Biological explanation of aggression is the instinct theory was the first which explained aggression as a built up of energy within us and have to be released (Freud, 1930), but was later revised as a more rational instinct. This could mean that aggression isn’t ‘caused’ by the media.
Aggressive-cue theory, also known as cue-arousal theory, which explains that frustration leads to aggression when goal-directed (Berkowitz, 1962). This theory is an improvement from the frustration-hypothesis hypothesis by Dollard et al. Video games can be explained to lead to aggression when there is competition, such research as Anderson and Ford (1986, as cited in Williams & Clippinger, 2002, p. 498) found ‘even mildly aggressive video games led to increased levels of aggression’. Although, Scott (1995) used three variations of aggressive video games on one hundred and seventeen university students, and found no linear pattern on the results.
Zillman’s (1979, 1988 as cited in Hogg & Vaughan, 2008, p. 452) excitation-transfer model explains aggression by an individual interpreting the source of arousal and the aggressive response seems to be appropriate for the individual. This theory may show to exaggerate the role of arousal in which the individual responds to.
Social learning theory is described by an individual learning the behaviour seen and imitating the behaviour from a model, then either rewarded or punished for their actions (Bandura, 1961, 1973). This can be explained by the famous study by Bandura called ‘Bobo Doll’ (Bandura, Ross and Ross, 1963). This showed that children are readily to imitate an adult being aggressive from either a live setting or on a videotape. Although, the social learning theory shows that there are distinction between the bobo doll and real life child. A child was easily to replicate the violence to the doll than a real child. There is more evidence for television violence such as the St. Helena Study (Charlton, 1998) showing when a television is introduced on an island and levels of aggression was measured before and after the research. There was no evidence that suggested that television increased the individual’s level of aggression. Although Joy et al (1986), managed to use a small Canadian town unable to receive signal for their televisions, and found that television did have an increase in aggression after receiving the television signal again.
There are other factors researchers need to know when they do research that could take place which increase the likelihood of individuals being aggressive with or without the media involved. Personality is one factor, to show aggression can be developed over years and become a stable behavioural pattern. Type A personality suggests people with this personality are over-active and are competitive with others, unlike Type B who are relaxed, patient and easy-going (Carver & Glass, 1978 cited in Hogg & Vaughan, 2008, p. 456). Gender is another big factor, are females more aggressive than males? Or are males more aggressive than females? Research has confirmed that men are likely to be more physically violent whilst women are more likely to use verbal attack (Eagly & Steffen, 1986; Harris, 1992 cited in Hogg & Vaughan, 2008, p. 457). Disinhibition can explain aggression as reason to be unable to control the impulsive response to a situation. For example, alcohol or drugs can take disinhibitioning effect, which can explain individual’s aggression. There are situational factors that can explain an individual’s level of aggressive behaviour, such as crowding and heat. Crowding can be explained as a subjective state and is generally characterised by feeling that one’s personal space has been encroached (Hogg & Vaughan, 2008).
There are a number of theories and research that can help to explain whether media violence makes people aggressive, but all of them don’t fully explain whether media violence causes the aggression. Aggression can be taken in different forms so would be hard to generalise to all forms of aggression of what the theorist or the research evidence says to an individual. The exposure to the violence shows that some viewers will be affected some of the time. Although, exposure to media violence alone would not be sufficient to explain if it makes an individual aggressive. It depends on the individual, on how much violence is watched, the exact content, who they watch the content with, their family lifestyle, the society in which they live, and many others.
References
Bandura, Albert, Ross, Dorothea, & Ross, Sheila A. (1961). Transmission of aggressions through imitation of aggressive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575-582. Retrieved December 07, 2008, from
Berkowitz, L. (1962) Aggression: a social psychological analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Charlton, T. (1998). Reproaching television for violence in society: passing the buck? Interim results from a naturalistic study in St Helena, South Atlantic. Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine, 5, 169-171.
Hogg, M.A. & Vaughan, G.M. (2008) Social psychology: 5th edition. London: Pearson.
Joy, L.A., M.M. Kimball and M.L. Zabrack. (1986) Television and children's aggressive behaviour. In T.M. Williams (Ed.), The Impact of Television: A Natural Experiment in Three Communities. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Scott, D. (1995). The effect of video games on feelings of aggression. The Journal of Psychology, 129(2), 121–132.
Williams, R.B. & Clippinger, C.A. (2002). Aggression, competition and computer games: computer and human opponents, Computers in Human Behavior, 18, 495–506.
