Violence in the Media

Can the media encourage violence?

Yes

Why do Interactionalists, such as Cohen, believe that the media can encourage violence?

deviancy amplification as a process contributes to some criminality and encourages violence

What are the four conclusions on whether media encourages violence?

• Copycatting

• Catharsis

• Desensitisation

• Sensitisation

(‘Cause Cats Don’t Scare)

What does Copycatting propose about whether the media encourages violence?

if you watch violence - you will become violent (linked to the hypodermic syringe model)

• e.g. James Bulger - Killers watched child’s play

What does Catharsis propose about whether the media encourages violence?

people are less violent as they live out their violent tendencies through media rather than in real life

• media acts as a safety value

What does Desensitisation propose about whether the media encourages violence?

exposure to violence in the media normalises it

• leads to drip drip effect

What does Sensitisation propose about whether the media encourages violence?

exposure to violence in the media exposes people to its consequences - makes them less tolerant of it

How can the idea that media encourages violence be criticised?

• ‘media violence’ is far too broad

• does not always consider how people interpret what they consume

• impossible to avoid the Hawthorne effect

• Laboratory experiments only show short time periods

• usually involves small samples

• impossible to separate from other possible causes

• no control group without media exposure