Media and Entertainments Influence on Societal Violence Rates Cons Elizabeth Hare Melissa Ingersoll Ashlee Hunt Amanda White
May 27, 2015
Media and Entertainments
Influence on Societal Violence Rates
ConsElizabeth Hare
Melissa Ingersoll
Ashlee Hunt
Amanda White
Violence
Is violence getting worse?
Mock violence in media influencing behavior
Other forms of violence suburban kids see
Evidence
What the Studies Show
Media Violence vs. Real Violence
Chicken-And-Egg DilemmaViolent TV cause aggressive behavior Do violent people prefer violent TV
International Examples Japan
Violent Entertainment Necessary
Fear, Greed, Power-Hunger, Rage: People try not to experience in real life
Melanie Moore, Ph.D. Psychologist Children need violent entertainment to explore
inescapeable feelings taught to deny Effects selfhood
The First Amendment
Individual adults must be free to decide for themselves what to read, write, paint, draw, see and hear
Personal choice and gives ownership of choice, making the person ultimately responsible Change the channel Turn off the TV Decline going to that movie Decline to go to that museum exhibit
Supreme Courts Interpretation of 1st Amendments protection of artistic expression
FCC Violence Report
2004 Notice of inquiryWhat are the effects of viewing violent programming
on children and other segments of the population?Cited the 2001 Surgeon General's Report on Youth
Violence Media has no effect on violence or criminal violence Exposure to media violence not a risk factor for violence
Increasing Amounts of Media Violence
Increased amount of realistic violence in movies
Violent lyrics in rap music
Increased violence in video games
Increased violence on TV Increased violence in all media types
US Crime Rates
1992 US crime rates dropped dramatically Continued to drop for the next 15 years
2009 Rates the same as before TV was introduced in the US
AAP Policy statement on media violence Claimed “proven” studies that link children's aggressive
behavior and inclination for violent entertainment Misinterpreted and many factual errors
Since 1994 FBI reported decreased youth crime
Popular most violent prime-time programs and effect on violence Showed the more popular the program, lower crime rates
Placing Blame
Media is the immediate answer for US violenceLab experiments give answer to
human behaviorVery few experiments (less than
1000)Questionable measures of
aggressionData group participating
Youth Violence
Early Childhood, social, emotional, and physical developmentYoung increased vulnerable to negative influencesCan’t always control environmental messages
received
Ability to distinguish fantasy from reality, ability to comprehend nuances of behavior, motivation, or moral complexityVery limited until about the age of 10Parents job to protect those children from potentially
negative influences
Video Games
Does not cause violence Average age is 35
understand the difference between reality and fantasy No scientific studies have shown a link Parents can easily monitor and control what child can play
Violence comes from first hand experiences 12-18 victims or offenders violent crime From uncertainty about when violence next occur Major aspect of virtual reality, cannot be stimulated by
video game and sets fantasy apart from reality
Manufactures not targeting youth Parents job to monitor what have access to
Causes of Violence
Innate motivational system Predisposed to violence-prone model violence Not predisposed to violence-seek out nonviolent models
Male gender, physical abuse, exposure to verbal abuse, are predictors of aggression and violence
Video games, or other forms of family violence (spanking) not predict aggression or violence
Male gender is the strongest predictor of aggression and violence Physical and verbal abuse also increasing
Influencing Violent Acts
Aggressive individuals influencedBiological and family violence
exposureChoose to play violent game,
use as a catalyst
Violent Criminal Acts
PathwayCombination of innate propensity
Genetics or brain injury
Exposure violence in the family
Media violence, including video gamesNo Role
Preventative efforts focusFocus on the familyReduce parental abuse of children
Conclusion
Parents ResponsibleYoung children, fantasy vs. reality, and moral
development
Violence is decreasingMedia violence is increasing
US Crime rates dropping
Research is limited, flawed, and giving false statistics
Gender, physical abuse, and exposure to verbal abuse strongest predictor of violence
References
ESRB, (2008). Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Electronic Software Rating Board: ESRB.org (Level 7)
Bronk, R. C. (2007). The complexities of regulating TV violence. Progress on point: Periodic commentaries on the policy debate. 14.12, pp. 1-33. The Progress & Freedom
Foundation. (Level 5)
Children, National Association for the Education of Young. (2007). Media violence in children's lives: Position statement of
the NAEYC. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from National association for the education of young children:
www.naeyc.org (Level 7)
Committee on the Judiciary. (2006). Media violence leads to youth violence: A report for parents and policy makers. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Opposig Viewpoints Resource Center: galenet.galegroup.com (Level 7)
References Cont.
Entertainment Software Association. (2007). Essential facts about games and violence. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from ESA: ESA_EF_Violence_2008.gov (Level 7)
Ferguson, C. J. (2008). Violent video games and aggression: Casual relationship or byproduct of family violence and intrinsic violence motivation? Criminal Justice and Behavior , 35 (311), 311-332. (level 6)
Freedman, J. L. (2008, Aprin 25). Television violence and aggression: Setting the record straight. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from The Media Institue / Policy Views: FreedmanTelevisonViolence.com (level 4)
Jones, G. (2004). Media violence promotes healthy behavior. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from Opposing viewpoints resource center: galenet.galegroup.com (Level 5)
Rhodes, R. (2006). Media violence does not cause youth violence: The media violence myth. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center: galenet.galegroup.com (Level 5)
References Cont.
Sternbeimer, K. (2008). It's not the media: The truth about pop culture's influence on children. USA: WestView Press. (Level 5)
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). Parents: Be role models for your children. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from SAMHSA'S national mental health information center: Center for mental health services:
Mentalhealth.samhsa.gov (Level 7)
Levels of Evidence
Level 1 – evidence from a systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of RCTs
Level 2 – evidence obtained from at least one well-designed RCT
Level 3 – Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization
Level 4 – evidence from well-designed case-control and cohort studies
Levels of Evidence Cont.
Level 5 – evidence from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies
Level 6 – evidence from a single descriptive or qualitative study
Level 7 – evidence from the opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert committees
Evidence Presented
Evidence collected are levels 5, 6, & 7 and one level 4
No evidence presented as Levels 1, 2, & 3 Level 1-Studies show faulty data, unable to do RCTs Level 2-Evidence has shown that the are not well
designed, and not able to do a RCT Level 3-Evidence has shown that the studies aren’t well
designed and don’t use participants that are related to the hypothesis, along with inaccurate measurement of aggression.
Level 4-Evidence has shown that the studies aren’t well designed, and because can’t allow acts of violence on others or even to play freely the studies don’t accurately depict the target group
Level 4
Only one study accurately did Level 4 evidencePrime time media violence and effect on actual
violence and crime Analyzed popularity of violent media in 281
metropolitan areas Looked at the crime rates of that area in relation to
popularity Showed that a decrease in crime where violent prime
time programs are more popular