Mechanisms driving the effects of violent and non-violent media on aggression and mood

Phillips, Charles Benjamin (2018). Mechanisms driving the effects of violent and non-violent media on aggression and mood. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of violent and non-violent media on aggression and mood. The results of Chapter 3 indicate that viewing violent heroes, rather than violent villains, leads to a greater chance of reactive aggression. Graphic violence portrayals that fostered anger and anxiety inhibited likelihood of aggressive behaviour. Chapter 4 highlighted a significant positive relationship between positive affect and reactive aggression for male participants who viewed a violent hero. The results from chapter 5 demonstrate that positive affect increases after viewing non-violent media correlate with instrumental aggression. Results of chapter 6 indicate that playing a positive affect inducing, non-violent video game led to an increased likelihood of reactive and instrumental aggression. Playing a graphically violent video game did not lead to a aggression. Results of chapter 7 suggest that trait aggression and identification with a violent protagonist predict instrumental aggression in graphically violent video game players. The results of this thesis suggest that for the general population, violent content is not the key characteristic of media that leads to aggression. However, players who enjoy playing graphically violent media and identify with the violent main character may be the most likely to instrumentally aggress.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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