Media Violence and Aggression

Does Media Violence Cause Aggression?

Monique Osterhout

PSYC 3520

September 19, 2014

Dr. Kathleen De Sousa

Does Media Violence Cause Aggression

Since World War II homicide rates in the United States and in our recent years have become the interest in finding out why humans behave aggressively. Some of the causes of aggressive behavior has led to violence in schools and homes, gun use and accessibility, and of course exposure to violence in entertainment media. It is increased believed that these are the reasons for the violence and aggression in today’s times (Anderson & Bushman, 2002).

In psychology aggression is referred to behaviors that can cause harm in physical and psychological ways. These can occur in numerous ways physically, verbally and mentally. Aggression is used in lots of different ways. It can be used to express anger assert dominance, sometimes to achieve a goal, intimidate, threaten, a way to express possession, compete with others, or a response to fear or pain (Cherry, 2014). Violence is aggression that has harm as its goal. Violence is aggression but there are times when aggression is not violence.

There are five theories of aggression. First is Cognitive Neoassociation Theory, this refers to negative experiences caused by negative effects such as, loud noises, provocations, frustrations, and uncomfortable temperatures. These can cause fight or flight predispositions which lead to feelings of anger and fear. In this theory cognitive and emotional responses can be triggered by the event when the associated event is presented. These thoughts are linked by memory, for example, a gun can present an associative memory. This model explains why hostile aggression happens (Anderson & Bushman, 2012).

Second is social learning theory, according to Bandara, aggressive responses are acquired in the same way other social behaviors are learned. These would be learned through observation and having a direct experience. The...