Influence of electronic media in escalating aggressive behaviour in children

Arif, Amna

Influence of electronic media in escalating aggressive behaviour in children

by Amna Arif (Author)

Pedagogy - Media Pedagogy

53115

Summary

Media has been playing vital role in shaping the behavior of children since many centuries. Many children are seen copying and imitating the roles of their favorite cartoon character, and thinking it heroic to act violent. The children are seen acting exactly like the television characters. Is in the human nature to get influenced and inspired by the people they love. Today media is playing important roles in the lives of individuals. Portrayal of aggression, violence, destruction, riots effects individuals in different ways. This issue is becoming an alarming public health hazard. This study tries to find out the relationship between exposure to violent media and the likelihood of developing aggressive behaviors in children.

Excerpt

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ... 1

INTRODUCTION ... 3

Background ... 3

Objectives ... 6

Significance ... 6

Problem Statement ... 7

Research Questions ... 7

Hypothesis ... 7

Limitations ... 7

LITERATURE REVIEW ... 9

LITERATURE REVIEW ... 11

Summary of Literature Review ... 20

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ... 27

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ... 29

Research Design: ... 29

Population and Sample ... 29

Data Collection ... 30

Tool for Data Collection: ... 30

Scale: ... 30

Statistical Techniques: ... 31

Data analysis: ... 31

Theoretical Framework: ... 31

Components of the Theoretical Framework ... 32

Conceptualization of Variables ... 34

Theoretical Definition of Exposure to media violence ... 34

Theoretical Definition of Aggressive Behavior ... 34

Operationalization of Variables ... 34

Operational Definition of Exposure to Violent Media ... 35

Operational Definition of Aggressive Behavior ... 35

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ... 37

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ... 39

Reliability Test ... 39

Reliability Test of Exposure to Violent Media: ... 39

Reliability Test of Aggressive Behavior: ... 40

Descriptive Statistics ... 41

A. Frequency and Graphical Presentation of Demographical Variables ... 41

B. Frequency and Percentages of Exposure to Violent Media's Elements ... 47

C. Frequency and Graphical Presentation of Exposure to Violent Media's Elements .. 60

Cross Tabs ... 75

Demographical Variables Normality Charts ... 77

1. Gender

... 77

2. Nature of the Family ... 77

3. Age of Child ... 78

4. Mother's Educational Level ... 79

5. Mother

... 79

6. No of Siblings ... 80

Inferential Statistics ... 80

Parametric Tests ... 80

Non-Parametric Test ... 83

Association Analysis ... 109

1. Correlations between Video Games and Physical Aggression ... 109

2. Correlations between Video Games and Verbal Aggression ... 109

3. Correlations between Video Games and Anger ... 110

4. Correlations between Video Games and Hostility ... 110

5. Correlations

between

Television

and

Physical

Aggression

...

111

6. Correlations

between

Television

and

Verbal

Aggression

...

112

7. Correlations between Television and Anger ... 112

8. Correlations between Television and Hostility ... 113

9. Correlations between Movies and Physical Aggression ... 113

10.

Correlations between Movies and Verbal Aggression ... 114

11.

Correlations between Movies and Anger ... 114

12.

Correlations between Movies and Hostility ... 115

13.

Correlations between Music and Physical Aggression ... 115

14.

Correlations between Music and Verbal Aggression ... 116

15.

Correlations between Music and Anger ... 116

16.

Correlations between Music and Hostility ... 117

17.

Correlation between Video Games and Aggressive Behavior ... 117

18.

Correlations between Television and Aggressive Behavior ... 118

19.

Correlations between Movies and Aggressive Behavior ... 118

20.

Correlations between Music and Aggressive Behavior ... 119

21.

Correlation between Violent Media Exposure and Physical Aggression ... 119

22.

Correlation between Violent Media Exposure and Verbal Aggression ... 120

23.

Correlation between Violent Media Exposure and Anger ... 120

24.

Correlation between Violent Media Exposure and Hostility ... 121

25.

Correlations between Violent Media Exposure and Aggressive Behavior ... 121

Regression Analysis ... 122

Model Summary ... 123

ANOVA ... 123

Significant Model ... 124

Coefficients ... 124

CONCLUSIONS ... 125

CONCLUSIONS ... 127

RECOMMENDATION ... 129

RECOMMENDATIONS ... 131

BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 132

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

VME: Violent Media Exposure

AB: Aggressive Behavior

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Summary of literature Review... Page 20

