NCJ Number
19270
Journal
Public Opinion Quarterly Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1974-1975) Pages: 531-547
Date Published
1974
Length
17 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS OF A 1972 STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATCHING VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION AND POTENTIALLY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN 726 LONDON SCHOOL CHILDREN, AGES NINE THROUGH 15.
Abstract
IT WAS THEORIZED THAT THE FREQUENCY OF WATCHING PROGRAMS THAT REGULARLY FEATURE VIOLENT ACTS IS POSITIVELY RELATED TO AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, REPLICATING AN EARLIER UNITED STATES STUDY. TO DETERMINE EXPOSURE TO PARTICULAR TELEVISION PROGRAMS, EACH RESPONDENT WAS GIVEN A LISTING OF 30 PROGRAMS AND ASKED TO INDICATE WHICH WERE VIEWED REGULARLY. THE PROGRAMS LISTED INCLUDE 18 IN WHICH ACTS OF VIOLENCE WERE COMMON (WESTERNS, SCIENCE FICTION, ACTION-ADVENTURE, MIXED VIOLENCE) AND 12 IN WHICH THEY WERE NOT. THE TWO MEASURES OF AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDES USED WERE THE PERCEIVED EFFECTIVENESS OF USING VIOLENCE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND THE RESPONDENT'S PERSONAL WILLINGNESS TO USE VIOLENCE TO SOLVE HIS OWN PROBLEMS. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A MODERATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATCHING PROGRAMS HIGH IN VIOLENT THEMES AND AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDES. IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT A CHILD'S AGGRESSION CANNOT BE ATTRIBUTED SOLELY, OR LARGELY, TO WATCHING TELEVISION VIOLENCE. IT WAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS PERSIST WHEN ONE REMOVES THE INFLUENCE OF EXPOSURE (TO VIOLENCE) TO OTHER KINDS (NON-VIOLENT) OF TELEVISION CONTENT. IN ADDITION, THE RELATIONSHIP WAS SHOWN TO VARY ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF TELEVISED VIOLENCE VIEWED, WITH AMERICAN WESTERNS HAVING THE LEAST RELATIONSHIP TO AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDES.