No Clear Link Between TV Violence and Aggression

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No Clear Link Between Television Violence and Aggression

There is a great deal of speculation on the role of television violence in

childhood aggression. Research demonstrates there may be other intervening

variables causing aggression. These variables include IQ, social class, parental

punishment, parental aggression, hereditary, environmental, and modeling. With

all of these factors to taken into consideration it is difficult to determine a

causal relationship between television violence and aggression. It is my

hypothesis this relationship is bi-directional - violent television

causes aggressive behavior and aggressive people tend to watch more violent

television.

Over the years there has been a large amount of research published, many with

conflicting results, to the question of a causal link existing between the

viewing of televised violence and childhood aggression. It is an important

question because if violent television is linked to childhood aggression we need

to adapt our television shows accordingly.

Early 1960's Research

There is earlier research, but the first association between violent television

and aggression was in the early 1960's when Albert Bandura began researching his

modeling theory. His series of experiments first set the precedent for a

relationship between violent television viewing and aggression. He felt

children would model or imitate adult behavior. In one study he subjected

children to both aggressive and non- aggressive adult models and then tested

them for imitative behavior in the presence of the model. His theory was

demonstrated when children readily imitated behavior exhibited by an adult model

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...al Psychology, 67, 601-607.

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