Abstract
There appears to be a strong relationship between mass media portrayals of violence and real-life violence itself. This article reviews the available literature on the effects of media treatment of sports violence; analyzes the theoretical explanations for this treatment; and makes proposals on how the problems of both sports violence and its media coverage may be remedied, with a particular focus on amateur hockey in Canada.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baron, R.A. (1977).Human aggression. New York: Plenum.
Barthes, R. (1972).Mythologies. Toronto: Paladin.
Bryant, J., and D. Zillmann. (1983). Sports violence and the media. In J.H. Goldstein, Ed.,Sports Violence.New York:Springer-Verlag.
Comisky, P., J. Bryant, and D. Zillmann. (1977). “Commentary as a substitute for action.”Journal of Communication 27, 150–52.
Dupperault, J.R. (1981). L’Affaire Richard: A situational analysis of the Montreal hockey riot.Canadian Journal of History of Sport XII, 1, 66–83.
Geen, R.G., and L. Berkowitz. (1969). Some conditions facilitating the occurrence of aggression after the observation of violence. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.),Roots of aggression: A re-examination of the frustration-aggression hypothesis. New York: Atherton.
Goranson, R.E. (1982). The image of televised hockey violence.LaMarsh Research Programme Reports on Violence and Conflict Resolution, No. 1. Toronto: York University.
Gordon, D.R., and L. Ibson. (1977). Content analysis of the news media: radio. In J. LaMarsh, L.A. Beaulieu, and S.A. Young (Commissioners),Report of the Royal Commission on Violence in the Communications Industry, Volume 3. Toronto: Ontario Government Bookstore.
Hall, S. (1978). The treatment of football hooliganism in the press. In R. Ingram, (Ed.),Football hooliganism: The wider context (pp. 15–37). London: Inter-Action Inprint.
Hartley, J. (1982).Understanding news. London: Methuen.
Moriarty, R., and A. McCabe. (1977). Studies of television and youth sports. In J. LaMarsh, L.A. Beaulieu, and S.A. Young (Commissioners),Report of the Royal Commission on Violence in the Communications Industry, Volume 5. Toronto: Ontario Government Bookstore.
Russell, G.W. (1979). Hero selection by Canadian ice hockey players: Skill or aggression?Canadian Journal of Applied Sports Sciences 4: 309–13.
Singer, B., and D.R. Gordon. (1977). Content analysis of the news media: newspapers and television. In J. LaMarsh, L.A. Beaulieu, and S.A. Young (Commissioners),Report of the Royal Commission on Violence in the Communications Industry, Volume 5. Toronto: Ontario Government Bookstore.
Smith, M.D. (1974). Significant others’ influence on the assaultive behavior of young hockey players.International Review of Sport Sociology 3–5: 45–56.
1978. From professional to youth hockey violence: The role of the mass media. In M.A. Beyer Gammon, ed.,Violence in Canada. Toronto: Methuen.
1983.Violence and Sport. Toronto: Butterworths.
Whannel, G. 1979. Football crowd behaviour and the press.Media, Culture and Society 1: 327–342.
1985.Blowing the whistle: The politics of sport. London: Pluto.
Young, K.M. (1986). The killing field: Themes in mass media responses to the Heysel Stadium riot.International Review for the Sociology of Sport 21, 2/3: 253–266.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Young, K., Smith, M.D. Mass media treatment of violence in sports and its effects. Current Psychology 7, 298–311 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686627
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686627