The Influence of Media Violence on Youth

• Published in: Psychological science in the public interest 2003-12, Vol.4 (3), p.81-110
• Main Authors: Anderson, Craig A., Berkowitz, Leonard, Donnerstein, Edward, Huesmann, L. Rowell, Johnson, James D., Linz, Daniel, Malamuth, Neil M., Wartella, Ellen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggressiveness; Aspirin; Assaults; Behavior; Child abuse & neglect; Children & youth; Commercial speech; Computer & video games; Desensitization; Diet; Domestic violence; Emotional responses; Emotions; Entertainment; Heart attacks; Homicide; Human aggression; Intervention; Learning processes; Literacy; Long term; Media violence; Moderators; Motion pictures; Music; News; Parental control; School violence; Sexual violence; Social psychology; Spousal abuse; Television programs; Television violence; Violence; Violent video games
• ISSN: 1529-1006; 2160-0031; 1539-6053
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-1006.2003.pspi_1433.x

Research on violent television and films, video games, and music reveals unequivocal evidence that media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts. The effects appear larger for milder than for more severe forms of aggression, but the effects on severe forms of violence are also substantial (r = .13 to .32) when compared with effects of other violence risk factors or medical effects deemed important by the medical community (e.g., effect of aspirin on heart attacks). The research base is large; diverse in methods, samples, and media genres; and consistent in overall findings. The evidence is clearest within the most extensively researched domain, television and film violence. The growing body of video-game research yields essentially the same conclusions. Short-term exposure increases the likelihood of physically and verbally aggressive behavior, aggressive thoughts, and aggressive emotions. Recent large-scale longitudinal studies provide converging evidence linking frequent exposure to violent media in childhood with aggression later in life, including physical assaults and spouse abuse. Because extremely violent criminal behaviors (e.g., forcible rape, aggravated assault, homicide) are rare, new longitudinal studies with larger samples are needed to estimate accurately how much habitual childhood exposure to media violence increases the risk for extreme violence. Well-supported theory delineates why and when exposure to media violence increases aggression and violence. Media violence produces short-term increases by priming existing aggressive scripts and cognitions, increasing physiological arousal, and triggering an automatic tendency to imitate observed behaviors. Media violence produces long-term effects via several types of learning processes leading to the acquisition of lasting (and automatically accessible) aggressive scripts, interpretational schemas, and aggression-supporting beliefs about social behavior, and by reducing individuals' normal negative emotional responses to violence (i.e., desensitization). Certain characteristics of viewers (e.g., identification with aggressive characters), social environments (e.g., parental influences), and media content (e.g., attractiveness of the perpetrator) can influence the degree to which media violence affects aggression, but there are some inconsistencies in research results. This research also suggests some avenues for preventive in