Experiments in Televised Violence and Verbal Aggression: Two Exploratory Studies1

Abstract

Within the scarce literature concerning verbal aggression, there is some indication that verbal and physical aggression may have similar inhibitions conditioned t o each. T w o experiments were carried out to explore this possible relationship. In the first, middle and lower socioeconomic status ( S E S ) adolescent boys were exposed to televised physical aggression with and without consequences to the victim shown. In the second experiment, middle and lower S E S adolescent boys were exposed to televised verbal and physical aggression. For both studies, intensity of post-viewing verbal and physical aggression was measured. The hypothesized relationship between physical and verbal aggression was minimally supported. In only the second study was the previously well documented stimulative effect of zjiewing television violence clearly shown. Several questions are raised and research directions are suggested to better understand verbal aggression as it is related to physical aggression and televised violence,The great mass of recent research on the potential effects of televised violence has been done entirely within the context of physical aggression. Verbal aggression has been completely ignored, both from the standpoint of viewing verbal aggression or from engaging in it as a response to what was viewed. Yet, verbal aggression is frequently televised and is an aggressive response more normative than physical aggression in this society. Two experiments will be reported here, each based on evidence indicating a relationship between verbal and physical aggression. These studies examined the effects of exposure to both types of televised aggression on the aggressive behaviors of youngsters from different social classes.Several researchers have investigated verbal aggression as it relates to physical aggression, with intriguing results. The research teams of Beech and Graham (1967) and Simpson and Craig (1967) independently showed that individuals who are more physically aggressive are also more verbally aggressive. Of more interest, two other investigators achieved some control over physical aggression by influencing the verbal aggressive behavior of subjects. Lovaas (1961) verbally rewarded children for insulting a doll. Subsequently, he noted an increase in the

Violence in Children's Television Programming: Assessing the Risks

“…As noted earlier, research has shown that the depiction of a victim's harm and pain can inhibit the learning of aggression among viewers (Baron, 1971a;1971b;Wotring & Greenberg, 1973). Yet, across several measures, children's shows are less likely than other types of programming to portray the serious consequences of violence.…”

“…In addition, violence that goes unpunished can elevate fear, particularly when it appears to be unjust or random (Bryant et al, 1981). Seventh, the consequences of violence for the victim are important contextual cues; the explicit depiction of a victim's physical harm and pain can decrease or inhibit the learning of aggression among viewers (Baron 1971a(Baron , 1971bWotring & Greenberg, 1973). Finally, violence that is portrayed as humorous may contribute to aggression (Baron, 1978;Berkowitz, 1970), and also may desensitize viewers to the seriousness of such behaviors (Jablonski & Zillmann, 1995), though this particular contextual factor has received the least empirical investigation.…”

Watch Your Mouth! An Analysis of Profanity Uttered by Children on Prime-Time Television

“…Seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade boys did not become more verbally aggressive after exposure to televised verbal aggression (Wotring & Greenberg, 1973). It is doubtful that children under the age of 12 understand sexual language and innuendo; therefore it is unlikely that vulgarities have any negative effects (Donnerstein, Wilson, & Linz, 1992;Jay, 1992).…”

Liberating American Communications: Foreign Ownership Regulations from the Radio Act of 1912 to the Radio Act of 1927

“…For example, exposure to violent media has been associated with beliefs about others' hostility (Carver, Ganellen, Froming, & Chambers, 1983) a willingness to use violence to solve problems (Dominick & Greenberg, 1972), increased verbal aggression in young boys (Wotring & Greenberg, 1973), and immediate (Berkowitz, 1965) as well as delayed (Zillmann & Weaver, 1999) acts of hostility.…”