Is Media Violence to Blame?

In the Youth Violence: What We Need to Know reports, the main topic that these psychology professionals are investigating is the relationship between youth and media violence. Essentially what each study is looking at varies from the type of media experienced to the personality type of the child, but overall, the results have shown a increased incident of violence in youth with the increased exposure to media violence. In the first study, Bushman looks at the effects that media violence such as those through video games have on violence and antisocial behavior. Bushman found that youth that are exposed to violent video games are at risk for increased aggressive behavior and thoughts as well as a decrease in prosocial behavior. However, in the second study, Calvert finds that certain types of personalities and genders may be more vulnerable to violent media. For example, males may be more vulnerable due to gender schemas that identify certain acts and traits with masculinity and that situations that reward or don't punish violent act (like video games) can promote the idea that killing is associated with rewards/status. The third study, Downey researched rejection and youth reaction. During this study, he differentiated two categories of youth-the first is the normal reaction that deals with self-regulation and the second are youth that are more sensitive to rejection. He finds that youth that are more sensitive to rejection often find rejection a threat to their self image or identity and lash back/react immediately and without self regulation.

            These studies ultimately reflect the repetition of depiction of youth as both dependent and in need of saving and study by presenting this issue of media violence as something youth have to be saved from. Youth are also depicted as dependent because the studies are suggesting that it is the parent's job and decision as well as the state's responsibility to make sure youth aren't exposed to media violence (whether it is through their rating system or banning violent games all together). Through Bushman's study, it can clearly be seen that there is a fear of another mass murder/youth rampage situation by their example of Columbine, therefore this fear has led to the conclusion that it is the parent's responsibility to keep their children from exposure to violence. However, I feel that the conclusion was misleading in the sense that correlation doesn't mean causation- that even though there is an increase in aggression with the increase of the presence of guns, it doesn't mean the guns caused it. For example, just by having a gun doesn't mean you're bound to be more aggressive just as if you own a vacuum doesn't mean you're more inclined to be clean. Calvert's study even makes a point to say that those few youth that commit violence from media violence is an extreme or outlier in terms of statistics. These two studies are very reminiscent of the fear shown during the youth-as-dangerous time period, where youth are essentially deemed dangerous due to paranoia (in this case from isolated school shootings). Downey study is also reminiscent of Hall's study where he classifies the vulnerable age for rejection sensitivity as adolescence ("storm & stress").

Bushman, Brad J. 2013, "Media Violence and Youth Violence," Pp. 12-13 in Youth Violence: What We Need to Know- Report of the subcommittee on Youth Violence of the Advisory Committee to the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate, National Science Foundation. Washington, D.C.: National Science Foundation

Calvert, Sandra L. 2013. "Youth Violence: Influences of Exposure to Violent Media Content." Pp. 14-15 in Youth Violence: What We Need to Know- Report of the subcommittee on Youth Violence of the Advisory Committee to the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate, National Science Foundation. Washington, D.C.: National Science Foundation

Downey, Geraldine. 2013. "Rejection and Lethal Violence". Pp. 16-17 in Youth Violence: What We Need to Know- Report of the subcommittee on Youth Violence of the Advisory Committee to the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate, National Science Foundation. Washington, D.C.: National Science Foundation