NCJ Number
28998
Date Published
1975
Length
174 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHORS ARGUE THAT THE MASS MEDIA DO NOT HAVE ANY CAUSAL INFLUENCE ON THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY AND STATE THAT IT IS MISLEADING TO DWELL ON THIS AS A REASON FOR CONTROLLING THE MASS MEDIA.
Abstract
THE PUBLIC DEBATE OVER THE EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA VIOLENCE AND THE ISSUES IN THE DISCUSSION OF MAS MEDIA VIOLENCE AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM ARE REVIEWED. THE AUTHORS EXAMINE THE AVAILABLE SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FROM SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, AND THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN SUCH RESEARCH ARE FULLY DESCRIBED. WHILE THE AUTHORS QUESTION THE COMMON ASSUMPTION THAT MASS MEDIA VIOLENCE AFFECTS THE WILLINGNESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO BEHAVE AGGRESSIVELY, THEY NOTE THAT THE QUESTIONS OF THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE ON PROGRAMMING AND PROGRAM QUALITY, THE DISTRESS CAUSED TO YOUNG VIEWERS, AND THE AFFRONT TO THE SENSIBILITIES OF A MINORITY ALL NEED CAREFUL ATTENTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)