Revision:Media Influences on Behaviour - A Cause of Aggression?

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Leyens et Al (1975)

Leyens et Al. (1975) carried out an experiment with participants in a boarding school in Belgium. Boys were housed in four dorms. 2 dorms had high levels of aggression, whereas the other 2 dorms did not. During the experiment, boys in 2 dorms (1 high aggression, 1 low aggression) watched violent films, whilst the other 2 dorms watched non-violent films.

Increased levels of physical aggression were reported in the boys who watched the violent films, whilst this was not the case with the boys who watched the non-violent films. However, verbal aggression in those exposed to non-violent films decreased, whilst it increased in those exposed to violent films. The effect of watching violent films was quite short lived.

One caveat for the study was that it did not distinguish between genuine and play aggression.

Longitudinal Research - Eron (1982) and Huesman, Lagerspit, and Eron (1984)

Eron (1982) and Huesman, Lagerspit, and Eron (1984) measured the amount of television watched as well as levels of aggression in young children. The same individuals were measured again some years later.

They found that amount of television watched correlated to the amount of convictions that the individuals had received by the age of 30.

On the one hand this could suggest that television caused aggression. However, it could also suggest that certain income groups with limited opportunities for recreation were also more likely to be involved in crime.

There was also evidence which suggested that children who were aggressive tended to watch violent programs later on in life. This suggests that aggressive children will watch violent programs, rather than violent programs make individuals aggressive.

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