Psychological Development and Education ›› 2014, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 185-192.

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The Impact of Violent Media on Aggression——The Role of Normative Belief and Empathy

DUAN Dong-yuan1, ZHANG Xue-min1,2, WEI Liu-qing3, ZHOU Yi-bin4, LIU Chang5   

  1. 1. Beijing Normal University, School of Psychology, Beijing 100875, China;
    2. State Key Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing 100875, China;
    3. Henan Institute of Sport Science, Zhengzhou 450044, China;
    4. Fuzhou University，Department of Psychology，Fuzhou 350108;
    5. Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University，USA 190191
  • Online:2014-03-15 Published:2014-03-15

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Abstract: Given its accessibility and wide influence on youth, media violence has become a controversial topic. Abundant research has identified the influence of violent media on aggressive behavior, affirming that being deeply exposed to violent media in long term will increase aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive emotion and physical arousal, thus causing physiological desensitization. In the present study, normative beliefs and empathy are considered to explore the mechanism of how violent media impacts on aggression. Exposure to Violent Media Questionnaire, Aggression Questionnaire, Normative Beliefs about Aggression and Interpersonal Reactivity Index were administered to 680 college students from Beijing, Chengdu and Fuzhou, and 583 of whom provided valid data (280 males and 303 females). Regression analysis and structural equation modeling results were as follows: (1) violent media has significant impact on viewers' aggression and among all of the three types of media, violent video games have the greatest effect size; (2) results show that male subjects use violent media more frequently than female, score higher on normative beliefs about aggression and has more aggressive behaviors; (3) normative belief is not only a significant predictor of aggression, but also act as a mediator between exposure to violent media and aggression, and a mediator between empathy and aggression. Due to its significant effects on aggression, it is worthwhile to come up with policies aimed at changing viewers' normative beliefs about aggression.

Key words: violent media, aggressive behavior, normative beliefs, empathy

CLC Number: 

  • B844.3
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