Media Psychology

Question 1

In 2019, a Common Sense Media poll measured average recreational media use per day. How long did children aged 8-12 years use screen time?

Answer 1

4 hours, 44 min average

Question 2

In 2019, a Common Sense Media poll measured average recreational media use per day. How long did teenagers aged 13-18 years use screen time?

Answer 2

7 hours, 22 min average

Question 3

Was there a difference in screen-time across users from different SES households?

Answer 3

Yes - low income households had longer screen time.

Question 4

Recent estimates suggest that by the age of 18, US children have witnessed how many murders on TV?

Answer 4

40,000

Question 5

What did the Gruel Statement solidify?

Answer 5

That there is a causal link between violent video games and later aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents.

Question 6

What are the established effects of violent media?

Answer 6

Increases in aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviour
More fearful
Emotional desensitisation to violence
Long-term changes in thinking
Decreased empathy
Decreased pro-social behaviour

Question 7

Media violence researchers adopt what kind of approach? What does this mean?

Answer 7

Risk-factor

No one factor is necessary or sufficient to cause violence BUT media violence exposure is one risk we can change

Question 8

Warburton et al’s (2017) 7 nation study found what 6 risk factors for aggression?

Answer 8

1. peer delinquency
2. media violence
3. peer victimisation
4. neighbourhood crime
5. gender (being male)
6. abusive parenting

Question 9

Brainmapping data found activation of which system?

Answer 9

Limbic system, starting with amygdala
Increase emotional responses
Activation of primitive parts of brain

Question 10

Which part of the brain revealed reduced impulse control in brainmapping studies?

Answer 10

Prefrontal cortex had reduced involvement

Question 11

How does aggression and media violence relate to the posterior cingulate?

Answer 11

When activated, images of violence are stored here. Images are easily recalled and may intrude on thoughts.

Question 12

What effect was seen when MTV was removed from a maximum security forensic hospital?

Answer 12

Reductions in verbal aggression (32.4%) and aggression towards objects (51.7%), others (47.5%) and the self (5.5%)