Table 2: Exposure to Violent Media Reliability Statistics... Page 39

Table 3: Aggressive Behavior Reliability Statistics... Page 40

Table 4: Questionnaire Reliability Statistics... Page 40

Table 5: Gender... Page 41

Table 6: Nature of Family... Page 42

Table 7: Age of Child... Page 43

Table 8: Mother's Education Level... Page 44

Table 9: Mother... Page 45

Table 10: No of Siblings... Page 46

Table 11: Started playing video games... Page 47

Table 12: Duration of playing video games... Page 48

Table 13: Frequency of playing video games... Page 49

Table 14: Combat games... Page 50

Table 15: Fighting sports... Page 50

Table 16: Killing cartoon Characters... Page 51

Table 17: Started watching television... Page 51

Table 18: Frequency of watching television... Page 52

Table 19: Duration of watching television... Page 52

Table 20: Programs including violent behavior... Page 53

Table 21: Stories about real people fights... Page 53

Table 22: Cartoon programs including combat scenes... Page 54

Table 23: Cartoons with no violence... Page 54

Table 24: Duration of watching movies... Page 55

Table 25: Frequency of watching movies... Page 56

Table 26: Action movies... Page 56

Table 27: Cartoon movies with moral lesson... Page 57

Table 28: Movies having gadgets and weapons... Page 57

Table 29: Duration of Listening to music... Page 58

Table 30: Frequency of listening to music... Page 59

Table 31: Music with loud fast beats... Page 59

Table 32: Songs with swear words... Page 60

Table 33: Urge to strike... Page 60

Table 34: Hit when provoked... Page 61

Table 35: Hit when someone hits...Page 61

Table 36: Fights more than average child... Page 62

Table 37: Alternative to Violence... Page 62

Table 38: Pushed to blows... Page 63

Table 39: Hits when no reason to hit... Page 63

Table 40: Habit of threatening... Page 64

Table 41: Breaking things in anger... Page 64

Table 42: Openly express disagreement... Page 65

Table 43: Habit of disagreeing... Page 65

Table 44: Straight about opinion... Page 66

Table 45: Arguments on disagreements... Page 66

Table 46: Child is argumentative... Page 67

Table 47: Flares up quickly... Page 67

Table 48: Display of irritation... Page 68

Table 49: Ready to throw fists at others... Page 68

Table 50: Even-tempered... Page 69

Table 51: Hotheaded... Page 69

Table 52: Flies of the handle... Page 70

Table 53: Trouble controlling temper... Page 70

Table 54: Easily jealous... Page 71

Table 55: Raw deal out of life... Page 71

Table 56: Complains about others breaks... Page 72

Table 57: Bitter about things...Page 72

Table 58: Touchy about friends talking behind his back... Page 73

Table 59: Suspicious of friendly strangers... Page 73

Table 60: Feeling as a matter of joke... Page 74

Table 61: Suspicious when someone is nice... Page 74

Table 62: Nature of Family * Age of Child * Gender Crosstabulation... Page 75

Table 63: Nature of Family * No of Siblings * Gender Crosstabulation... Page 76

Table 64: ANOVA-Mother's Educational Level and Violent Media Exposure. Page 80

Table 65: ANOVA-Mother's Educational Level and Aggressive Behavior... Page 81

Table 66: ANOVA-No of Siblings and Violent Media Exposure... Page 82

Table 67: ANOVA-No of Siblings and Aggressive Behavior... Page 82

Table 68: Mann Whitney - Gender and Violent Media Exposure... Page 83

Table 69: Mann Whitney - Gender and Aggressive Behavior... Page 83

Table 70: Mann Whitney - Nature of Family and Violent Media Exposure... Page 84

Table 71: Mann Whitney - Nature of Family and Aggressive Behavior... Page 84

Table 72: Mann Whitney - Mother and Violent Media Exposure... Page 85

Table 73: Mann Whitney - Mother and Aggressive Behavior... Page 85

Table 74: Mann Whitney - Gender and Violent Media Exposure Elements... Page 86

Table 75: Mann Whitney - Gender and Aggressive Behavior... Page 90

Table 76: Mann Whitney - Nature of Family and Violent Media Exposure... Page 96

Table 77: Mann Whitney - Nature of Family and Aggressive Behavior... Page 102

Table 78: Kruskal-Wallis Test-Age and Violent Media Exposure... Page 108

Table 79: Kruskal-Wallis Test-Age and Aggressive Behavior... Page 108

Table 80: Correlations Video Games and Physical Aggression... Page 109

Table 81: Correlations Video Games and Verbal Aggression... Page 109

Table 82: Correlations Video Games and Anger... Page 110

Table 83: Correlations Video Games and Hostility... Page 110

Table 84: Correlations Television and Physical Aggression... Page 111

Table 85: Correlations Television and Verbal Aggression... Page 112

Table 86: Correlations Television and Anger... Page 112

Table 87: Correlations Television and Hostility... Page 113

Table 88: Correlations Movies and Physical Aggression... Page 113

Table 89: Correlations Movies and Verbal Aggression... Page 114

Table 90: Correlations Movies and Anger... Page 114

Table 91: Correlations Movies and Hostility... Page 115

Table 92: Correlations Music and Physical Aggression... Page 115

Table 93: Correlations Music and Verbal Aggression... Page 116

Table 94: Correlations Music and Anger... Page 116

Table 95: Correlations Music and Hostility... Page 117

Table 96: Correlations Video Games and Aggressive Behavior... Page 117

Table 97: Correlations Television and Aggressive Behavior... Page 118

Table 98: Correlations Movies and Aggressive Behavior... Page 118

Table 99: Correlations- Music and Aggressive Behavior... Page 119

Table 100: Correlations- Violent Media Exposure and Physical Aggression... Page 119

