The Evolution of Virtual Violence: How Mobile Screens Provide Windows to Real Violence

Boyd, Rhea; Swanson, Wendy Sue

doi:10.1542/peds.2016-1358

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, children may interpret the behavior of a superhero to be acceptable, even when they are committing severely violent acts, such as "use of a lethal weapon", "murder", and "mass murder". This relationship between violence depicted in the media and more frequent aggressive behavior has been found in several published studies [3,[18][19][20]. Furthermore, McCrary suggested that television superheroes may influence the development of moral values in kindergarten-aged children, and Martin found that the feelings children have towards superheroes are related to the way in which they feel about themselves [21][22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Violence Depicted in Superhero-Based Films Stratified by Protagonist/Antagonist and Gender

Muller

Moroco

Loloi

et al. 2020

Cureus

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The objective of this study was to describe and quantify acts of violence depicted in a select number of superhero-based films, further stratified by protagonist/antagonist characters and gender. A total of 10 superhero-based films released in 2015-2016 were analyzed by five independent reviewers. The average number of acts of violence associated with protagonist and antagonist characters for all included films was 22.7 and 17.5 mean events per hour, respectively (p=0.019). The average number of acts of violence associated with male and female characters for all included films was 33.4 and 6.5 mean events per hour, respectively (p<0.001). The most common acts of violence for all major characters were "fighting", "use of a lethal weapon", "bullying/intimidation/torture", "destruction of property", and "murder" (14.9, 11.4, 3.5, 3.4, and 2.4 mean events per hour, respectively). Based on our sample of superhero-based films, acts of violence were associated more with protagonist characters and male characters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Violence Depicted in Superhero-Based Films Stratified by Protagonist/Antagonist and Gender

Muller

Moroco

Loloi

et al. 2020

Cureus

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“…. galvanize activism for police reform" [2] (p. 2); however, Boyd and Swanson also emphasize the potential for distress and discrimination associated with sharing content in such contexts, again highlighting the need for further research into the psychological consequences of unmonitored exposure to explicit violent content.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there has been extensive research into the potential impacts of viewing fictional violent media in videogames and motion pictures [1], the informal exchange and viewing of explicit real-world violent footage is heavily under-researched, yet potentially highly problematic [2]. Viewing real-world footage of shootings or bombings on news media can initiate a "cycle of distress" and worry [3], but we know very little of the impacts of viewing explicitly violent real-world footage in an entirely uncensored way via online social networks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactions to Unsolicited Violent, and Sexual, Explicit Media Content Shared over Social Media: Gender Differences and Links with Prior Exposure

Nicklin

Swain

Lloyd

2020

IJERPH

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While there has been extensive research into consumption of “traditional” forms of explicit sexual and violent media (within pornography, videogames and movies), the informal exchange and viewing of explicit real-world violent and sexual content via social media is an under-investigated and potentially problematic behaviour. The current study used an online survey (n = 225: 169f, 55m, 1x, mean age 30.61 (SD 12.03)) to explore self-reported reactions to unsolicited explicit violent and sexual content that participants had received from friends or contacts. In line with our predictions based on previous studies of fictional explicit content, we found effects of both gender and prior exposure on these reactions. Specifically, females rated both sexual and violent explicit content as significantly less funny and exciting and more disturbing than males did. Amongst males, those with high previous exposure rated violent content as more exciting than those with lower or no prior experience. Regardless of gender, participants with higher exposure to sexual content rated it as funnier than those with mild or no exposure, and those with higher exposure to violent content rated it as more amusing and more exciting. However, contrary to what desensitization theories would predict, prior exposure did not attenuate how disturbing explicit content (of either a sexual or a violent nature) was rated. Multiple avenues for further investigation emerged from this preliminary cross-sectional study, and we suggest priorities for further qualitative or longitudinal work on this novel topic.

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“…Thus, teens may be exposed to images or videos that are overly violent (e.g. wars; De Choudhury et al , 2014), or content that contain self-harm and other immoral and illicit behaviors (Wisniewski et al , 2016) that may be disturbing to young viewers (Boyd and Swanson, 2016). Meanwhile, the anonymity of social media may also put teens at risk for cyberbullying, while protecting bullies (Barlett et al , 2016), and increasing the sense of fear and powerlessness of victims (Dooley et al , 2009).…”

Section: Background: the Dark-side Of Social Media For Teensmentioning

confidence: 99%

When social media traumatizes teens

McHugh

Wiśniewski

Rosson³

et al. 2018

INTR

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Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which negative online risk experiences (information breaches, explicit content exposure, cyberbullying and sexual solicitations) cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adolescents. The study also explores whether teens' short-term coping responses serve to mitigate PTSD or, instead, act as a response to stress from online events. Design/methodology/approach-The study utilized a web-based diary design over the course of two months. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling with repeated measures. Findings-The study confirmed that explicit content exposure, cyberbullying and sexual solicitations (but not information breaches) evoke symptoms of PTSD. Analyses also indicated that teens engage in active and communicative coping after they experience post-traumatic stress, regardless of risk type or frequency. Practical implications-The authors found that teens took active measures to cope with online risks soon after they felt threatened (within a week). Actively coping with stressful situations has been shown to enhance adolescent resilience and reduce long-term negative effects of risk exposure. If these early coping behaviors can be detected, social media platforms may be able to embed effective interventions to support healthy coping processes that can further protect teens against long-term harm from exposure to online risks. Originality/value-This is the first study to examine situational PTSD symptoms related to four types of adolescent online risk exposure within the week exposure occurred. By applying two competing theoretical frameworks (the adolescent resilience framework and transactional theory of stress), the authors show empirical evidence that suggests short-term coping responses are likely a stress reaction to PTSD, not a protective factor against it.

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The Evolution of Virtual Violence: How Mobile Screens Provide Windows to Real Violence

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Violence Depicted in Superhero-Based Films Stratified by Protagonist/Antagonist and Gender

Violence Depicted in Superhero-Based Films Stratified by Protagonist/Antagonist and Gender

Reactions to Unsolicited Violent, and Sexual, Explicit Media Content Shared over Social Media: Gender Differences and Links with Prior Exposure

When social media traumatizes teens

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