Tuesday, 1 April 2014

media violence

Consider the various theories about the effects of media violence

  • how do you define media violence?
physical contact that intends to harm as well as use of weapons that are intended to harm people
  • do you think there is too much, too little or just the right amount?
I think that there is the right amount, because the media could be alot more violent, but it could also be a lot less violent

  • how does media violence affect you?
Media violence doesn't affect me, in the ways like i dont copy them or i dont want to hit someone.
  • how do you think media violence affects others?
it doesn't affect the majority but it may affects some people in bad ways



Positive effects of violent films

  • people can watch them for enjoyment
  • you are not forced to watch the films
  • cartharsis you may feel like you have let off steam (GTA5)
  • Media portrayals of violence can increase awareness of social problems

Cathartic efffect
Cleanses people of violent inclations

socially positve action
people can be taught a leason e.g shows people racism so they won't do it as they know its wrong


Negative effects of violent films

  • copying / immitation
  • nightmares psychological effect
  • moral panic e.g video games corrupting the young

Aggressive stimulatiuon theory
  • banduras bobo doll experiment
  • critisized for over stating the cause and effect
  • conclusions are simplistic
  • evidance is anecdotal
  • other factors
  • aggressive people may gravitate toward violent media 

Catalytic theory/model (Ferguson et al 2008)

media trigger violence only when certain non-media factors are also present (the way people are brought up)
such as violence rewarded
media exposure is heavy

Contributing factors

violence is realistic and exciting
violence rights a wrong
violence includes characters and situations similar to viewer's own experience


violence is too complex to be explained by a single factor
the affects vary from person to person


Desensitizing theory

People become hardened to media
societys tolerance for antisocial behaviour is increasing

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