Table 101: Correlations - Violent Media Exposure and Verbal Aggress... Page 120

Table 102: Correlations Violent media Exposure and Anger... Page 120

Table 103: Correlations- Violent Media Exposure and Hostility... Page 121

Table 104: Correlations Violent Media Exposure and Aggressive Behavior... Page 121

Table 105: Model Summary... Page 123

Table 106: ANOVA

...Page 123

Table 107: Coefficients

... Page 124

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Proposed Direction of Relationship... Page 32

Figure 2: Relationship of variables... Page 33

Figure 3: Dimensions of VME and their Elements... Page 35

Figure 4: Dimensions of AB and their Elements... Page 36

Figure 5: Gender Distribution... Page 41

Figure 6: Nature of Family Distribution... Page 42

Figure 7: Age of Child Distribution... Page 43

Figure 8: Mother's Educational Level Distribution... Page 44

Figure 9: Mother Distribution... Page 45

Figure 10: No. of Siblings' Distribution... Page 46

Figure 11: Gender Normality Chart... Page 77

Figure 12: Nature of Family Normality Char... Page 77

Figure 13: Age of Child Normality Chart... Page 78

Figure 14: Mother's Educational Level Normality Chart... Page 79

Figure 15: Mother Normality Chart... Page 79

Figure 16: No. of Siblings Normality Chart... Page 80

Figure 17: Aggressive Behavior Histogram... Page 122

INTRODUCTION

We have seen children acting in a most aggressive manner in different situations. We have

seen children striking, pushing, beating, and teasing other children just to have a pleasure

time. Aggressive behavior in children is a serious issue that negatively affects individuals,

families and community (Kronenberger, et al., 2005). Media has been playing vital role in

shaping the behavior of children since many centuries. Many children are seen copying and

imitating the roles of their favorite cartoon character, and thinking it heroic to act violent. The

children are seen acting exactly like the television characters. Is in the human nature to get

influenced and inspired by the people they love.

Proliferation of television set has meant that almost every other home in Pakistan have at least

one television set and they receive television signals. The market for television set is saturat-

ed. With this level of saturation it becomes compelling to find if it is a public health hazard. In

spite of the recent media boom in Pakistan, total access to TV is 35.32 with 3,100,000 number

of television sets that are 21.4% television sets per 1,000. Therefore we are conducting a

research to find out the role of violent media in initiating aggressive behavior in children.

Background

There have been many controversies in letting many films roll in the theater. Governments

often are forced to take actions against many films to not to release it in the theatres consider-

ing the affects it would have on pubic. Recently in India, a film based on politics and rebellion

against the government, Akarshan, went into controversy of being released or not. The

government went into doubts that if the movie will release the audience and public might get

inspired and turn against the government. Finally the after reviewing the film the government

made sure here was no content to turn the public rebellious toward the government the film

was allowed to be released.

A payne fund studies was conducted as a result of private funding from a philanthropic

foundation and the invitation to the scholars issued by William Short the executive director of

the Motion Picture Research Council. In it all the studies were not focused on media violence

but of these studies were f the notion that media violence can be a serious public concern.

FirstDale(1935) conducted a content analysis of 1,500 movies that revealed a heavy emphasis

on crime. Second a survey of nearly 2,000 respondents conducted by Blumer (1933) revealed

that many people reported to have imitated the acts of violence that they have witnessed in the

violent movies. In the aftermath of these studies public concern was high about media

violence. (Bryant & Zillmann, 2002)

As we browse internet we find a number of articles on the media effects. These studies have

proved that media influences the children negatively as well as positively. It is known that it

is in the human nature that he is tempted more to learn the negative traits easily as compared

to the positive traits, specially the children. Children without understanding the difference

between reality and fantasy they try to imitate the roles as shown in the media ad they

consider their heroes. When they copy such roles which have no place in the real world they

get frustrated and might take out their frustration through aggression.

Children are exposed to television easily at home. Television influences the life of children to

a great extent. Now a day's children watch only those programs which please them, without

realizing which would be best for them and which would be destructive. Thus it is the

responsibility if parents to monitor what their children are watching. The content being

showed is very addictive hence keeping children away from television is a challenge. The

programs broadcasted on television are catchy and are designed to keep the attention of

children.

As Pakistan is a country where literacy rates is very low, television is the only media which is

then left as the sole way to get exposure. This media not only overcomes the literacy barriers

but also have great influencing and effecting ability through its audio, visual effects. Through

these the television keeps the children glued and also leaves a long lasting effect. Children

spent most of their times playing video games, watching cartoons in Pakistan as there are

lesser outdoor activities. And also the limitations to internet access and inactive film industry

leave no other option. There are no literacy barriers as well. Thus the children in Pakistan are

exposed to television more than the other nations. Hence television in Pakistan plays the

priming role in entertainment of the young children. Television captures large audience a

relatively lower cost and this way effects the masses.

Children today are entirely different from how children were in the past. In the past children

were into outdoor entertainment and had no access to internet. Now children are more into

indoor entertainment, and are exposed to mass media. The volume f advertising to which they

are exposed to has increased at an exponential rate. New cannels have emerged, more than 50

local channels are accessed any where easily. The way the products are advertised is totally

different, aggressive ads are shown to sell a product.

