In the wake of gun-related massacres like Sandy Hook and the Aurora theater shootings, the relationship between violence in the media and violence in real life becomes more of a pertinent issue than ever. Many argue that the increasing level of violence in films, television shows and video games is contributing to increased aggression in teenagers. Some studies have shown that media violence has the capability to increase the likelihood of individuals, especially teenagers (Anderson et al., 2003). This is seen to vary depending on the individual, of course, as various teenagers have different degrees of empathy for others; however, the trend exists.
Children and other youth spend a larger amount of time consuming violent television, films and video games than ever before, and the implication has been made clear that aggression and violence is reduced when exposure to violent media is reduced (Sparks, Sparks and Sparks, 2008). This influence is based on the concept of desensitization, where teenagers (already searching for large cultural and societal influences) are dulled to the pain and suffering of others when violent acts are normalized through repetition. Watching violent media repeats these violent acts, and so they become less affecting. Currently, studies show that the influence of violent media on aggressive acts decreases given the severity of the act; the more severe the act, the less it is directly influenced by violent media. However, minor aggressiveness is very much shown to be linked to violent media (Ferguson). With these things in mind, a clear correlation can be made between violent media and teenage aggression; the question remains to what extent it has this influence.
Works Cited
Anderson, C. A.; Berkowitz, L.; Donnerstein, E.; Huesmann, L. R.; Johnson, J. D.; Linz, D.; Malamuth, N. M.; Wartella, E. (2003). "The influence of media violence on youth". Psychological Science in the Public Interest 4 (3): 81.
Ferguson, Christopher J. "Video Games and Youth Violence: A Prospective Analysis in Adolescents", Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
Sparks, G.G., Sparks, E. A & Sparks, C.W. (2008) Media Violence. In J. Bryant (Ed),Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research(3rd ed., pp. 269–286).
