The aim of this thesis is to determine the effects, if any, the violence in reality based programs (i.e. America's Most Wanted and Cops) has on the self-reported aggression of the children that view them. In this study, sixty-five 5th and 6th grade children, were given a baseline measure of aggressiveness and then instructed to view a stimulus tape. Stimulus tapes presented a fight scene in which the aggressor was either rewarded or punished. After viewing the tapes participants completed a number of aggression questionnaires measuring hypothetical situational aggressiveness, approval of aggression, and the perceived effectiveness of aggression. Participants were found to have significantly higher approval of aggression when they viewed the aggressor being rewarded as opposed to being punished.
Samenvatting