Pakistan had a population of 184.8 million and Children (ages 0-14) make up over 38% of

this population (Source: Population Reference Bureau-2010). This means that there are a little

over 70 million children in Pakistan.

Most of the population in Pakistan lives in rural areas. Which in turn means that most of the

children in rural areas have television as a means of entertainment, as no other media is

available to the children in rural area, thus television provides the outlook to the children of

how the world outside their reach is. Many studies that are conducted to learn the activities of

children in Pakistan show that watching televisions tops this list. Some estimates have also

shown that, Pakistani children watch six to seven hours of TV on average every day, which is

half an hour more than the world average.

Moreover children in the urban areas have access to more than 50 channels and 20 or above

foreign channels due to the cable, which means even more exposure to television. Besides

children in the urban areas also have access to the internet, where they can access any kind of

video game or any kind of program the wish to watch. Mobile adds more to this point,

children are progressively more drawn towards this mobile phones, I pads.

Television plays a very important role in promoting violence. These are few facts gathered

from different websites about how television and video games has effected and affects an

individual and what content is available:

· Research indicates that media violence has not just increased in quantity; it has also

become more graphic, sexual, and sadistic. (Media Awareness Network, 2010)

· A September 2000 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report showed that 70 percent of

restricted video games and 100 percent of music with "explicit content" warning la-

bels were being marketed to children under 17. (Media Awareness Network, 2010)

· By the time the average child is eighteen years old, they will have witnessed 200,000

acts of violence and 16,000 murders. (Facts and Figures About Our TV Habit. TV

Turnoff Network.)

· Media violence is especially damaging to young children (under 8) because they can-

not easily tell the difference between real life and fantasy. (American Academy of

Ophthalmology, 2005)

· Surveys have found that 82 percent of the American public consider movies too vio-

lent. (

Times Mirror Media Monitor. TV Violence: More Objectionable in Entertain-

ment Than in Newscasts. March 24, 1993)

· Most of the top-selling video games (89%) contained violent content, almost half of

which was of a serious nature. (Children Now, 2001)

· The level of violence during Saturday morning cartoons is higher than the level of

violence during prime time. There are 3-5 violent acts per hour in prime time, versus

20-25 acts per hour on Saturday morning.

· Nearly 75 percent of violent scenes on television feature no immediate punishment for

or condemnation of violence. (SAMHSA, 2005)

Advertisements often use the television media as it has a maximum reach and audiences stick

to the channels while ads are being played when favorite programs are on air. Often people

watch advertisement for entertainment purposes. Therefore the content shown in advertise-

ments is enjoyed and can also effect different individual locked watching it. For most adver-

tisers, television has an appeal and a magic quite uniquely its own.

In the year 2008-2009, the television industry got a major share of 55 percent of the total

advertising expenditure, while print media followed with 26 percent. And the rest for the

remaining forms of media. (View Point , 2012)

Objectives

· To measure the level of exposure to violent programming (Television, Video games

etc).

· To measure the extent of aggressive behavior.

· To test the relationship between these variables.

· To check exposure of violent media is greater in males or females.

· To check aggressive behavior is greater in male or females.

· To check exposure of violent media is greater in which age group.

· To check aggressive behavior is greater in which age group.

· To check exposure of violent media is greater in which family type (joint v/s nuclear).

· To check aggressive behavior is greater in which family type (joint v/s nuclear).

Significance

The research will supplement the pool of current literature by presenting a theoretical model

that can be adopted to examine the behavior, reasons and factors of the target population that

are children who may have aggressive behavior due to exposure to violent programming. A

simple model will be constructed and will be used to estimate the central factors of depiction

of violent behavior in children and the role of violent programming in its promotion. The

results from the model will be used to compare the variability of exposure to violent pro-

gramming to the variability of extent of violent behavior.

Recommendations will be given based on the result as to what extent violent behavior in

children is associated with the increased or decreased exposure to the violent programming

through video games, movies , dramas , cartoons and advertisements and there pros and cons

as how they are effecting children to get aggressive. The research results will conclude

whether there is positive relationship among the two variables.

Problem Statement

Today media is playing important roles in the lives of individuals. Portrayal of aggression,

violence, destruction, riots effects individuals in different ways. This issue is becoming an

alarming public health hazard. This study tries to find out the relationship between exposure

to violent media and the likelihood of developing aggressive behaviors in children.

Research Questions

Are the children who are exposed to violent media likely to be more aggressive in nature?

Hypothesis

: There is no relationship between exposure to media and aggressive behavior of children.

: Children who are exposed to media violence are more likely to be aggressive in behavior.

Limitations

· The sample size for the study is small which makes it difficult to generalize the results

for the whole population

· The sample size s not equally distributed between male and female respondents.

· The subject bias, most of the mothers are not open to fill in negative traits in their

child.

· The expense, if some financial incentive is given there is a greater probability of high

response rate.

· Respondents Fatigue causes stop responses and erosion.

