Media violence and aggressive behaviour

Pages: 197-200
Indu (Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana)

Media became integral part of our daily life. we consume media for the purpose of entertainment, education etc. Not only children but all age groups connected with media. Almost everyone has account on Facebook, What’s app, E-mail, Instagram, Snap chat, etc. Since the early 19th century researches have been accumulating and suggest that exposure to media violence in television, cell phone, video game, internet, movies, serials, increase the risk of violent behaviour. In current review, literature and psychological studies critically assessed to know, why exposure to violent media effects viewer’s behaviour negatively. James Potter explains, “Even we were to lock all of today’s criminals, media are still helping to train another generation to believe that the violence is the only successful way to solve problems”. Behind crime there are many factors like poverty, racial inequality, parental neglect and abuse and aggression. Aggression is directly associated with consuming aggressive/violent media. So the media also play important role in criminal activities also. I examined many studies which focused on the relationship between the effect of violent media on aggressive behaviour. Previous findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between exposure of media violence and aggressive behaviour. Exposure of violent media work as instigation or model for real life violence. What is media violence? Most researcher define media violence as visual portrayals of acts of physical or nonphysical (verbally abuse someone, spreading harmful rumours) by one human and human like character against another. Reasons behind it are, 1st observational learning (we learn by observing others act & the consequences of that act or we can say immediate mimicry of specific behaviour) 2nd is that exposure to media violence can desensitize people to violence in the real world. And 3rd is arousal processes (Physiological, activation of fight & flight system that is sympathetic nervous system & psychological arousal is emotional activation). In 21st century mass media widely effect the daily lives. Radio, television, videos, cell phone, video game, computer networks playing important role in the children’s and youth’s life. If people specially children and youth continuously consume violent media they may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, they may become fearful of the world around them, they may be more likely to behave in aggressive and harmful ways toward others. For avoiding the negative impacts of violent media seminar, conferences, workshop should be held to spread awareness. Explain consequences and teach the children as well as other age group conflict resolution (how to use word correctly, don’t harm others).