NCJ Number
109152
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (1986) Pages: complete issue
Editor(s)
L R Huesmann,
N M Malamuth
Date Published
1986
Length
199 pages
Annotation
Media portrayals of interpersonal violence may affect behavior by changing an observer's attitudes, emotional responses to violence (desensitization), or by arousing aggression.
Abstract
The relationship between media violence and the processes of acquisition, maintenance, and emission of aggression is examined in 10 articles of this issue. The 18 authors represent a broad range of specialties in psychology and communication. The first article provides a general overview of research on the effects of media violence on behavior. Subsequent articles discuss research on the immediate effects of violence viewing on attitudes, emotions, and cognitions; longitudinal studies on the long-term effects of television violence; and recent studies on how sexually violent media may contribute to immediate and future aggression against women. This volume includes three theoretical papers. The first one discusses the role of situational variables in mediating the effects of media violence on aggression; the second presents a model and data concerning how family variables mitigate or exacerbate the effects of media violence on children; and the third outlines a process model for explaining the long-term cumulative effects of media violence. The implications of the research findings for society are discussed in three other articles. One article posits that the small correlations obtained between violence viewing and aggression have real social significance; the second outlines some possibilities for intervening with children to prevent adverse effects of media violence; and the last investigates some possible legal responses to the published research findings, particularly those pertaining to sexually violent depictions. References with individual articles. For separate articles, see NCJ 109153-109162.