Discuss studies into the influence of the media on antisocial behaviour including an evaluation of the research methods used.
Discuss studies into the influence of the media on antisocial behaviour including an evaluation of the research methods used.
There are many studies and examples to indicate that the amount of violence children witness on television or see through other forms of media are reflected in their own levels of aggression and violence. Studies into this include Bandura's Bobo Doll study, Parke's and Leynes' studies into teenage aggression, Black and Bevan's study into violence and the cinema and the St. Helena study. These studies had varying results but on the whole they support the theory that prolonged viewing of violence in the media equates to increased violence and aggression in real life.
Bandura conducted a laboratory experiment to see whether aggressive acts by adults towards a Bobo doll would be copied by the children watching and whether the way in which the adult was treated after, either rewarded, punished or no feedback, would affect the results. Bandura found that children who had witnessed the model-rewarded or no consequences condition were more likely to imitate observed behaviour than the children who had witnessed the model-punished condition. However, in a second part of the study when children were offered rewards to recall the behaviour witnessed it was found that all three groups scored equally well suggesting that whilst punishment, or the threat of punishment, may stop the copying of acts it does not stop one from learning them. Bandura's study is good because, as a laboratory experiment, it was conducted in a controlled environment and one can easily establish cause and effect. Also there is tight control over extraneous variables. However, the fact that it was a laboratory experiment means that it has low ecological validity. Although it can easily be repeated it was not in a natural setting. The results achieved may also be due to demand characteristics and the ethics of the study are also in question. Should experimenters really encourage acts of violence in children?
There are many studies and examples to indicate that the amount of violence children witness on television or see through other forms of media are reflected in their own levels of aggression and violence. Studies into this include Bandura's Bobo Doll study, Parke's and Leynes' studies into teenage aggression, Black and Bevan's study into violence and the cinema and the St. Helena study. These studies had varying results but on the whole they support the theory that prolonged viewing of violence in the media equates to increased violence and aggression in real life.
Bandura conducted a laboratory experiment to see whether aggressive acts by adults towards a Bobo doll would be copied by the children watching and whether the way in which the adult was treated after, either rewarded, punished or no feedback, would affect the results. Bandura found that children who had witnessed the model-rewarded or no consequences condition were more likely to imitate observed behaviour than the children who had witnessed the model-punished condition. However, in a second part of the study when children were offered rewards to recall the behaviour witnessed it was found that all three groups scored equally well suggesting that whilst punishment, or the threat of punishment, may stop the copying of acts it does not stop one from learning them. Bandura's study is good because, as a laboratory experiment, it was conducted in a controlled environment and one can easily establish cause and effect. Also there is tight control over extraneous variables. However, the fact that it was a laboratory experiment means that it has low ecological validity. Although it can easily be repeated it was not in a natural setting. The results achieved may also be due to demand characteristics and the ethics of the study are also in question. Should experimenters really encourage acts of violence in children?
