Violence and the Media
Nevertheless there still remains uncertainty about the effects of media violence on real-life violence. The contradictory research which has been carried out can be summarised into six headings:
1.Copycat or imitation – as shown in Badura’s ‘Bobo doll’ experiment – a hypodermic syringe effect occurs when exposed to media violence
2.Catharsis – media violence reduces real-life violence by providing a fantasy outlet
3.Desensitization – the constant drip-drip of media violence makes people comfortably numb to real-life violence
4. Sensitization – media exposure to violence makes people more sensitive and therefore more intolerant of real-life violence
5. Media violence causes psychological disturbance in children – media violence causes long-term nightmares, anxiety and depression in children
6. Exaggeration of the fear of violence – constant exposure to media violence cause people to overestimate their risk in becoming a victim of real-life violence
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