Violence for Entertainment:
The Consequences of Popular Violent Movies
Violent movies were the most consistently high grossing films in 2016. In fact, according to the Annual Movie Chart-2016, 6 out of the top 10 highest grossing movies were violent, including: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Deadpool, and Captain America: Civil War (2016.) Many superhero movies were at the top of the list and contained copious amounts of violence. Interestingly, violent movies like these might have effects on those under twenty years of age, but what are those effects? Research suggests that there are behavioral effects, cognitive effects, and increased desensitization in children and adolescents that view violent movies.
Interestingly, young people seem to prefer violent movies over movies of other types. According to a study conducted by P. Tripathy in India, the majority of those questioned liked seeing their action movie heroes with weapons, and that 55% of those questioned thought movies without violence were boring. Furthermore, according to the researchers in this study, violent movies may be the main ingredient that cause young people to become violent. This study provided evidence that violent movies were the preferred type of movie among young people, and that young people like to copy the actors and actresses in action movies. (Tripathy, Maharana, & Gochhait, 2015, p. 427.) This study may provide strong evidence that young people prefer violent movies over other types, and that they go on to imitate violent behavior learned from those movies. Therefore, one of the effects that violent movies have on young people in today’s society is that they make them want more violence, which in turn makes them more violent.
One of the main effects violent movies have on people younger than 20 seems to be an increase in aggressive behavior. In one study conducted in 2013 in Pakistan by Noshina SaleemSarfraz, Pakistani teenagers that showed delinquent behavior were surveyed about their views on violent movies. Like the aforementioned study, this study stated that violent movies could increase the imitation of violent movie heroes. The study then went on to say that movies may have these effects on adolescents because they teach them through social learning that violence is positive. The young consumers may then go on to model this behavior that they see as positive. SaleemSarfraz (2013) also stated, “exposure to action movies affects the juvenile's mindset more than their family's economic condition.” and, “parental disputes don't have any significant impact on the criminal mind set of their children.” The results also found that those that favor violent movies are more likely to own guns. This data shows that violent movies seem to have more of an effect on delinquent behavior than economic condition and family conflict. It also provides evidence that when young people view violent movies, they may be more likely to idolize violent behavior, recreate it, and use arms. This means that violent movies, which are popular with young people, teach them to behave more violently.
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A classic study on social learning conducted by Albert Bandura showed that children modeled violent behavior after just brief exposure to violence committed by a role model. In the example experiment reference in this textbook, children watched an adult hit, kick, and punch a bobo doll. The children were then put into a room with toys and denied their favorite toy by the researcher to create frustration. The children who watched the adult attack the Bobo doll modeled the behavior of the adults by attacking the doll in the same fashion (Feldman, 2015, p. 190.) This study does not directly mention violent movies, but it could be argued that the characters in movies are role models like the adults in this study. Therefore, children may model the violent behavior they see expressed by heroes in movies. This means that the more violent movie heroes become, the more violent young people and the rest of society as a whole will become.
Furthermore, in an interview with Dr. Jenna Scott, who has many years of experience counseling young clients, she agreed that today’s superhero movies entertain and encourage children to imitate superheroes (2017.) When asked if she thought that younger people see violent characters in movies as role models that they can imitate, she stated (2017), “Often times yes, because even movies focused on “super heroes” have become increasingly violent. For example, Superman was once someone who helped those in need, and now in movies is forced to overcome evil through violent acts (oftentimes murder)” This interview further provides evidence that children imitate violent behavior that the heroes in movies express, which is problematic because it could lead young people to hurt themselves or each other.
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Interestingly, violent movies have more of an effect on children and adolescents than adults. The reason for this is that adults already have schemas, mental folders that store information which helps individuals understand their world, so it is harder for their minds to be altered by stimuli. On the other hand, children absorb knowledge through observational learning, and because they don’t have solid schemas like adults, information more readily becomes foundational. In fact, a study that tested the short term and long term effects of violence on adolescents, found that violence had a greater long term effect on those under 18 years of age than adults. Therefore, when children are exposed to a lot of violence, it is readily learned and recreated. Children that are exposed to violence regularly are more likely to have a long term increase in aggressive cognition and behavior. The researchers go on to explain that young humans readily reenact learned behavior, even if the behavior was learned from the media (Bushman & Huesmann, 2006.) This research shows that viewing violent movies has a greater effect on the young than adults, and that children absorb and retain what they observe in those movies more readily. It also agrees with the aforementioned source, which states that violent movies teach violent behavior. Therefore, children that are exposed to violence are effected negatively more so than adults, and these negative effects are long lasting.
