Aggressive behavior is affected by media violence

It has been reported by Iowa State University that a cross-cultural study has found a link exists between aggressive behavior and media violence. There is compelling evidence that aggressive behavior is affected by media violence. This study was led by Craig Anderson, who is a Distinguished Professor of psychology at Iowa State University. In this study the researchers identified four primary findings as follows: 1) In all countries there was a positive and significant relationship between violent media and aggressive behavior. 2)There was increased aggressive thinking and decreased empathy with exposure. 3) Media violence remained significant even after other risk factors were accounted for. 4) There was a greater effect for media violence than all of the other risk factors, aside from peer delinquency. 

Anderson has commented the evidence is compelling that the primary psychological processes which cause repeated media violence exposure to lead to heightened aggressiveness are basically the same across different cultures, at least when considering normal times. It appears that local cultural and social conditions may have an influence on such processes when there are more extreme conditions. It has been explained by Anderson that in war-torn societies, media violence exposure may have increased effects due to the real violence which kids and teens experience everyday. It is the position of Anderson that the denialism which presently dominates news media stories dealing with media violence effects is very clearly contradicted by this study. 

This study has been published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Across nations the effect of media violence on aggression was significant. The serious problem of aggression being influenced by media violence should clearly be addressed.