· The effect one set of questions has on the other set of questions.

· Sampling units are approached on convenience basis. To get more realistic data simple

random sampling could be used.

LITERATURE REVIEW

To gain insight from the already existing data and researches secondary research is conducted.

To carry out the secondary research many articles from different sources are reviewed.

Mainly online libraries, books, journal articles were used as the source of data collection.

Following are the researches that have been reviewed in this process.

A research was conducted to review the researches of past 10 years about the impact of media

on children. According to the results of research children learns and shape their beliefs and

behaviors in accordance to what they see. The children when exposed to media including

television, movies, rock music, advertising, video games, computers and internet, are more

violent and aggressive also the use of tobacco is increased. The study also reported that the

exposure to the media also accelerate the onset on sexual activities during adolescence. This

study has interlinked the older forms of media and newer forms of media how average child

spends his time on the newer media. (Susan Villani, April 2001)

A research was conducted in controlled setting in two socio-demographically and scholas-

tically matched elementary schools to check how reduction of media exposure affects the

aggressive behavior in children and perception of the world as a scary mean place. Students

from third and fourth grades were the target sample and their parents and guardians were

asked about their behavior. The results of pre-intervention and post-intervention differed.

Although there was a difference in physical aggression and parents reports about the aggres-

sive behavior but there was a significant difference in the peer rating of aggression and

observed verbal aggression. (Thomas N. Robinson, Marta L. Wilde, Lisa C. Navracruz,

Haydel, & Ann Varady, January 2001)

JL Sherry conducted a research including two variables: violent video games and aggression.

The purpose of this study was to amass the findings of existing studies on the topic and also to

assess the trends and effect of other moderating variables. The findings of this study showed

that television violence has more effect on aggressive behavior than the violent video games.

Directions were also found according to which there is a positive relation between type of

violent game and aggressive behavior, while negative relation between times spent on playing

games and aggression. (Sherry, July 2001)

A research was conducted using content analysis to study how women are portrayed and also

how violence is used in video games. Thirty three popular videos were selected as a sample.

The analysis revealed that conventional gender roles and violence was essential in many

games. H study found that nearly half of the games including characters had no female

characters. In many games the role of women was just the sex object. Almost every game had

violence in it as the main strategy and some included violence directed at other people. (Dietz,

1998)

An experimental research was conducted to find the effect of media violence in unstructured

interactions. In this research sample of children and adolescents were exposed to planned and

controlled presentations of violence and there spontaneous actions were observed. The

findings of the research indicated that exposure significantly enhanced the aggressive behav-

ior in children but slightly better relation was found in normal children than emotionally

disturbed ones. Also the experiments conducted in laboratory settings showed stronger

relation between exposure to violent content and aggressive behaviors than the one conducted

in other contexts. (Wood, Wong, & Chachere, May 1991)

In this research a development theory is presented by the researches about how aggressive

behavior can be mitigated. Effect of media violence n aggressive behavior is measured.

According to the research learning during childhood shapes the adolescents behavior and it

says that aggression is acquired by watching violent media and same is true otherwise around

that aggressive behavior encourage watching violent media. This research states that certain

cues are triggered from childhood by exposure to media and it intensifies as the child grows.

There are other intervening variables as well which can tone down or strengthen the relation-

ship but violence media independently affects the aggressive behavior. The research is

wrapped up by saying that to mitigate the effect of aggression period if early adolescence

must be taken care of. (Huesmann, Psychological Processes Between Exposure to Media

Violence and Aggressive Behavior , 1986)

To measure if exposure to media violence increases the tolerance to watch real life fights and

violence, a research was conducted. In this children from third and fourth grades were divided

n two groups. One of these groups was shown a clip which had violence and fight sequence in

it. The results were found that the children who were exposed to the clips took longer o seek

adults help to sort out the fight and also they were more tolerant to watching these fights, but

not physical aggression, before they tried to find an adult for help. Hence the research

concluded that the more the child is exposed to reel life violence the more he/she is forbearing

to real life violence. (Drabman & Thomas, May 1974)

A follow up research was conducted to assess the impact f watching violent television

programs on the later age of an individual. A previous search was conducted on students of

third grades about the habit of watching television programs. A 10-year follow up study was

than conducted with the findings that violent program watchers were more aggressive and

furthermore male sample had a stronger relation between their watching habits and their

future aggression. Although many other factors play a role to uphold aggression in later years

like ethnicity, parental disharmony, IQ and social status but exposure to violent media was a

rather independent variable to increase aggression in later years. (Eron, Huesmann,

Lefkowitz, & Walder, April 1972)

A longitudinal research was conducted to find out how media violence: watched I early

childhood effects the behavior in adulthood. First part of the research was conducted on

children of age six to ten. These studies reported significant relations only of boys. Later after

15 years same people when grown up were the sample o research. According to the research

childhood exposure to violence reported aggressive behaviors in adults for both females and

males. Also the perception of practicality of television violence rooted aggressive behavior.

