media influences on aggression

• what factors are involved in aggression & the media?

  -desensitisation

  -disinhibition

  -cognitive priming
• desensitisation


  -when people normally see violence, the flight or fight response triggers but, when people are frequently exposed to violent media, this response decreases

  -the physiological and psychological responses to aggression lessen when there is regular exposure which makes aggression seem socially acceptable
• desensitisation - Funk et al (2004)


  -repeated exposure to violent media lessens negative attitudes, decreases empathy for victims, and minimises any injuries received from violence
• desensitisation - Weisz & Earls (1995)

  -lab study

  -showed ppts Straw Dogs (graphic movie with a sexual assault scene), showed controls a non-graphic movie (no sexual violence)

  -ppts then watched a reenactment of a rape trial

  -ppts in the violent trial were more acceptable of rape myths & aggression, they had less sympathy for the victims, were less likely to find the offender guilty

  -shows media desensitises people

  -no impact on female ppts
• disinhibition


  -there are normally social inhibitions against aggression, learnt through SLT

  -when exposed to violent media, inhibitions loosen against aggression which makes it seem normal & socially acceptable. Also minimises & justifies what happens to victims of violence
• cognitive priming


  -repeated viewing of violent media can give people a script of how violent situations play out

  -this becomes stored in memory & primes people for aggression (Huesmann 1998)

  -people can encounter cues without knowing which then primes actions/aggression
• cognitive priming - Fischer & Greitemeyer (2006)

  -male ppts listened to music with derogatory lyrics towards women or music with neutral lyrics

  -ppts in the experimental group recalled negative information about women & were aggressive, unlike the controls.

  -same happened for women who listened to "man-hating" music
• AO3 - media influences on aggression

  Strength(s):

  -desensitisation research support: Krahe et al. Measured physiological arousal when watching violent media. Habitual (regular) viewers of violent media were less anxious than controls and had a pleasure response. Correlated with proactive aggression, but not reactive (discussion point). Increases the validity.

  -disinhibition research support: Berkowitz & Alioto (1973): ppts who saw a film showing aggression as vengeance gave more 'electric shocks' for a longer duration. Shows that violent media decreases social inhibitions against aggression. Increases the validity.

  -cognitive priming research support: Bushman & Anderson (2002): ppts who habitually watched violent media access aggressive scripts easier & are more likely to interpret cues as aggressive. Increases the validity.

  -general aggression model: Dewall & Anderson (2011) - all factors interact with each other to cause aggression. A holistic explanation.

  -has use, reduce children accessing violent media

  
  

  Weakness(es):

  -deterministic

  -reductionist (ignores factors e.g., biology)

  -use of lab studies