Does television violence cause aggression?

Eron, Leonard D.; Huesmann, L. Rowell; Lefkowitz, Monroe M.; Walder, Leopold O.

doi:10.1037/h0033721

Cited by 322 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Furthermore, even for those lowest in other risk factors, a preference for violent media was predictive of violent behavior and general aggression. This finding is consistent with earlier research showing that even low-aggressive individuals are affected by media violence (Eron et al 1972). This analysis points to the utility of including violent media exposure into developmental models of risk for aggression.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…For example, in a cohort of individuals first assessed during middle childhood and then again in early adulthood, Huesmann et al (2003) found that even after controlling parental SES, children's academic skills, and childhood aggression, childhood TV violence viewing significantly predicted adolescent and adult aggression. Similar findings were reported by Eron et al (1972), Huesmann (1986), Viemero (1996), and Christakis and Zimmerman (2007). Anderson et al (2007) also have presented results of short-term longitudinal research showing that violent videogame playing is linked over time to increased aggression in the presence of other risk factors.…”

supporting

confidence: 81%

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The Role of Violent Media Preference in Cumulative Developmental Risk for Violence and General Aggression

Boxer

Huesmann

Bushman

et al. 2008

J Youth Adolescence

101

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The impact of exposure to violence in the media on the long-term development and short-term expression of aggressive behavior has been well documented. However, gaps in this literature remain, and in particular the role of violent media exposure in shaping violent and other serious antisocial behavior has not been investigated. Further, studies of violent media effects typically have not sampled from populations with confirmed histories of violent and/or nonviolent antisocial behavior. In this study, we analyzed data on 820 youth, including 390 juvenile delinquents and 430 high school students, to examine the relation of violent media use to involvement in violence and general aggression. Using criterion scores developed through crossinformant modeling of data from self, parent/guardian, and teacher/staff reports, we observed that childhood and adolescent violent media preferences contributed significantly to the prediction of violence and general aggression from cumulative risk totals. Findings represent a new and important direction for research on the role of violent media use in the broader matrix of risk factors for youth violence. KeywordsMedia; Violence; Delinquent; Aggression; Risk Correspondence to: Paul Boxer, pboxer@rutgers.edu. HHS Public Access Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author ManuscriptOn June 24, 2008, six teenagers from Long Island, NY, launched a two hour long crime spree in which they committed a violent mugging and several break-ins and thefts before finally being caught after a carjacking attempt (Crowley 2008). According to the authorities investigating the crimes, the teenagers had determined to replicate the actions of Niko Belic, the thuggish protagonist from the new video game "Grand Theft Auto IV." Although this particular event represents an extreme example of how violence in the media can promote violence in "real life," it is wholly consistent with the fact that for decades, exposure to violent media has been acknowledged as a risk factor for aggressive and violent behavior (Anderson et al. 2003; US Surgeon General 1972).Broadly speaking, antisocial behavior in adolescence is multiply determined, with risk factors at multiple levels spanning biological, psychological, and contextual influences (Dodge et al. 2006;Frick 2006;Hoge Guerra and Boxer 2008;Huesmann and Eron 1989). Theoretical models of the development of antisocial behavior have embraced this equifinality, acknowledging the numerous ways in which different loci of risk can interact to promote habitual antisocial responses (Dodge and Pettit 2003;Frick and Morris 2004;Guerra and Huesmann 2004). Contemporary strategies for the assessment of youths' violent and nonviolent antisocial behavior involve multiple methods and multiple informants to ensure that the full spectrum of risk is covered (Borum and Verhaagen 2006;McMahon and Frick 2005). Best practice approaches to the treatment of antisocial behavior require multicomponent interventions involving the interlocking personal and contextual s...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

supporting

confidence: 81%

The Role of Violent Media Preference in Cumulative Developmental Risk for Violence and General Aggression

Boxer

Huesmann

Bushman

et al. 2008

J Youth Adolescence

101

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“…The effect sizes for television viewing and aggression that we have found are similar those from previous reports, which ranged from ∼0.20 to ∼0.30. 4,12,31,32 While these may be considered modest by some researchers, 33 associations of this magnitude have important implications at a population level.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estimates of television viewing have been based on only 1 or 2 ages and may not represent viewing throughout childhood. 4,9,12,13 The validity of peer-nominated aggression, an outcome measure used in 2 studies, 12,13 has been criticized. 5 Only 1 study used criminal conviction records to provide an objective measure of antisocial behavior, 4 and none used standardized diagnoses of psychopathology.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood and Adolescent Television Viewing and Antisocial Behavior in Early Adulthood

2013

PEDIATRICS

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WHAT IS KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Many studies have identified an association between television viewing and antisocial behavior, although very few have been able to demonstrate a cause-and-effect sequence. The issue of whether excessive television viewing contributes to antisocial behavior remains controversial. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Excessive television viewing during childhood and adolescence was associated with objective and subjective measures of antisocial behavior in adulthood. These associations were not explained by preexisting antisocial tendencies or other potential confounders. Excessive television appears to have long-term psychosocial consequences. abstract OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether excessive television viewing throughout childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood. METHODS:We assessed a birth cohort of 1037 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1972-1973, at regular intervals from birth to age 26 years. We used regression analysis to investigate the associations between television viewing hours from ages 5 to 15 years and criminal convictions, violent convictions, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and aggressive personality traits in early adulthood. RESULTS: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 compared with those who viewed less television. The associations were statistically significant after controlling for sex IQ, socioeconomic status, previous antisocial behavior, and parental control. The associations were similar for both sexes, indicating that the relationship between television viewing and antisocial behavior is similar for male and female viewers.CONCLUSIONS: Excessive television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood. The findings are consistent with a causal association and support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours of television each day.

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“…However, studying the effects of media violence is not a new concept. For almost 50 years, researchers have been investigating the effects of viewing violent television on subsequent aggression (Bandura, Ross, & Ross, 1963;Ellis & Sekyra, 1973;Eron, Huesmann, Lefkowitz, & Walder, 1972;Huston-Stein, Fox, Greer, Watkins, & Whitaker, 1981;Liebert & Baron, 1972). It has only been within the past 10-15 years that researchers have begun studying the effects of video games.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using an implicit association test to examine the effects of violent video games on the values we place on others

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Does television violence cause aggression?

Cited by 322 publications

References 20 publications

The Role of Violent Media Preference in Cumulative Developmental Risk for Violence and General Aggression

The Role of Violent Media Preference in Cumulative Developmental Risk for Violence and General Aggression

Childhood and Adolescent Television Viewing and Antisocial Behavior in Early Adulthood

Using an implicit association test to examine the effects of violent video games on the values we place on others

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