This concluded relationship exists even when other moderating and intervening variables like

socioeconomic status, intellectual ability and parenting factors are controlled. (Huesmann,

Moise-Titus, Podolski, & Eron, 2003)

Effects of playing video games on the behavior are measured in this research along with

gender differences. In this research, experiment was conducted in laboratory setting including

a sample of 43 undergraduate students including both male and female. These students were

randomly allowed to play either a violent video game or a non violent video game. After that

the students were partnered and competed with each other in a game in which aggravation and

retribution was permitted. The punishment set by each partner for losing was the measure of

aggression. The result was that those who played violent video games gave harsher punish-

ments to the partner and were more violent than those who played non violent video games.

This research also concluded that female tend to be effected lesser than the men. (Bruce D.

Bartholowa, 2002)

An experimental research was conducted to find out if violent behavior influenced due to

violent media can be mitigated. A sample was selected who were already exposed to violent

media ad were a frequent watchers. Two groups were made, one experimental group and

other the control group. The experimental group was treated in three ways, first that media

violence is not close to real world violence, second aggressive attitudes and behaviors are not

so acceptable in real world as in reel world and third that one should not behave as is done on

television. The results at the end of second year were significant. The control group, not given

any treatment, behaved more aggressive in different situations and was more aggressive than

the other group given treatment. Hence the research was wrapped up by saying that the effects

of the media violence can be toned down. (Huesmann, Eron, Klein, Brice, & Fischer, 1983)

A meta-data analysis was conducted to test whether the results of existing studies on media

violence and aggressive behavior is in congruence with the theories that explain the effects.

Both short term and long term effects of aggressive behavior was measured. I this research

sample included two age groups: one, children below 18 and the other group was of adults.

The results were same as the theories i.e. short term effect was stronger in adults and long

term effect was stronger in younger children. Thus the hypothesis was accepted that effects of

aggressive behavior and theories complement each other that short term effects are due to

already shaped beliefs in adults and long term effects are because children still have time and

ability to shape new behaviors, thoughts, memories and values. It was also found out that

violent media have a modest effect on aggressive behaviors, thoughts, arousal levels and

helping behaviors. (Brad J. Bushman & L. Rowell Huesmann, 2006)

A research was conducted to see how exposure to media in early childhood affects academic,

psychological and lifestyle characteristics of an individual. According to the research fourth

graders when exposed to television every additional hour decreased classroom engagement

and math achievement. Also it increases the victimization by classmates. Time spent during

weekends in physical activities was decreased; any activities requiring physical efforts were

decreasing. Consumption of soft drinks and snacks starts to increase and the body mass index

also increased. The research concluded that unhealthy temperaments in adolescents can be

traced back to early exposure of television, as it has long-term risks associated to it. So for

child developments these essential issues must be kept into consideration. (Linda S. Pagani,

Caroline Fitzpatrick, Tracie A. Barnett, & Eric Dubow, 2010)

An online survey was conducted in August and September 2006, participants in the sample

were youths of 10-15 years of age, who have used internet at least once in past six months. It

was reported that 5 percent of the students were engaged in violent fights in past twelve

months. Thirty eight percent of the sample reported exposure to violent media n these

participants significantly showed more aggressive attitude and behavior. The measures for

seriously violent behavior were back stabbing, aggravated assault, robbery, sexual assault.

Other factors like alcohol use, different youth characteristics, anger management, parental

monitoring, and real life violence exposure \were also effecting in stimulating seriously

aggressive violent behavior. According to the research newer forms of violent media were of

special concern. (Michele L. Ybarra, Marie Diener-West, Dana Markow, Philip J. Leaf, Merle

Hamburger, & Paul Boxer, 2008)

A study was done to find out whether observing and interacting with a violent video game

have any difference in effecting youngsters' arousal level, hostility feelings and aggressive

thoughts. In it half of the participants were given violent video games to play while the other

half was observing the violent virtual reality games. It was observed that the participants who

played the violent video games had more aggressive thoughts and higher arousal levels. While

aggressive thoughts were almost similar in viewers and players. The study concluded that the

technologies have different effects on behaviors and thoughts depending upon level of

interaction. (Calvert & Tan, 1994)

Researcher in this study tried to measure the desensitization caused by increased exposure to

video games and media violence. In this study one hundred and fifth, fourth and fifth graders

were asked to answers questions about exposure to real-life violence in different scenarios.

Their attitudes towards violence were assessed and also how sympathetic they were. It was

found that both video games and television violence was related to stronger violent attitudes.

Engagement and involvement while playing video games and perception of being the charac-

ter in the real game showed the effect of aggressive behavior, though casualty was not

measured probably because of sample's less exposure to real life violence but negative effect

was found. (Funk, Baldacci, Pasold, & Baumgardner, 2004)

To estimate the true and combined effect of television violence on anti-social behavior of

individual a meta-analysis is done in this study. The research design partitioned viewer

attributes, treatment and exposure to variables and anti-social behavior to better understand

the effect of television violence. A number of tests were applied to get the result. A significant

positive relationship was found between television violence and aggressive behavior. Labora-

tory experiments also show significance of television violence on aggressive behavior. It was

also found out that the effect of

television violence on girls and boys was almost similar.

