Media violence enhances violent behavior

NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. study provides new evidence that violent media does indeed impact adolescent behavior, a researcher said.

Lead author Paul Boxer of Rutgers University said the findings show that even when other factors are considered, such as academic skills, community violence or emotional problems, "childhood and adolescent violent media preferences contributed significantly to the prediction of violence and general aggression."

Although a relationship between media violence and violent behavior has been acknowledged for about 40 years, much of the research was usually done in a laboratory setting rather than in the field, with very little emphasis on documenting links between media violence and actual engagement in serious violent and antisocial behavior, Boxer said.

Because violence is a "multiply determined behavior," Boxer and the research team collected data on several risk factors for aggression to examine whether violent media exposure has an impact on behavior even when those other influences are present.

The study, scheduled to be published in the February issue of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, found that even in conjunction with other factors, the research shows that media violence does enhance violent behavior.

"On average, adolescents who were not exposed to violent media are not as prone to violent behavior," Boxer said in a statement.