Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Television Violence

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Adolescents, Crime, and the Media

Part of the book series: Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development ((ARAD))

  • 6260 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter reviews several decades of research on television violence effects on viewer aggression. Historically this research has been highly controversial with both scholars and the general public often taking very different views of the outcomes. Some scholars have compared the effects of television to smoking on lung cancer, although such claims have since been debunked. By and large, television violence research has historically been limited by significant methodological flaws in much of the research and an overreliance on bivariate effects and poorly validated outcome measures. Nonetheless, current evidence is inconsistent and unable to support the conclusion that television violence is substantially linked with increased aggression among viewers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abramson, A. (2003). The history of television, 1942 to 2000. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Cancer Society. (2008). Smoking and cancer mortality table. Retrieved November 2, 2008, from ­http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2X_Smoking_and_Cancer_Mortality_Table.asp

  • Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (1997). External validity of “trivial” experiments: The case of laboratory aggression. Review of General Psychology, 1, 19–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, C., & Bushman, B. (2002). Media violence and the American public revisited. The American Psychologist, 57, 448–450.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, C. A., Lindsay, J. J., & Bushman, B. J. (1999). Research in the psychological laboratory: Truth or triviality? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 8, 3–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1965). Influence of models’ reinforcement contingencies on the acquisition of imitative response. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1, 589–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575–582.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1963). Imitation of film-mediated aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 66, 3–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D., Larzalere, R., & Cowan, P. (2002). Ordinary physical punishment: Is it harmful? Comment on Gershoff, 2002. Psychological Bulletin, 2002, 580–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. (1972). Causal analysis in R-R studies: Television violence and aggression. The American Psychologist, 27, 967–968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, L. (1965). Some aspects of observed aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2, 359–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, L., Corwin, R., & Heironimus, M. (1963). Film violence and subsequent aggressive tendencies. Public Opinion Quarterly, 27, 217–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block, J., & Crain, B. (2007). Omissions and errors in ‘Media violence and the American public’. The American Psychologist, 62, 252–253.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bobko, P., & Stone-Romero, E. (1998). Meta-analysis may be another useful research tool but it is not a panacea. In G. Ferris (Ed.), Research in personnel and human resources management (Vol. 16, pp. 359–397). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bushman, B., & Anderson, C. (2001). Media violence and the American public. The American Psychologist, 56, 477–489.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Centerwall, B. (1989). Exposure to television as a risk factor for violence. American Journal of Epidemiology, 129, 643–652.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charlton, T., Gunter, B., & Coles, D. (1998). Broadcast television as a cause of aggression? Recent findings from a naturalistic study. Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, 3, 5–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, D. (2000). Testimony of the American Academy of Pediatrics on media violence before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/mediaviolencetestimony.pdf

