and thoughts, and physically and verbally aggressive behavior in youth. Additional research has measured the effects of media violence in both the short-term and the long-term contexts and found that the short-term effects include increased physiological arousal that triggers an automatic tendency to imitate observed behaviors, while long-term effects include the acquisition of lasting aggressive scripts and aggression supporting beliefs about social behavior. The review of the research also found that the degree to which media violence affects aggressive and violent behavior in youth is influenced by the characteristics of viewers, the social environments surrounding the youth, and the media content in how violence is portrayed. The article presents an overview of research that has examined the effects of media violence on aggressive and violent behavior in youth. Figures and references