Media influences on aggression

Question 1

Study of excessive TV viewing causing aggression

Answer 1

Robertson et al (2013) measured viewing hours of New Zealanders up to 26 years

Question 2

What did Robertson et al find (2013)

Answer 2

Hours spend watching TV growing up was reliable predictor of aggressive behaviour in early adulthood

Question 3

Why does excessive TV watching cause aggression

Answer 3

As = reduced social interaction/poorer educational achievement, so might be indirect link

Question 4

Study of watching violent film content causing aggression

Answer 4

Bandura et al (1963) repeated study but child watched film of bobo doll beaten up= Same result
-Shows social learning processes also operate through media

Question 5

Study of excessive TV viewing/violent film content causing aggression but not significantly

Answer 5

Comstock/Paik (1994) meta-analysis of 200 studies found significant correlation between TV/film violence and antisocial behaviour BUT said only played minor role

Question 6

What % of variance in child aggressive behaviour did Paik/Comstock say TV/film violence accounted for

Answer 6

1-10%

So minor role

Question 7

Why is playing computer games more powerful in causing aggression?

Answer 7

-Player takes more active role
-Player rewarded (operant conditioning)

Question 8

What is the Taylor competitive reaction time study

Answer 8

pps blast white noise at chosen volumes to punish opponents

Question 9

Barthalow/Anderson taylor competitive reaction time task

Answer 9

pps who played violent computer game blasted significantly higher volume of white noise than those that played non-violent game

Question 10

What do correlational studies find about aggression and violent computer games

Answer 10

Several measure of aggression are positively correlated
-Delisi et al said aggression should be seen as health issue and violent computer game research a risk factor

Question 11

Weakness of media influence on aggression

Answer 11

Aggression defined in different ways but in study defined as violence (white noise) but not always violent
=Effects found depend very much on how aggression is defined so findings hard to compare

Question 12

Counterpoint to defining aggression

Answer 12

Meta-analysis can be used to overcome
-e.g Anderson meta analysis of 136 studies defining aggression in different ways
=Violent comp games increased all measures for men/women

So meta-analysis with various definitions of aggression are valid method

Question 13

Strength of media influence on aggression

Answer 13

Can be explained using SLT
-e.g Bobo dolls suggested witnessing violence= violent children so makes sense that games/TV will also a=cause, especially if identify with character

So unified explanation of findings enhances validity

Question 14

Weakness 2 media influence on aggression

Answer 14

Many studies methodologically weak
Meta-analysis might include poor quality studies
Many correlational studies so can’t establish cause and effect
Also labs lack external validity

=Findings cannot be generalised to real world/lack validity