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Behavior is not the only trait that is modified by viewing violent movies. In order for there to be a change in behavior, there needs to first be a change in cognition. In a unique study performed by Mina Haghighhat, Seyed Mosa Tabatabaee, Moazedian Amene, and Mahboobeh sebetimani, changes in aggressive cognitive thought were measured. This study measured the effects of violent movies on seven to eleven-year-old boys by analyzing their drawings after showing them violent movie scenes. The hypothesis of this study stated that after viewing violent movies the boys would draw paintings with bold lines, sharp edges, and use the colors green, red, and black. Furthermore, the results of the experiment showed that the hypotheses were correct (2014, p. 487-493.) This example illustrates that viewing violent movies causes children to express aggression in their unconscious thoughts and subsequently in their drawings. The fact that this study was an experiment means that causality can be confirmed. Furthermore, even though no outward aggression was expressed, there was a marked change in the thoughts of children shown violent movie clips. They drew things with significantly more representations of aggression and violence. This means that even though there isn’t always a marked difference in behavior in young people, there can be hidden cognitive changes that result from viewing violent movies.
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Another disconcerting way that violent movies can effect young people’s mental state is by increasing their anxiety levels. An experiment that set out to prove the causal link between anxiety and violent movies was done in 2013. This experiment set out to discover if there was a relationship between anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate in college students. The researchers showed clips of violent and non-violent movies to the research subjects, and then they analyzed the data. They found that the violent movie clips increased short term anxiety in the subjects. In the conclusion, the researchers stated that this increase in anxiety due to violent movies was problematic because it could interfere with academic performance. (Madan & Wright, 2013.) This discovery is concerning to researchers because it shows that violent movies can have a short-term detrimental effect on the cognition of adolescents, which may hinder their success in college, and thus the job force. Therefore, this short term increase in anxiety after viewing a violent movie may make younger people less productive, which hurts society as a whole.
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On the topic of anxiety being caused by violent movies, Dr. Jenna Scott stated (2017), “I could see anxiety and exposure to violence being correlated. Perhaps it could negatively alter one’s worldview.” Furthermore, Dr. Jenna Scott stated that certain brain structures and chemistry may even be altered by viewing violent movies over time (2017.) Brain chemistry and structure are fundamental aspects of cognition, and changes could lead to problems with cognition that could further harm one’s performance in everyday life; therefore, making society less productive.
One other major negative consequence of young people viewing violent movies is desensitization. In 2009 a study was done by showing participants violent films and then staging the situation of a woman struggling to pick up her crutches outside of the testing center. The results concluded that it took people who viewed the violent movie longer to help her than it did people who did not (Bushman & Anderson, 2009, p. 273-277) This experiment showed that movies are powerful at desensitization. Furthermore, this desensitization can lead people to perceive injuries and pain as less severe than they are and make them feel less personal responsibility to help those that are in pain. Therefore, the young people that regularly view violent movies are less helpful to others in their community because they do not perceive violence, aggression, and pain as perceptively as others.
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In another experiment, researchers showed clips from the movie The Karate Kid and the 1984 Summer Olympic Games to an experimental group. After that, they asked the participants that were part of this experimental group to ‘watch’ other children. Then, the researchers showed the participants a video of children that they were told they were watching. The video was of an increasingly violent fight between two children. None of the participants were distressed by the altercation in the video, and all but one child went to get adult help (Moliter & Hirsch, 1994, p. 191.) The results of this study show that children that are exposed to violent clips are more desensitized to violence, especially child violence, than those who are not. This is troublesome mainly because it means that young children that are desensitized may not be able to interpret dangerous situations, fights, or injuries to be as serious as they are.
Dr. Jenna Scott made an interesting point in an interview about the effects of violent movies on desensitization. She stated that violent films are entertaining and engage certain areas of the brain; However, she also wrote (2017) “If people have been exposed to violent films throughout their life course, they may become desensitized to smaller acts of violence. In turn, it may take more and more violence to entertain these individuals.” This is disconcerting because it means that the more violence that is viewed in violent movies, the more violence it will take to entertain young people. Which means that they will become increasingly tolerant of violence. Furthermore, she stated that violent movies may cause young people to perceive injuries as less severe than they are; However, she also stated that medical advances may be responsible for this as well (2017.) On the other hand, many sources are in agreement that violent movies cause people to perceive injuries as less severe than they actually are, which could lead those that are desensitized to be less helpful to those around them.
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Another experiment specifically showed the effects of violent movies on children with mental disorders. This study illustrated the effects of violent movies on children with psychological disorders, Including: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder. This study examined the effects of violent movies on 38 children between the ages of eight to eleven. The results of this study showed that children with the aforementioned disorders showed more psychopathic responses after seeing violent movie scenes. (Tom Grim Es Eric Vernberg Teresa Ca. 1997, p. 157-168.) This experiment shows the amplified effect of desensitization on children with ADHD, ODD, and CD. Furthermore, Dr Jenna Scott stated, “For example, individuals may be at-risk or show early sign[s] of ODD behaviors, and therefore, may be more likely to be negatively impacted by exposure to violent films. For example, they may model or imitate behaviors seen in the film.” It is important to note that children with these disorders are not as uncommon as they seem, and, based on the evidence, they seem to be more sensitive to the effects of violent movies than others. Therefore, movie violence desensitizes those that struggle with behavioral disorders more than those without disorders, potentially making those disorders worse and making the children that suffer from them more tolerant of violence in the real world.
