MODULE 2
MEDIA ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Media violence and consequences
Media violence refers to the depiction of violent acts in various forms of media such
as television, movies, video games, and online content. Concerns have been raised
about how exposure to media violence affects behavior, especially among children
and adolescents. Research in psychology, communication studies, and sociology
has consistently explored the relationship between media violence and real-life
aggression.
1. Increased Aggressive Behavior
Numerous studies have shown that exposure to violent media can lead to increased
aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This is especially significant in
children and adolescents, whose cognitive and emotional regulation is still
developing.
2. Desensitization to Violence
Repeated exposure to media violence can lead to emotional desensitization, where
individuals become less sensitive to violence and suffering in real life. This may
reduce empathy and increase tolerance of violent behavior.
3. Fear and Anxiety
heavy consumption of violent media can lead people to perceive the world as more
dangerous than it actually is, resulting in fear, anxiety, and mistrust of others.
4. Imitation of Violent Acts
Social learning theory suggests that individuals, particularly children, learn behaviors
through observing others, especially role models portrayed in media. This means
that violent media characters can influence viewers to imitate similar actions.
The imitative modelling of media effects was studied in a series of experi
ments by Albert Bandura in the 1960s, widely known as the “Bobo doll”
studies due to the use of an inflatable plastic doll that children were ob served
to strike more frequently after watching an adult perform the same activity on
video (Bandura et al., 1963).
5. Excitation
an exciting film will speed up heart rate and increase blood pressure and skin
conductance; could violent film be an exceptionally ex citing stimulus. Dolf Zillmann,
who developed the concept of “excitation transfer” in line with Schachter and
Singer’s (1962) two-factor theory of emotion. The theory states that emotions are
physio logical responses to which we assign appropriate labels according to a
variety of personal, social, and cultural factors. Excitation transfer takes place when
MEDIA ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Media violence and consequences
Media violence refers to the depiction of violent acts in various forms of media such
as television, movies, video games, and online content. Concerns have been raised
about how exposure to media violence affects behavior, especially among children
and adolescents. Research in psychology, communication studies, and sociology
has consistently explored the relationship between media violence and real-life
aggression.
1. Increased Aggressive Behavior
Numerous studies have shown that exposure to violent media can lead to increased
aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This is especially significant in
children and adolescents, whose cognitive and emotional regulation is still
developing.
2. Desensitization to Violence
Repeated exposure to media violence can lead to emotional desensitization, where
individuals become less sensitive to violence and suffering in real life. This may
reduce empathy and increase tolerance of violent behavior.
3. Fear and Anxiety
heavy consumption of violent media can lead people to perceive the world as more
dangerous than it actually is, resulting in fear, anxiety, and mistrust of others.
4. Imitation of Violent Acts
Social learning theory suggests that individuals, particularly children, learn behaviors
through observing others, especially role models portrayed in media. This means
that violent media characters can influence viewers to imitate similar actions.
The imitative modelling of media effects was studied in a series of experi
ments by Albert Bandura in the 1960s, widely known as the “Bobo doll”
studies due to the use of an inflatable plastic doll that children were ob served
to strike more frequently after watching an adult perform the same activity on
video (Bandura et al., 1963).
5. Excitation
an exciting film will speed up heart rate and increase blood pressure and skin
conductance; could violent film be an exceptionally ex citing stimulus. Dolf Zillmann,
who developed the concept of “excitation transfer” in line with Schachter and
Singer’s (1962) two-factor theory of emotion. The theory states that emotions are
physio logical responses to which we assign appropriate labels according to a
variety of personal, social, and cultural factors. Excitation transfer takes place when