  • Cook, D., Guyatt, G., Ryan, G., Clifton, J., Buckingham, L., Willan, A., et al. (1993). Should unpublished data be included in meta-analyses? Current convictions and controversies. Journal of the American Medical Association, 269, 2749–2753.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crow, E. (1991). Response to Rosenthal’s comment, “How are we doing in soft psychology?”. The American Psychologist, 46, 1083.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cumberbatch, G., & Howitt, D. (1989). A measure of uncertainty: The effects of the mass media. London: John Libbey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, D. (2006, March). The beginning of television. History Magazine, p. 27–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eron, L. (1963). Relationship of TV viewing habits and aggressive behavior in children. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 193–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eron, L., Huesmann, L., Lefkowitz, M., & Walder, L. (1972). Does television violence cause aggression? The American Psychologist, 27, 253–263.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation. (1951–2011). Uniform crime reports. Washington, DC: GPO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J. (2007a). Evidence for publication bias in video game violence effects literature: A meta-analytic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 470–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J. (2007b). The good, the bad and the ugly: A meta-analytic review of positive and negative effects of violent video games. Psychiatric Quarterly, 78, 309–316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J. (2009). Is psychological research really as good as medical research? Effect size comparisons between psychology and medicine. Review of General Psychology, 13(2), 130–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J. (2010). Genetic contributions to antisocial personality and behavior (APB): A meta-analytic review from an evolutionary perspective. Journal of Social Psychology, 150(2), 160–180.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J. (2011). Video games and youth violence: A prospective analysis in adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(4), 377–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J., Colwell, J., Mlačić, B., Milas, G., & Mikloušić, I. (2011). Personality and media influences on violence and depression in a cross-national sample of young adults: Data from Mexican-Americans, English and Croatians. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(3), 1195–1200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J., & Kilburn, J. (2009). The public health risks of media violence: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Pediatrics, 154(5), 759–763.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J., & Rueda, S. M. (2009). Examining the validity of the Modified Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Test of aggression. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 5(2), 121–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J., Smith, S., Miller-Stratton, S., Fritz, S., & Heinrich, E. (2008). Aggression in the laboratory: Problems with the validity of the modified Taylor Competitive Reaction Time Test as a measure of aggression in media violence studies. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 17, 118–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feschbach, S., & Singer, R. (1971). Television and aggression: An experimental field study. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feshbach, S. (1961). The stimulating versus cathartic effect of vicarious aggressive activity. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 381–385.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, T., Korns, R., Voight, R., Boisen, M., Hemphill, F., Napier, J., et al. (1955). An evaluation of the 1954 poliomyelitis vaccine trials—summary report. American Journal of Public Health, 45, 1–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. (1984). Effect of television violence on aggressiveness. Psychological Bulletin, 96, 227–246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. (1986). Television violence and aggression: A rejoinder. Psychological Bulletin, 100, 372–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. (1996). Violence in the mass media and violence in society: The link is unproven. Harvard Mental Health Letter, 12, 4–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. (2002). Media violence and its effect on aggression: Assessing the scientific evidence. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich-Cofer, L., & Huston, A. C. (1986). Television violence and aggression: The debate continues. Psychological Bulletin, 100, 364–371.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich, L., & Stein, A. (1973). Aggressive and prosocial television programs and the natural behavior of preschool children. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 38, 63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gauntlett, D. (2006). Moving experiences: Media effects and beyond (2nd ed.). London: John Libbey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giancola, P. R., & Zeichner, A. (1995). Construct validity of a competitive reaction-time aggression paradigm. Aggressive Behavior, 21, 199–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimes, T., Anderson, J., & Bergen, L. (2008). Media violence and aggression: Science and ideology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, D., & Metropolitan Area Child Study Research Group. (2006). Associations between peer nominations, teacher ratings, self-reports, and observations of malicious and disruptive behavior. Assessment, 13, 241–252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heusmann, L., & Eron, L. (1986). Television and the aggressive child: A cross-national comparison. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heusmann, L., & Taylor, L. (2003). The case against the case against media violence. In D. Gentile (Ed.), Media violence and children: A complete guide for parents and professionals. New York, NY: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogben, M. (1998). Factors moderating the effect of television aggression on viewer behavior. Communication Research, 25, 220–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howitt, D. (1972). On television as a cause of aggression. The American Psychologist, 27, 968–970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, L. M. (2004). Biases of success rate differences shown in binomial effect size displays. Psychological Bulletin, 9(2), 183–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huesmann, L. R. (2007). The impact of electronic media violence: Scientific theory and research. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, S6–S13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, J., & Schmidt, F. (2004). Methods of meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, H. (1972). Weaknesses in the television-causes-aggression analysis by Eron et al. The American Psychologist, 27, 970–973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kizman, K., Gaylord, N., Holt, A., & Kenny, E. (2003). Child witnesses to domestic violence: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 339–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kniveton, B., & Stephenson, G. (1975). The effects of an aggressive film model on social interaction in groups of middle-class and working-class boys. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 16, 301–313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kraemer, H. C. (2006). A simple effect size indicator for two-group comparisons?: A comment on requivalent. Psychological Methods, 10(4), 413–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutner, L., & Olson, C. (2008). Grand theft childhood: The surprising truth about violent video games and what parents can do. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, K. (1963). On aggression. New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace and World.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milavsky, J., Kessler, R., Stipp, H., & Rubens, W. (1982a). Television and aggression: Results of a panel study. In D. Pearl, L. Bouthilet, & J. Lazar (Eds.), Television and behavior: Ten years of scientific progress and implications for the 80s (Technical reviews, Vol. 2, pp. 138–157). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milavsky, J. R., Kessler, R., Stipp, H. H., & Rubens, W. S. (1982b). Television and aggression: A panel study. New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moeller, T. G. (2001). Youth aggression and violence: A psychological approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mussen, P., & Rutherford, E. (1961). Effects of aggressive cartoons on children’s aggressive play. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62, 461–464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. (2008). Exploring psychology (7th ed.). New York: Worth.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Television Violence Study Council. (1998). National television violence study (Vol. 3). Santa Barbara: Center for Communication and Social Policy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paik, H., & Comstock, G. (1994). The effects of television violence on antisocial behavior: A meta-analysis. Communication Research, 21, 516–539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parents’ Television Council. (2002). TV bloodbath: Violence on prime-time broadcast TV. Retrieved October 15, 2008, from http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/stateindustryviolence/ReportOnViolence.pdf

