Violent Media Consumption and the Recognition of Dynamic Facial Expressions

• NCJ Number: 233865
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 571-584
• Author(s): Steven J. Kirsh; Jeffery R. W. Mounts; Paul V. Olczak
• Date Published: May 2006
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the effects of violent media consumption on the identification of dynamic facial expression.

Abstract

This study assessed the speed of recognition of facial emotional expressions (happy and angry) as a function of violent media consumption. Color photos of calm facial expressions morphed to either an angry or a happy facial expression. Participants were asked to make a speeded identification of the emotion (happiness or anger) during the morph. Results indicated that, independent of trait aggressiveness, participants high in violent media consumption responded slower to depictions of happiness and faster to depictions of anger than participants low in violent media consumption. Implications of these findings are discussed with respect to current models of aggressive behavior. (Published Abstract) Figure and references