Violence on Television: 1968-1998

Leonard Eron Longitudinal Studies, 1963-1993

• Long-term study over 30+ years, began in 1963.
• 856 third-graders, and their teachers and parents.
• controlled for childhood aggressiveness, social class, intelligence and parenting style
• 20s: twice as likely to push, grab or shove their spouses; three times as likely to be convicted of criminal behavior.

Surgeon General's Report: 1972

1. Television content is heavily saturated with violence.
2. Children and adults are spending more and more time watching this content.
3. There is some evidence that on balance viewing violent television entertainment increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior among viewers.

National Institute of Mental Health: 1982

1. Observational learning
2. Attitude change
3. Arousal process
4. Justification process

National Television Violence Study: 1998

"High Risk" Context for Negative Media Effects

1. A perpetrator who is an attractive role model.
2. Violence that seems justified.
3. Violence that goes unpunished.
4. Minimal consequences to the victims.
5. Violence that seems realistic to the viewer.