  • Pratt, T., & Cullen, C. (2000). The empirical status of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime: A meta-analysis. Criminology, 38, 931–964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, T., & Cullen, C. (2005). Assessing macro-level predictors and theories of crime: A meta-­analysis. In M. Tomry (Ed.), Crime and justice: A review of research (Vol. 32, pp. 373–450). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, D., & Eslea, M. (2005). Hot sauce, toy guns and graffiti: A critical account of current laboratory aggression paradigms. Aggressive Behavior, 31, 407–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, R., & DiMatteo, M. (2001). Meta analysis: Recent developments in quantitative methods for literature reviews. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 59–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Savage, J. (2004). Does viewing violent media really cause criminal violence? A methodological review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 10, 99–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savage, J. (2008). The role of exposure to media violence in the etiology of violent behavior: A criminologist weighs in. American Behavioral Scientist, 51, 1123–1136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savage, J., & Yancey, C. (2008). The effects of media violence exposure on criminal aggression: A meta-analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35, 1123–1136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G., & Egger, M. (1998). Meta-analysis: Unresolved issues and future developments. British Medical Journal, 316. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from http://www.bmj.com/archive/7126/7126ed8.htm

  • Tedeschi, J., & Quigley, B. (1996). Limitations of laboratory paradigms for studying aggression. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 2, 163–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tedeschi, J., & Quigley, B. (2000). A further comment on the construct validity of laboratory aggression paradigms: A response to Giancola and Chermack. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 5, 127–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Youth violence: A report of the Surgeon General. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Surgeon General’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Television and Social Behavior. (1972). Television and growing up: The impact of televised violence (DHEW Publication No. HSM 72–9086). Washington, DC: United States National Institute of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiegman, O., & Kuttschreuter, M. (1992). A longitudinal study of the effects of television viewing on aggressive and prosocial behaviors. British Journal of Social Psychology, 31, 147–164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2002). World report on violence and health. Geneva: World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynder, F., & Graham, E. (1950). Tobacco smoking as a possible etiological factor in brochiogenic carcinoma. Journal of the American Medical Association, 143, 329–336.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ybarra, M., Diener-West, M., Markow, D., Leaf, P., Hamburger, M., & Boxer, P. (2008). Linkages between internet and other media violence with seriously violent behavior by youth. Pediatrics, 122(5), 929–937.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zimring, F., & Hawkins, G. (1997). Crime is not the problem: Lethal violence in America. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, USA

    Christopher J. Ferguson

Authors
  1. Christopher J. Ferguson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ferguson, C.J. (2013). Television Violence. In: Adolescents, Crime, and the Media. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6741-0_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation