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Author: Murray, John P.
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Year: 2003
Article Title: The violent face of television: 50 years of research and controversy
Journal: The faces of televisual media: Teaching, violence, selling to children
Volume: 0
Edition: 2nd Ed
Issue:
Pages: 143-160
ISBN/ISSN: 0805840753
Source of Funding: Funding Source Not Stated in Paper
Study Design: Review
Publication Type: Book Chapter
Age Group: Adolescence (13-17 yrs), Adulthood (18 yrs & older), Childhood (birth-12 yrs), Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs)
URL: http://www.mediaculture-online.de/fileadmin/bibliothek/murray_violentface/murray_violentface.pdf
Abstract: Objective: To review and synthesize research and discussion regarding the effects of violent television in the second half of the 20th century.

Design: Literature review of studies and public discourse concerning violent media effects, 1950-present.

Subjects and Setting: Studies and panel reports (~1000) on topics related to television violence, published 1950-present.

Intervention(s): N/A

Outcome Measure(s): Date of publication, research approach and topic, conclusions.

Results: Correlational studies in the 1960s established associations between the viewing of violent television programs and aggressive behaviors and attitudes, particularly among youth. Since then, experimental studies, using both laboratory and naturalistic settings, have demonstrated that violent television contributes to aggressive tendencies, desensitization, and fear, or "mean world syndrome." More information is needed regarding the processes producing these effects, as few researchers have explored physiological and neurological correlates.

Conclusion: The large volume of research produced on the effects of violent television during the latter half of the 20th century indicates that viewing violence on television significantly impacts the viewer's levels of aggression, desensitization, and fear; these results suggest the need for increased media literacy intervention in youth populations. © Center on Media and Child Health
Keywords: Adolescents
Adults
Aggression
Animation
Arousal
Behavior Change
Brain
Cartoons
Causality
Children
Children's Television
Conflict Resolution
Desensitization
Entertainment Industry
Fear
Government
Mean World Syndrome
Media Diet
Medicine
Motion Pictures
Perception
Policy
Psychology
Social Learning
Television
Television Industry
Television Programs
Violence
Violence (Media Content)

 

 

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