(Paik & Comstock, 1994)

A research was conducted in Enschede, The Netherlands, including students from seventh and

eighth grades from three elementary schools. The purpose of the research was to find the

relationship between playing video games and its effect aggressive and pro-social behavior of

children. Also the relationship between preferences of aggressive video games and aggressive

and pro-social behavior was studied. It was discovered that there was no significant relation-

ship between playing video games and aggressive behavior of children. But the student who

played video games was not very social in behavior. The analysis when done separately for

boys and girls no such relationship was found. Another finding was that the children who

preferred more aggressive video games were more violent in nature and less social than those

who played less aggressive and normal video games. This relationship persisted even when

boys and girls were separately analyzed; especially boys who preferred aggressive video

games had more aggressive behaviors. Furthermore less intelligent children preferred more

aggressive video games. (Wiegman & Schie, 1998)

Andersen and Bushman researched on the topic of how violence in media affects society as a

whole. According to them the prolonged exposure to violent media results in aggressive

behavior. They presented this relationship in young adults and adolescents. (Anderson &

Bushman, The Effects of Media Violence on Society, March 2002)

A research was conducted to test the effect of exposure to violent video games on the aggres-

sive behavior of women in the short term. According to the research the results were that

violent video games influence the aggressive behavior in women. It also stated that these

aggressive behavior were not mediated by aggressive motives but were influenced due to

revenge motives. Additionally the research also concluded that if the player of the game is of

same gender as the character in the game, then there are greater chances of increase in

aggression. (Anderson & Murphy, Violent video games and aggressive behavior in young

women, 2003)

A research was doe to find out the risks associated with exposure to media violence both in

short run and long run on children and adults. According to the research the media impact the

adolescents in the long run while the children are affected both in long run and short run. This

study indicates that when a child is exposed to violent media his aggressive behavior is

prompted. This effect is explained in many theories as well, children are affected more in the

long run because they lean through the observational learning and are desensitized by frequent

exposure to such media. It is said in this study that children are affected alike by both real life

exposure to violence or through media exposure; they learn the cognitive behavior and

emotional reactions that support these behaviors. They then seek help and look upon at those

who behave the same way in real life. This study also debates weather this effect is large

enough to consider it a public threat; also what other threats are large enough. This research

found out that the only other threat larger than the one discussed is cigarettes smoking on lung

cancer. Thus it is concluded in the research that violent media exposure is a threat to short

term behavior of adults and both long and short run behaviors of children. But it is also stated

that not all the children who are exposed to violent media behave aggressively and many

children will acquire aggressive and violent behavior though not exposed to violent media.

But this does not diminish the need to address this public threat. (L. Rowell Huesmann, 2007)

This article refers to the problem faced due to emerging new technologies (personnel data

assistant, computers, cell phones, I-pad, i-phones). This problem is regarded as a public health

problem and is increasing with the advent of new technology. New technologies are being

used for bullying, teasing, telling lies, spreading rumors, threatening, making rude comments,

or defaming others. Chat rooms, instant messaging and e-mails and social networks are

facilitating such harassment. The researcher states that this issue is increasing at an alarming

rate and is a threat to public health, and it should be addressed. (Corinne David-Ferdon &

Marci Feldman Hertz, 2007)

In this article researcher insists that media violence is a threat to public health to same extent

as it causes violent behavior in the children and adults. It states that all the content in the

media that sows violence is the factors contributing to the long run and short run violent

behavior youth. It states that television news also causes such behavior as people get the idea

and thus imitate it. Also the violent video games effects short term behavior while no longitu-

dinal research states that it has long term effect on behavior. This relationship between real

life violence and media violence and aggression is originated by the content in the media and

characteristics o the individual exposed and his ability to e influenced. Thus the researchers

consider violent media as the threat to public health behavior. (Huesmann & Taylor, The Role

of Violent Media in Violent Behavior, 2006)

An experimental research was conducted in consecutive four days. Respondents were exposed

o violent and non violent feature films. A day after the last of exposure these respondents

were put in to a test where they were provoked and some were not provoked at all. They were

put into a situation where they could harm the assistant. The results showed that both expo-

sure to violent media and provocation caused violent behavior in both the genders. However

women were slightly less violent than men who participated in the test. Two findings were

made out of the experiment, one that those who were exposed to these violent films and

provoked behaved very violently second those who were not provoked also behaved violently.

(Zillmann & Weaver, 1999)

A research was conducted in 1990 to find out the relationship between aggressive behavior

and media violence, and to find out the role of cognitive behaviors to mediate these effects.

Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment participants were exposed to media

having less violence to more violent video tapes. It was found out that more violent video

tapes caused more aggressive behavior; this effect was mediated due to stimulus screening. In

the second experiment it as found out that perceptions and cognitions changed and became

more aggressive with the level of violence in the video tapes and this effect was mediated due

to the assualtiveness. Hostile attitudes and blood pressure was highest while viewing the most

violent video tapes. In these were caused due to debauchery and ponderings and the nature to

attack physically. (Bushman & Geen, Role of cognitive and emotional mediators and

individual differences in the effects of media violence on aggression., Jan 1990)

A research was conducted to understand how exposure to violent video games affects behav-

ior of an individual. An initial co-relational study was done which showed that there exist a

positive relationship between violent video games exposure and violent behavior. Than a lab

experiment was conducted to understand how this does happen. According to it he individual

who does not have the exposure to violent games behaves more violently when exposed to

extremely violent video game than when exposed to less violent video game. On the other

hand the individuals, who already had the exposure of violent video games, behaved violently

no matter what level of violence they were exposed to. The results of the study showed that.

