Media influences on antisocial behaviour (ASB)

Question 1

Aggression is a clear form of ASB…

Answer 1

Bandura agreed with skinners idea of operant conditioning- If a child pushes another child and as a result gets what they want then this action will be reinforced and likely to be repeated in the future.

Question 2

Social learning theory as an explanation for ASB…

Answer 2

If a child sees a role model behaving aggressively they are likely to imitate the behaviour.

Question 3

Key elements for SLT as an explanation for ASB…

Answer 3

• Attention
• Retention
• Motivation

Question 4

Attention

Answer 4

The observer pays attention to the model; can be encourage by bright colours, special effects and exciting music.

Question 5

Retention

Answer 5

The observer retains a memory of the observed behaviour; retained more when using memorable characters, well known actors and engaging story lines.

Question 6

Motivation

Answer 6

Once the behaviour is learned the observer must be motivated to copy the actions; this is more likely when the role model is of high status

Question 7

The observer is also more likely to copy the role mode if…

Answer 7

• They can identify with the role model; gender
• If the observer gets rewarded for their behaviour. Seeing someone else get the reward is called Vicarious reinforcement
• Likewise if the role model is punished that it will put the observer off copying the behaviour

Question 8

Vicarious…

Answer 8

Vicarious reinforcement- when the role model getting rewarded for the behaviour (encourages)
Vicarious punishment- Seeing the role model being punish for their behaviour (discourages)

Question 9

Bandura 1965- Influence of Models’ Reinforcement

Answer 9

AIM: observing children’s response to a programme of an aggressive model (either punished, rewarded or no consequences) and how many will respond to the aggressive behaviour when rewarded

METHOD: ID- whether the model is punished or rewarded or no consequences, 33 boy and 33 girls between 3 years and 6 month and 6 years. Each condition had 11 boys and 11 girls in each. Children viewed the films on their own, after the film each child spent 10 minutes in the test room and whatever their reaction they were rewarded

RESULTS: children in the no consequences and rewarded were ore aggressive. There was no difference between the no-consequences and the model reward group

CONCLUSION: Although the administration of punishment reduces whether or not children imitate aggressive behaviours, it does not influences the degree to which they learn them.

Question 10

Evaluation of the SLT explanation of media influences on ASB

Answer 10

Bandura (1965) supports SLT, All of the children were able to copy Rocky’s aggressive actions towards a Bobo Doll when given an intention. Because they watched Rocky on television, the study suggests that children can learn from violence shown in the media.
Children in the condition where the ending of the film showed Rocky being punished were less likely to spontaneously imitate than the children in the no consequences condition. This supports SLTs idea that if there is no vicarious punishment of aggression, viewers will be more motivated to imitate the violence they have learned.

Question 11

Comstock and Paik (1991)

Answer 11

Meta analysis of more than 1000 findings on the effects of media violence, showed generally strong short term effects and rather then weaker long term effects. They identified factors which increased the effects of media violence on aggression such as if the person behaving violently is portrayed as similar to the viewer.
-Supports SLT : It states that aggression will be copied when the observer can identify with the model

Question 12

Evaluation technique: methodology and explanations

Answer 12

Laboratory experiments supporting SLT often lack validity in how they operationalize aggression- e.g. a Bobo Doll does not feel pain. If this were the only evidence it would undermine the validity of SLT. However, findings into real world aggression, e.g. Philips and Comstock and Paik’s supported by a wealth of well triangulated evidence, suggestion that it is a valid way of explaining media effects on ASB. A further strength is that is has a clear practical application such as limiting the amount of exposure to violent models through tougher film censorship and a TV watershed.

Question 13

Desensitisation intro

Answer 13

fMRI = function magnetic resonance imaging
Changes in blood flow in the brain help determine which areas of the brain are active
Increased electrical conductivity is due to increased density in the sweat glans, therefore skin conductance can be used as a measure of general arousal/ alertness.

Question 14

Description of desensitisation as an explanation of media influences on ASB

Answer 14

Anderson et al describes desensitisation as a ‘Reduction in distress-related physiological reactivity to observations or thoughts of violence’.
The theory is that if were are overly exposed to suffering and violence then the empathetic response can be dulled and we become desensitised to the violence and therefore are more likely to behave aggressively.

Question 15

Evaluation of the desensitisation explanation of media influences on ASB

Answer 15

Dr Jordan Grafman- “ Exposure to the most violent videos exhibits actions similar to the most violent videos over time, implying desensitisation”

Question 16

Dr Grafman study

Answer 16

Method: recruited 22 boys aged 14 to 17. They were asked to watch a series of 60 second clips, arranged randomly in three lots of 20. Degree of violence was either low, mild or moderate, they were asked to rate the clip compared to the one before. Their brain activity was monitored using MRI scans. Electrodes attached to their fingers measuring small changes in sweat levels. (Skin conductance)

Results: Boys that were exposed to more violent videos over time had decreased emotional reactivity in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (IOFC) Involved with emotions and responses. Becoming increasingly desensitised over time.

Question 17

Counter argument to Grafman

Answer 17

Mark Griffiths suggests that such studies can not prove a causal link between watching violent images and committing real life violence. How someone behaves is dependent of a host of psychological and social factors, such as how much violence he experienced as children.

Question 18

Evaluation of the SLT explanation of media influences on ASB

Answer 18

Desensitisation is an alternative o SLT’s explanation. This expresses how exposure to media violence makes people less physiologically sensitive to the consequences of violence. Desensitisation of supported by Grafman’s findings. However, becoming emotionally desensitised from watching violence does no necessarily mean that you will behave aggressively.

Question 19

Evaluation of the SLT and desensitisation explanations of media influences on ASB

Answer 19

A strength of both explanations (SLT and desensitisation) is that they suggest clear practical applications such as limiting the amount of exposure to violent models through tougher film censorship and a TV watershed. This should then reduce violence in society.

Question 20

Real life evidence for SLT

Answer 20

Philips found an increased rate of murder of young African-American males following highly publicised heavyweight boxing fights in which the black fighter was the loser and increased murder rates of young white males following heavyweight title fights in which he white boxer was defeated. The racial similarity of loser and victim suggests ‘copycat’ violence as SLT predicts.