DOES MEDIA VIOLENCE CAUSE VIOLENT CRIME

Does Media Violence Cause Violent Crime

Does Media Violence Cause Violent Crime

Over the past 60 years? hundreds of studies have shown that viewing violence in the media can influence aggressive behavior. However? the vast majority of these studies are laboratory based? and tell us little about how media violence influences real criminal behavior.

The objective of Sarah M. Coyne (2007) article “Does Media Violence Cause Violent Crime?” was to examine the relationship between exposure to television violence and real-life criminal behavior. This study reviewed research involving crime statistics? offender populations? and longitudinal studies to evaluate the claim that such a link exists. When integrated with other long-term studies on the development of crime? it is concluded that the link between media violence and crime is weak after other environmental factors are taken into account.

Regarding instruments used to measure aggression? media researchers note that better measures are often not readily available and most critics of media violence research do not appear to offer alternatives. That is? a type II error may be made in denying the importance of research findings that suggest a connection. Also measuring "violent criminal behavior" in laboratory studies would clearly be unethical? much the same way as experimental studies of smoking and lung cancer would have been unethical.

Regarding the inconclusive nature of some findings? media researchers often contend that it is the critics who are misinterpreting or selectively reporting studies. It may be that both sides of the debate are highlighting separate findings that are most favorable to their own "cause".

Regarding "third" variables? media violence researchers acknowledge that other variables may play a role in aggression and that aggression is due to a confluence of variables. These variables are known as "third variables" and if found? would probably be mediator variables (which differ from moderator variables). As of yet? no third variable has been shown to explain away media violence effects? although this may be because media violence researchers have consistently failed to control for variables such as family violence? genetics or personality. Confusion commonly arises among non-scientists in the interpretation of mediaional versus moderational(interaction) effects. A mediator variable could 'explain away' media violence effects? whereas a moderator variable cannot. For instance? trait aggressiveness has been demonstrated to moderate media violence effects? but is commonly misunderstood as a variable that 'explains away' the causal link between exposure and behavior? although in some studies "trait aggression" does appear to account for any link between media violence exposure and aggression. Other variables have also been found to moderate media violence effects. Another point of confusion in understanding the media violence literature is the way researchers deal with potential confounding variables. Researchers use random assignment to neutralize the effects of what commonly are cited as third variables (i.e. gender? trait aggressiveness? preference for violent media). Because experimental designs employ random assignment to conditions? the effect of such attributive variables on experimental results is assumed to be random (not systematic).

Sarah ...