Media Violence and Other Aggression Risk Factors in Seven Nations

Abstract

Cultural generality versus specificity of media violence effects on aggression was examined in seven countries (Australia, China, Croatia, Germany, Japan, Romania, the United States). Participants reported aggressive behaviors, media use habits, and several other known risk and protective factors for aggression. Across nations, exposure to violent screen media was positively associated with aggression. This effect was partially mediated by aggressive cognitions and empathy. The media violence effect on aggression remained significant even after statistically controlling a number of relevant risk and protective factors (e.g., abusive parenting, peer delinquency), and was similar in magnitude to effects of other risk factors. In support of the cumulative risk model, joint effects of different risk factors on aggressive behavior in each culture were larger than effects of any individual risk factor.

Retracted: Effects of cartoon violence on aggressive thoughts and aggressive behaviors

“…Overall, cartoon manipulation affects aggressive behaviors through aggressive thoughts, which confirmed prior findings (e.g., Anderson et al, ; Bushman, ). Furthermore, reducing the aggressive thoughts in females in the nonviolent cartoon (natural) condition should be emphasized.…”

“…Some researchers, on the other hand, asserted that there is no valid evidence to confirm the positive links between media violence and aggression (e.g., Ferguson & Dyck, ; Ferguson & Kilburn, ; Freedman, ; Hilgard, Engelhardt, & Rouder, ; Holden, ). In our view, the evidence is overwhelming that media violence increases aggression (see Anderson et al, ; Greitemeyer & Mügge, ). Therefore, the debate should not be about whether there is an effect or not, but how the effect is mediated and who is most likely to be affected.…”

“…So far, possible cartoon violence effects have not attracted widespread attention from Chinese parents, teachers, and policy makers. Therefore, our experiment is aimed to examine whether the effect of cartoon violence on children which was found in Western cultures can be replicated in an Eastern culture, just as a a recent study shows that media violence is positively associated with aggression in seven countries (Anderson et al, ). We believe that the extant literature on the impact of these cartoons on aggressive attitudes and behaviors provides a strong rationale for our hypotheses.…”

Catching aggression from one's peers: A longitudinal and multilevel analysis

“…The standardized regression weights vary between 0.10 and 0.20, which implies that the class level has a small‐ to medium‐sized effect on the development of aggression. Because aggression is caused by a multitude of factor, this finding is in line with other risk factors for aggression (e.g., Anderson et al, ).…”

Risk factors for youth violence: Youth violence commission, International Society For Research On Aggression (ISRA)

“…Exposure to violent media is a cause of aggressive behavior and is correlated with violent criminal behavior (Bushman & Anderson, ), including mass shootings (O'Toole, ). It is important to note that the link between violent media and aggression is found in every country where studies have been conducted (Anderson et al, , ). A number of long‐term studies have also found that high exposure to violent media in childhood is related to violence later in life, including criminal behavior, spousal abuse, and assault (Huesmann, Moise‐Titus, Podolski, & Eron, ).…”