Violent video games effect behavior by changing perceptions cognitions and related personal-

ity factors that desensitize an individual. (Bartholow, Sestir, & Davis, 2005)

In this research an experiment was conducted to find out the relationship between aggressive

behavior and violent media is the same for individuals who had no history of diagnosis or of

disruptive behavior and individuals with disruptive behavior history. It was found in the

results that exposure to media violence causes poorer executive functioning. Results also

showed that the individuals with past records of aggressive behavior and who had diagnosis

earlier were more affected by the violence in media while the individuals with such history

were comparatively less affected. (Kronenberger, et al., 2005)

To view the impact of violent video games indifferent settings a design was made. In this

design reckless and insightful children were made to play aggressive and nonaggressive video

games. These games were played in two different settings: a free-play setting and a frustrating

situation. The results showed that the children who played aggressive video games showed

aggression towards objects in free-play situation and interpersonal aggression in frustrating

situation. While the one who placed non violent video games were less aggressive. The study

also indicted that aggression was not affected by the cognitive factors. (Irwin & Gross, 1995)

Carnagey and Anderson conducted three experiments t find out the effect of punishments and

rewards on aggressive behavior. In this study participants played three versions of the same

video game. One in which all the violet actions were rewarded, second in which all he violent

actions were punished, and third in which participants played non violent video games. Three

experiments were done to find out each of these actions effect on affect, cognition and

behavior separately. It was found that rewarding the violent actions while playing video

games heightened aggressive emotions, increased aggressive thinking, and aggressive

behavior. On the other hand punishing the violent actions in video games still increased

antagonistic emotions but it did not increased aggressive thinking and aggressive behavior.

Thus the study concluded that rewarding violent actions can increase aggressive behavior by

increasing aggressive thinking and increasing hostile emotions. (Carnagey & Anderson, 2005)

This study caters the recent technological advancement in technology where the gamer is

allowed to personalize his/her character. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of

personalization on the aggressive behavior of the player. There were for experimental

conditions personalized aggressive video games, personalized less-aggressive video games,

non-personalized aggressive video games and non-personalized less-aggressive video games.

The participants were randomly assigned to each experimental condition and after that self-

activation questions were asked and than their aggressive behavior were measured. It was

found out through these experiments that the participants who played personalized aggressive

video games tend to be more aggressive than the participants from any other category.

According to the research the reason was that personalization cause self-activation, the gamer

felt more involved and regarded the character as more close to him/her in realty which in turn

enhanced aggressive behavior. (Fischera, Kastenmuller, & Greitemeyer, 2010)

Many researchers have been done to find out if the playing aggressive video games cause

aggressive behavior. In this research the question "why" is answered. The researchers have

tried to explain why violent video games cause aggressive behavior. It tested weather violent

video games caused hostile expectation bias, tendency to expect that other person will act

violently in different situations. Participants in the research were asked to play either a violent

video game or non-violent video game. They then were presented with a complex story and

were asked to tell how the game character will feel, think and behave in different situations.

The participants who played violent video games portrayed the game character to feel more

hostile, think aggressively and behave more violently than the one who played less aggressive

video games. The results of the study were consistent with General aggression model.

(Bushman & Anderson, Violent Video Games and Hostile Expectations, 2002)

Summary of Literature Review

Table 1: Summary of Literature Review

Year Author

Title

Journal

Findings

2001

Susan Villani, M.D.

Impact of Media on

Children and Adoles-

cents

Journal of

the Ameri-

can Acade-

my of Child

& Adoles-

cent

Psychiatry

Children who are

exposed to media are

more violent and

aggressive. Use of

tobacco also increases.

2001

Thomas N. Robinson,

MD, MPH; Marta L.

Wilde, MA; Lisa C.

Navracruz, MD;

Haydel, K. Farish;

Ann Varady, MS

Effects of Reducing

Children's Television

and Video Game Use

on Aggressive

Behavior

Archives of

Pediatrics &

Adolescent

Medicine

With controlling and

decreasing media

exposure, children

were less verbally

aggressive especially

in peers.

2001

Sherry, JL

The effects of violent

video games on

Human

Communi-

There was a positive

relation between video

Details

Pages
Type of Edition: Erstausgabe
Year: 2013
ISBN (eBook): 9783954896479
ISBN (Softcover): 9783954891474
File size: 2.5 MB
Language: English
Publication date: 2013 (October)
Keywords: electronic media children escalation

Author

Amna Arif (Author)

Influence of electronic media in escalating aggressive behaviour in children

Summary

Excerpt

Table Of Contents

Details

Author

Amna Arif (Author)