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In spite of all of the research that proves that violent movies cause aggressive behavior, aggressive and detrimental cognition, and increased desensitization, there are still some people that claim that violent movies don’t effect children and adolescents; some even state that desensitization is good for children. However, according to a recent survey study there is a general consensus among pediatricians, parents, media psychologists, and mass communication experts that violent movies increase aggression in children. According to this survey, pediatricians and parents were the surest that media violence caused real-life violence, unlike media psychologists and mass communication experts who were not in agreement. However, all four of the groups surveyed were in agreement about violent movies causing violence. 38.9% agreed and 32.1% strongly agreed that violent movies cause aggression. On the topic of movie violence increasing aggression, there was a general consensus of agreement from all four groups. The study goes on to state that the reason that there is debate on this topic is because of the uncertain way the media presents information on this topic, because of the fact that the media profits off of young people viewing its products, and because a select few researchers claim that the media does not affect aggression. (Bushman, Gollwitzer, & Cruz, 2015, p 200-214.) Furthermore, Dr. Jenna Scott stated that violent movies are portrayed as harmless because they make money, even though experts agree that they have negative consequences (2017.)
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All of this information pieces together to form a disconcerting conclusion. The most popular movies often have copious amounts of violence which leads viewers to become accustomed to violence, causes them to retain it, and subsequently causes them to recreate it. This means that the more popular violent movies become, the more violent society will become as a result. Desensitization is also proven to be detrimental because it decreases helping behavior in young people and makes them less aware of those in pain. Therefore, violent movies lead to violent actions and thoughts, which leads to desensitization. This reshapes society by making it more violent and less aware of its violence.
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Bibliography
Annual Movie Chart - 2016. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2017, from http://www.the-numbers.com/market/2016/top-grossing-movies
Bushman, B. J., & Anderson, C. A. (2009). Comfortably Numb: Desensitizing Effects of Violent Media on Helping Others. Psychological Science, 20(3), 273-277.
Bushman, B. J., Gollwitzer, M., & Cruz, C. (2015). There is broad consensus: Media researchers agree that violent media increase aggression in children, and pediatricians and parents concur. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 4(3), 200-214.
Bushman, B. J., & Huesmann, L. R. (2006). Short-term and Long-term Effects of Violent Media on Aggression in Children and Adults. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 160(4), 348.
Feldman, R. S. (2015). The Preschool Years. Discovering the Lifespan (3rd ed.). (pp. 190). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.
Haghighat, Mina, Tabatabaee, Seyed Mosa, Amene, moazedian, & Sabetimani, Mahboobeh. (2014). Effects of Violent Movies on Drawing Symbols in Seven to Eleven Years Old Boys. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences; Kladno, 3(3), 487-493.
Scott, J. (2017, February 22). Ten Questions [E-mail interview].
Madan, A., Mrug, S., & Wright, R. A. (2013). The Effects of Media Violence on Anxiety in Late Adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(1).
Moliter, Fred, & Hirsch, K. W. (1994). Children’s Toleration of Real-Life Aggression After Exposure to Media Violence: A Replication of the Drabman and Thomas Studies. Child Study Journal, 24(3), 191.
SaleemSarfraz, N., Mian, A., Hanan, A., & Haroon, S. (2013). Violent Movies and Criminal Behavior of Delinquents. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 33(2).
Tom Grim Es Eric Vernberg Teresa Ca. (1997). Emotionally Disturbed Children's Reactions to Violent Media Segments. Journal of Health Communication, 2(3), 157-168.
Tripathy, P. C., Maharana, K., & Gochhait, S. (2015). Do Violent Movies Create Violence In Youths? - A Study. Journal of Commerce and Management Thought, 6(3), 427.
Project Two Reflection
I thought that project two would be harder than it was, but it was not that difficult after I found my sources. Finding sources was hard because many of my sources were very long, so it took me a long time to read through them and decide if they were good enough. Furthermore, this project made me more comfortable with finding and citing sources. I learned a lot about APA citation style, and, because of this, citing sources no longer seems so daunting. I will need to use APA a lot in the future because I am a pre-Nursing Major, and science majors use APA citation style. I also learned how to use FSU library search engines, which will greatly help me on projects in the future. I did not even know about half of the resources that the library offered until I did this project. I enjoyed this project because I liked learning more about the topic that I was studying. I found a lot of the reasearch from my sources interesting, and never expected some of the results researchers found. For instance, I did not know that children's' drawings could be analyzed to see how violent movies affect their cognition, that watching violent films can increase the likelyhood of owning a gun, and I had no idea that violent movies made people less likely to help injured individuals. All in all, I really learned a lot about how violent movies affect young people, and may be able to use or share this knowledge in the future in order to help people. I can use and share all of this information in my future career as a nurse' it is very important to know about the development of people of all ages in the medical career.