Critical Review on the Effets of Mass Media on Violent Behavior

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‘CRITICAL REVIEW ON THE EFFECTS OF MASS MEDIA ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR’

TABLE OF CONTENT

Cover Page Pg 1

Table of Content Pg 2

Introduction Pg 3

Definitions

Studies Aimed at Validating the Existence of a Correlation

The Social Learning Theory

The Narrative Theory

Studies Aimed at Refuting Correlation

Reciprocal Determinism

Case Studies

4.1 Norway Massacre

4.2 Aurora Colorado Theatre Shooting

4.3 Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

Conclusion

References

INTRODUCTION

With the invention of television sets (TV’s), came the invention of films and television programs to be shown on TV as well as the opportunity to broadcast live news stories. In modern day society, the news has become a 24-hour channel that contains violence, terrorism and numerous inhuman acts committed by ordinary citizens and repeats every story almost every hour (Ukoha 2013). Cartoons are no longer as ‘sweet as pie’ as Walt Disney had intended when he created Mickey Mouse and the rest of the Disney clan; children are now being plonked in front of cartoons that portray violence as being humorous (Ukoha 2013). Parents are no longer encouraging children to entertain themselves outside but are placing TV’s in their bedrooms, permitting them to watch whatever they want when they want to (Ukoha 2013).

The effect of media on violent behaviour has been the subject of research for many decades, this is mainly due to the fact that researchers have noticed a significant correlation between the violence portrayed in mass media and the violence exhibited in childhood and adolescent behaviour (Pusateri 2006). According to Corrigan (2010, p. 119), “most children view an average of 3-4 hours of tele...

... middle of paper ...

...ght to listen to authority figures

One can conclude, with support of the numerous research articles above as well as the supporting theories, that mass media does have an effect on violent behaviour but it is only one factor in a multi-faceted approach to understanding the multiple causes for one to react violently (Huesmann & Taylor 2006).

REFERENCES

Hermen, D, Phelan, J, Rabinowitz, P.J, Richardson, B, Warhol, R 2012, Narrative Theory: Core Concepts and Critical Debates, the Ohio State University Press, Ohio.

Ukoha, E.K 2013, ‘Media Violence and Violent Behaviour of Nigerian Youths: Intervention Strategies’, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (Nerdc), vol. 21, no. 3-5, pp. 230-237.

Prentice, C 2010, ‘Terms of ambivalence: cultural politics and symbolic exchange’, Australian Literary Studies, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 33-54.

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