Discuss the research on the relationship between television violence and violent behavior. In general, what does this research find? Then describe two factors that make it difficult to generalize research done on this topic in laboratory settings to what happens in the real world.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

It is difficult to establish a clear causal link between television violence and violent behavior. In laboratory experiments, psychologists found exposure to violent television images produces a short-term increase in aggressive feelings. Some lab experiments show that watching violent television increases postviewing aggressive behavior, such as playing aggressively with toys, and in some surveys viewers report an increase in aggressive behavior after watching violent television.
While many researchers accept that there is a relationship between violent television and aggression, the specific dynamics of that relationship remain contested. Perhaps most important, the evidence linking media violence to violent behavior-the core of the claim that violent television is a key cause of violence-related social problems-is weak.
Answers to the final part of the question (factors making it difficult to generalize research done on this topic in laboratory settings to what happens in the real world) will vary, but may include the following:
•    aggression in a laboratory setting is clearly different from real-world violent behavior; and
•    difficulty accounting for intervening variables: children attracted to media violence, and compulsive viewers of media violence, are likely different in important respects from viewers less interested in media violence.