media influences on aggression

Question 1

media influences

Answer 1

various forms of communication, such as computer games, which can affect behaviour

Question 2

desensitisation

Answer 2

• a decreased response to aggression as a result of constant exposure to external violent stimuli
• usually, the sympathetic nervous system turns on in response to witnessing violence
• people may not respond accurately to aggression, being more likely to accept it and behave violently

Question 3

disinhibition

Answer 3

• our normal restraints are loosened after exposure to media violence
• aggression, especially when used as a form of revenge, becomes normalised

Question 4

the effect of social learning

Answer 4

• bandura proposed we learn through observing and imitating role models
• as we grow the media becomes a role model, e.g. superheroes can provide an aggressive role model
• the child grows up with the idea that aggression is socially acceptable

Question 5

cognitive priming

Answer 5

• aggression in the media provides people with ‘scripts’ for their responses when they perceive a stimulus as aggressive
• there is a priming effect of media images on cognitive schemas, this can activate memories and make aggression more likely
• people will select the script depending on the situation
• this can become an automatic response without conscious thought

Question 6

give a strength of desensitisation
1/1

Answer 6

weisz and earls (1995) showed 192 uni students films showing different types of aggression (sexual to a man, sexual to a woman, physical, and none). they were then asked to do a questionnaire on acceptance of interpersonal violence and rape myths, attraction to aggression and empathy levels. they found men were more accepting of interpersonal violence and rape myths and more attracted to violence. this supports desensitisation as an explanation for how the media increases the acceptance of aggression

Question 7

give a strength of disinhibition
1/2

Answer 7

berkowitz and alioto (1973) did a lab experiment where those who saw a film where aggression was a form of revenge gave more and longer fake electric shocks to a confederate. they proposed that aggression is more likely if the viewed aggression is seen as an acceptable response and disinhibition is more likely

Question 8

give a strength of disinhibition
2/2

Answer 8

understanding the processes of disinhibition has led to practical applications of the US army using games as a recruitment tool. recruiting people with an interest in violence and a disinhibited response to aggression ensures they will respond in an accurate way when faced with danger in war situations

Question 9

give a strength of cognitive priming
1/1

Answer 9

fischer and greitemeyer (2006) found that male participants exposed to aggressive lyrics about women were more likely to give higher levels of hot chilli sauce to female confederates compared to men who heard neutral lyrics. the aggressive lyrics also resulted in the men recalling more negative traits of women and more aggression towards them. when replicated with women and ‘men hating’ lyrics, similar results were found. this shows the cognitive priming that aggressive lyrics can have on behaviour

Question 10

give a limitation of media influences on aggression
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Answer 10

most of the research investigating the effects of the media on aggression is done via lab studies, using questionnaires to measure aggression towards a confederate, creating an issue with ecological validity. this raises the question as to whether the measured violence would occur in the real world, norms that govern behaviour in public may be more likely to inhibit aggression where the repercussions may be serious