A01

• What are media influences?

  Changes in behaviour that are attributed to exposure to media such as TV, computer or video games
• Why is it suggested that computer and video games have more powerful effects than TV media?

  - There is an interactive nature of computer and video games which means that the individual is no longer a passive observer but rather an active player

  - Game-playing involves interacting and engaging in violent behaviour which is often directly rewarding for the player (operant conditioning)
• What are the four research methodologies /designs used in media and aggression research?

  1. Experiments

  2. Correlational studies

  3. Longitudinal studies

  4. Meta-analyses
• Describe the study of Robertson et al. (2013)

  - Studied the television viewing behaviours of New Zealand-born individuals at regular intervals from birth to age 26 years

  - Young adults who had spent more time watching television during childhood and adolescence were significantly more likely to have a criminal conviction, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and more aggressive personality traits
• Describe the study of Bjorkqvist (1985)

  - Finnish children were exposed to a film depicting either humorous or realistic violence in the form of cartoons or films with live actors; or a nonviolent control film

  - Children who watched the violent films showed an increase in physical and verbal aggression toward other children and were more aggressive toward objects
• Describe the study of Bartholow and Anderson (2002)

  - Participants played either violent (Mortal Kombat) or non-violent (PGA Tournament Golf) video game then carried out a retaliation reaction time task in the form of a competitive game

  - Participants would receive a punishment after each losing trial in the form of white noise blasts at chosen intensities

  - Those who played the violent video games set higher levels of noise punishment and these effects were greater for males than females
• Describe the study of Anderson et al (2010)

  - Conducted a meta-analysis of 136 studies using correlations , experiments and longitudinal

  - Exposure to violent video games was associated with increase in aggressive behaviour, cognition and affect (emotions) and a lack of empathy and prosocial behaviour in both men and woman and across collectivist and individualist cultures
• What are two studies which have investigated the link between TV and aggression?

  1. Robertson et al. (2013)
  2. Bjorkqvist (1985)
• What are two studies which have investigated the link between computer games and aggression?

  1. Bartholow and Anderson (2002)
  2. Anderson et al. (2010)