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