Sociological Reasons for the Relationship Between Media and Violent Behavior

Media as a Model

  • The media acts as a model, providing individuals with examples of behavior and attitudes that they may learn from and imitate. This modeling effect can be particularly strong for those who are more susceptible to media influence, such as children and adolescents.

  • Repeated exposure to violence in media can increase violent behavior. This effect is thought to be due to a number of factors, including desensitization, disinhibition, and imitation.

  • People may come to adopt violent behavior they see in media as acceptable, especially if the violence is portrayed as justified or rewarded. This can lead to a normalization of violence and a greater willingness to engage in aggressive behavior.

  • The media has a powerful and immediate effect on its audience, particularly on children and young people, who may be more impressionable and less able to critically evaluate media messages.

  • Violence in media is often seen to cause real-life violence and aggression, although the relationship between media violence and actual violence is complex and debated. Meta-analyses have shown that exposure to media violence is correlated with increases in aggressive behavior, thoughts, and affect.

  • This is due to imitation of images and portrayals seen in media products like films, computer games, and online resources. Social learning theory suggests that individuals learn behaviors through observation and imitation of others, particularly if those others are seen as role models or authority figures.

Hypodermic Syringe Model

  • Media influences are seen as immediate and powerful, directly injecting messages into the minds of the audience. This model suggests that media messages are uniformly accepted and internalized by all audience members.

  • The audience is passive and unable to resist the messages, with little agency or critical thinking. This assumption has been largely discredited by more contemporary media theories.

  • Explains imitation or copy-cat violence, where individuals directly replicate violent acts they have seen in the media. This is a simplistic view of media effects, as it does not account for individual differences, social context, or other mediating factors.

Newson's Study: Desensitization

  • Repeated exposure to violence in media can lead to desensitization, where individuals become less sensitive to the emotional impact of violence.

  • Desensitization is the decreased emotional response to violent acts, making individuals less likely to feel empathy or concern for victims of violence. This can lead to a greater tolerance of violence in society.

  • Children may become more accepting of violence as a solution to problems if they are repeatedly exposed to violence in the media. This can shape their attitudes and beliefs about conflict resolution and the use of force.

  • This may increase their likelihood of engaging in violent behavior, as they come to see violence as a normal or acceptable way to resolve conflicts. This is particularly concerning for children who are already at risk for aggressive behavior.

  • Children are more likely to commit acts of violence if they have been exposed to violence in the media, especially if they identify with the perpetrators of violence or if the violence is portrayed as justified or glamorized. However, it is important to note that media violence is only one of many factors that can contribute to violent behavior.

  • Prolonged exposure to media violence may have a 'drip drip' effect on young people, gradually shaping their attitudes and beliefs about violence over time. This cumulative effect can be particularly harmful, as it can lead to a gradual erosion of empathy and moral values.

  • This results in them becoming desensitized to violence and socialized into accepting violent behavior as normal. This normalization of violence can have long-term consequences for individuals and society as a whole.

  • Young people today subscribe to weaker moral codes and are more likely to behave in more anti-social ways than previous generations, although this is a contested claim. Some researchers argue that young people are simply expressing their values in different ways, and that traditional moral codes are not necessarily more effective or appropriate.

Video Nasties and the Jamie Bulger Case

  • Concern was raised about 'video nasties' following the murder of Jamie Bulger in 1993. 'Video nasties' were cheaply made horror films, often imported, which were known for their graphic violence and sexual content.

  • It was suggested that the 10-year-old murderers had access to violent films, which might have influenced their behaviour. This case fueled public debate about media violence and its potential impact on children.

Impact of Newson's Study

  • Newson's study helped to build a growing body of research on the impact of media violence on behavior, adding to the scientific understanding of the relationship between media and aggression. Her work contributed to the development of media literacy programs and policies aimed at protecting children from harmful content.

  • It sparked further debate and discussion about the role of media in society and its potential influence on individuals, raising public awareness of the potential risks of media violence and the need for responsible media consumption.

  • Research in this area is ongoing, and results can vary, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the need for continued investigation.

  • Some studies find little or no connection between media violence and actual violent behaviour. This underscores the importance of considering other factors that can influence aggression, such as individual differences, social context, and cultural norms.

Cohen's Study: Mods and Rockers

  • Cohen analyzed the media coverage of two youth subcultures, the mods and the rockers, in the 1960s, examining how the media portrayed and constructed these groups.

  • The media depicted the two groups as violent and deviant, exaggerating the extent of their conflicts and antisocial behavior. This created a sense of moral panic and public concern.

  • This led to a public outcry and a moral panic about youth crime and disorder, with calls for stricter law enforcement and greater social control. The media played a central role in amplifying these anxieties.

  • Highlights the relationship between media and violence, illustrating how media can shape public perceptions of violence and contribute to social anxieties.

  • Shows how the media can contribute to a public perception of certain groups or behaviours as dangerous or threatening, even if the actual level of violence is relatively low. This can lead to stigmatization and discrimination against these groups.

  • Can lead to a moral panic, in which the public becomes excessively alarmed about the issue, and the media reinforces this alarm with sensationalized coverage. This can result in overreaction and policy changes that are not evidence-based.

  • The study is relevant to the topic of media violence as it shows how the media can play a role in shaping public perceptions and attitudes toward violence. It challenges the assumption that media violence directly causes real-life violence, suggesting that the relationship is more complex and mediated by social and cultural factors.

  • It also highlights the importance of considering the context and perspective of media coverage when examining the relationship between media and violent behaviour, emphasizing the need for critical media literacy and a nuanced understanding of media effects.

Criticisms of Cohen's Study

  • Some have criticised Cohen's use of the term "moral panic" as being too vague, arguing that it is not always clear when a social reaction qualifies as a moral panic.

  • It does not provide a clear definition of what constitutes a moral panic. For example, is cancel culture a form of moral panic? This raises questions about the applicability of the concept to contemporary social phenomena.

Violent Song Lyrics and Aggression

  • Research into the effects of violent song lyrics on the attitudes and emotions of college students indicated a clear pattern of increased aggressive thoughts and feelings of hostility following on from listening to violent song lyrics. This suggests that exposure to violent music can have a short-term impact on individuals' emotional and cognitive states.

Anderson's Work

  • Anderson's work has shown that exposure to violent content in media, such as video games and movies, can lead to an increase in aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behavior. These effects have been observed in both laboratory and field studies.

Conclusion: Complexity of the Relationship

  • The relationship between media violence and real-life violence is complex and multifactorial, with various mediating and moderating factors influencing the link between media exposure and aggression.

Other Factors

  • Other factors, such as individual differences, family and social environment, and mental health, also play a significant role in determining violent behaviour, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to understanding aggression.

Summary

  • Research has shown that exposure to media violence can increase aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behavior in some individuals, particularly those who are already predisposed to aggression or who lack strong social support.

  • It is important to consider other factors that can moderate this relationship, such as the context in which the violence is presented, the characteristics of the individual viewer, and the individual's prior experiences with violence. Media literacy education can help individuals critically evaluate media messages and reduce the potential for harmful effects.

  • While media violence can contribute to violence in