One of the most studied – and controversial – topics media psychology This is the impact of violent media on consumers, especially children. Violence is present in films, on television, in video games and on the Internet. It is also included in content aimed at children, tweens and teens. So it’s no surprise that psychologists, parents, and media consumers in general are concerned about the impact this has on people.
As a result, since the advent of television several decades ago, psychologists have studied the possibility of a link between the consumption of violent media and increases in actual aggression.
This article will explore the research on this topic, including the arguments for and against an association. Additionally, this article will examine more recent research that has established a relationship between exposure to violent content, particularly via news media, and Mental Health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
Does consuming violent content lead to increased aggression?
Studies have consistently shown that violence in the media has an impact on real life. assault. These studies use a diverse set of methods and participants, leading many experts on the impact of media violence to agree that aggression increases due to the consumption of media violence.
However, this does not mean that exposure to media violence drives consumers to murder or other particularly violent acts. These studies explore different types of aggression, making the research-established association between violent media and aggression more nuanced than it initially appears.
Evidence of a link between violent content and aggression
Numerous laboratory experiments have provided evidence demonstrating that short-term exposure to violent media increases aggression in children, adolescents, and young adults. However, aggression does not always mean physical aggression. It can also mean verbal aggressionsuch as shouting insults, thinking aggressive thoughts, or having aggressive emotions.
There are different degrees of aggression
Furthermore, even physical aggression exists on a continuum from a mild shove to something much more dangerous. As a result, people may become more aggressive immediately after being exposed to media violence, but this aggression manifests itself in different ways, the majority of which would not be considered particularly dangerous.
Consumption of violent media during childhood can lead to adult aggression
More worrying are the few longitudinal studies who followed people for decades and showed that frequent exposure to media violence in childhood leads to aggression in adulthood, even if people no longer consume violent media as adults.
For example, one study found that frequent exposure to violent television shows at age 8 predicted aggressive behavior at ages 19 and 30 in male participants, but not in females. This effect was maintained even after control variables like social class, IQand initial aggressiveness.
Similarly, another study of 329 participants aged 6 to 9 found that 15 years later, men’s and women’s exposure to television violence during childhood predicted increases in aggression at adulthood. In particular, the 25% of study participants who witnessed media violence the most as children were the most likely to be significantly more aggressive as adults.
These individuals exhibited a range of behaviors, including:
This was especially true if they identified with aggressive characters and felt that TV violence was realistic when they were children.
These findings suggest that early and frequent exposure to television violence can have a powerful impact on individuals over time and well into their adult lives.
Why is this topic so controversial?
So if there is so much scientific evidence of a link between media violence and real-life assaults, why does the debate on this topic continue? Part of the problem is the definition.
Studies often define violence and aggression in very different ways and use different measures to test the association, making it difficult to replicate results. In addition, many researchers jointly edit media to laboratory experimentscreating a situation in which participants must watch and respond to media that bears little resemblance to anything they would actually consume on television, in the cinema, or on the Internet.
As a result, even when these experiments reveal that media violence provokes aggression, the extent to which it can be generalized to the general population remains limited.
Of course, it would be naive to think that consuming media violence has no impact on people, but it seems that it may not be the most powerful influence. The effect of media violence is likely to vary depending on other factors, including personality traits, developmental stage, social and environmental influences, and the context in which the violence is presented.
It is also important to recognize that not all aggression is negative or socially unacceptable. A study found a relationship between exposure to televised violence and an increase in positive aggression, or aggression that is not intended to cause harm, in the form of participation in extreme or contact sports .
Does consuming violent media cause mental health problems?
While psychologists have studied the association between violent media consumption and increased aggression for more than 50 years, some have recently turned their attention to the impact of media violence on mental health problems.
Consumption of violent media can lead to anxiety
Studies have shown that there is a correlation between exposure to media violence and increased anxiety and the belief that the world is a scary place. For example, an experimental investigation found that adolescents who were exposed to a violent film clip were more anxious than those who watched a non-violent clip.
Constant exposure to violent media via technology may lead to poorer mental health
Today, violence in the media can have a particularly significant impact on people’s mental health. New technologies mean that violent events, including terrorist attacks, school shootingsNatural disasters and disasters can be filmed and reported immediately, and media consumers around the world will be exposed to these events almost instantly through social media or news alerts on their smartphones and other devices.
Additionally, this exposure is likely to be intense and repeated due to the need to complete a 24-hour information cycle. Studies have shown that this type of exposure, particularly to acts of terrorism, can potentially lead to depressionanxiety, stress reactions, substance use and even post-traumatic stress (PTSD).
Furthermore, those who welcome more images of a disaster tend to be more likely to experience negative mental health consequences. For example, in a study conducted shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, people who watched more television reports about what happened in the seven days following the event had more symptoms of PTSD than those who watched less television news.
How to deal with the impact of violence in the media
Violence will continue to be depicted in the media, and for most adults, there is nothing wrong with watching a violent horror or action movie or playing a violent video game, as long as it does not harm your mental health or daily functioning.
However, if you feel that you are negatively affected by violence portrayed in the media, especially after a disaster that receives constant coverage in the news, the first solution is to stop using devices which could lead to increased exposure.
That means turning off the television and, for anyone who frequently watches the news on their computer or mobile device, adjusting any settings that might cause you to see more images of a violent event.
How you can help your child
For parents concerned about their children’s exposure to violent media, the solution is not to try to completely prevent children from consuming violence, although it is helpful to limit their exposure.
Instead, parents should watch violent media together with their children and then talk about what they see. This helps children become demanding media consumers who can think critically about the content they read, watch and play.
Likewise, when a disruptive event such as a school shooting Sometimes it is useful to discuss it with children so that they can express their emotions and parents can place the incident in its overall probability context.
When to Seek Therapy
If a parent notices that their child seems depressed or anxious after frequent exposure to media violence or if an adult notices that their child’s mental health is deteriorating due to regular consumption of violent media, it may be helpful to seek help from a mental health professional.
