Media influences on aggression, including the effects of computer games. The role of desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming.

What is the Basic Assumption of Media Explanations of Aggression?

• Exposure to media violence may increase aggressive thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
• Media can influence how people think about and respond to aggression.

How Can the Media Influence Aggression?

• Through repeated exposure to violent content.
• Includes television, films, social media and computer games.

Why are Computer Games Linked to Aggression?

• Many games contain violent content.
• Repeated exposure may increase aggressive thoughts and behaviours.

What is Desensitisation?

• Repeated exposure to violence reduces emotional responsiveness to violence.
• Individuals become less sensitive to aggressive acts.

How does Desensitisation Explain Aggression?

• Violence becomes normal and less shocking.
• Individuals may become more accepting of aggressive behaviour.

What are the Effects of Desensitisation?

• Reduced emotional response to violence.
• Reduced sympathy for victims.
• Increased acceptance of aggression.

Carnagey et al. (2007) — Aim

• Investigate whether violent video games cause desensitisation to violence.

Carnagey et al. (2007) — Procedure

• Participants played either violent or non-violent video games.
• Physiological responses were measured while viewing real violence.

Carnagey et al. (2007) — Findings

• Participants who played violent games showed lower physiological arousal when viewing violence.
• Suggested desensitisation had occurred.

Carnagey et al. (2007) — Conclusion

• Violent video games may reduce emotional responsiveness to violence.
• Supports desensitisation as an explanation of aggression.

What is Disinhibition?

• Reduction of social and psychological restraints on aggressive behaviour.
• Aggression becomes more acceptable.

How does Disinhibition Explain Aggression?

• Exposure to media violence weakens normal inhibitions against aggression.
• Individuals become more willing to behave aggressively.

What are Inhibitions?

• Internal controls that prevent aggressive behaviour.
• Include guilt, morality, laws and social norms.

How Can Media Cause Disinhibition?

• Media often presents aggression without serious consequences.
• Aggressive characters may be rewarded or admired.

What are the Effects of Disinhibition?

• Reduced guilt about aggression.
• Increased acceptance of violence.
• Greater likelihood of aggressive behaviour.

What is Cognitive Priming?

• Exposure to violence activates aggression-related thoughts and memories.
• Aggressive ideas become more accessible.

How does Cognitive Priming Explain Aggression?

• Violent media activates aggressive schemas stored in memory.
• Aggressive responses become more likely.

What is an Aggressive Schema?

• Mental framework containing aggressive thoughts and behaviours.
• Can be activated by exposure to violent media.

Who Proposed Cognitive Priming?

• Berkowitz.
• Developed cognitive neoassociation theory.

Josephson (1987) — Aim

• Investigate whether exposure to television violence influences aggression in children.

Josephson (1987) — Procedure

• Children watched either violent or non-violent television programmes.
• Their behaviour was observed during a hockey game.

Josephson (1987) — Findings

• Children who watched violent television behaved more aggressively.
• Supports cognitive priming.

Josephson (1987) — Conclusion

• Violent media can activate aggressive thoughts and behaviours.
• Supports the cognitive priming explanation.

What is the General Aggression Model (GAM)?

• Developed by Anderson and Bushman.
• Explains aggression through interactions between thoughts, emotions and arousal.

How does the General Aggression Model Explain Aggression?

• Violent media influences thoughts, emotions and physiological arousal.
• Together these increase the likelihood of aggression.

Media Influence Evaluation — Research Support for Desensitisation

• Carnagey et al. found violent game players showed lower physiological responses to violence.
• Supports desensitisation.

Why does Research Support Strengthen the Desensitisation Explanation?

• Demonstrates that exposure to violent media can alter emotional responses.
• Supports the idea that violence becomes normalised.

Media Influence Evaluation — Research Support for Cognitive Priming

• Josephson found children exposed to violent television behaved more aggressively.
• Supports cognitive priming.

Why does Research Support Strengthen the Cognitive Priming Explanation?

• Suggests violent media activates aggressive thoughts and behaviours.
• Supports cognitive explanations of aggression.

Media Influence Evaluation — Cause and Effect Problem

• Aggressive individuals may choose violent media.
• Media may not necessarily cause aggression.

Why does the Cause and Effect Problem Weaken Media Explanations?

• It is difficult to determine whether media causes aggression or aggressive people seek violent media.
• Limits conclusions about causality.

Media Influence Evaluation — Artificial Measures of Aggression

• Many studies measure aggression using laboratory tasks.
• These may not reflect real-world aggression.

Why do Artificial Measures Weaken Media Explanations?

• Laboratory aggression may lack ecological validity.
• Findings may not generalise to real-life violence.

Media Influence Evaluation — Contradictory Evidence

• Millions of people play violent games without becoming violent.
• Exposure does not always lead to aggression.

Why does Contradictory Evidence Weaken Media Explanations?

• Media violence alone cannot explain aggressive behaviour.
• Other factors are likely involved.

Media Influence Evaluation — Other Influences on Aggression

• Family background, personality and social environment influence aggression.
• Media may be only one contributing factor.

Why do Other Influences Weaken Media Explanations?

• Aggression is likely caused by multiple interacting factors.
• Media explanations may oversimplify aggressive behaviour.

Overall Explanation of Media Influences on Aggression

• Media may influence aggression through desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming.
• However, aggression is likely influenced by a combination of media, biological and environmental factors.