Television Violence-Viewer Aggression Debate (From The Media and Criminal Justice Policy, P 23-34, 1990, Ray Surette, ed. -- See NCJ-125773)

• NCJ Number: 125775
• Author(s): A Wurtzel; G Lometti
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reprinted from "A Research Perspective on Television and Violence" and from "Society," V 21, N 6 1984.

Annotation

This chapter presents the American Broadcasting Company's (ABC) critique of the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH's) conclusions regarding the impact of television violence on viewer aggression; the NIMH panel's response to the critique is included, along with ABC's rebuttal.

Abstract

The NIMH panel's report concludes that a causal relationship exists between television violence and aggressive behavior. The ABC critique concludes, on the other hand, that the research does not support the conclusion of a causal relationship and that there is a significant debate within the research community over the relationship between television violence and aggressive behavior. The NIMH report states that over the past decade, the amount of violence on television has remained at consistently high levels; the ABC critique reports a decrease in the overall amount of violence portrayed on television in recent years. The NIMH report concludes that television cultivates viewer attitudes; the ABC critique finds that the research does not support that television significantly cultivates viewer attitudes and perceptions of social reality, whether positive or negative. The NIMH panel's response to ABC's critique affirms the objectivity of the panel's assessment of the relevant research and brands the ABC critique as based in biased self-interest.