Counters the claim that media violence leads to widespread social aggression. Dispelling this myth through a multiple-method analysis, this work argues that there are, indeed, media effects that derive from media violence, pornography, and other kinds of visual, cyberspace, and print based messages.

Counters the claim that media violence leads to widespread social aggression. Dispelling this myth through a multiple-method analysis, this work argues that there are, indeed, media effects that derive from media violence, pornography, and other kinds of visual, cyberspace, and print based messages.

Freedman argues that scientific evidence does not support the notion that TV and film violence causes aggression in children or in anyone else. A provocative challenge to the accepted norms in media studies and psychology.

This definitive examination of this important social topic asks questions such as: How much media violence is there? What are the meanings conveyed in the way violence is portrayed? What effect does it have on viewers?Divided into four parts, the book covers: a review of research on media violence; re-conceptions of exisiting theories of media violence; addresses the need to rethink the methodological tools used to assess media violence; and introduces the concept of Lineation Theory, a perspective for thinking about media violence and a new theoretical approach explaining it.

The existing literature is indicative of the fact that violence has been rooted in the mass media like never before and with the growing advancement technological advancement children and adolescents spend considerable amount of time exposed to such violence through various sources of media. In order to address this growing concern, this study analyses the impact of media violence exposure on the development of aggressive feelings, thoughts and behavior in children and youth. The content analysis of TV shows, movies and video games as most commonly used sources of media have been analyzed along with the studies that show rapid increase in violent behavior after being exposed to virtual violence. It also explores the neurophysiological perspectives by analysing the consequences of exposure to violent media on adolescents' brain through neuroimaging. Although limited research has been conducted in this field, but the empirical evidence demonstrates an alteration in the prefrontal mechanisms after exposure to violent media, that are responsible for controlling emotion and behavior leading to aggression. Based on the current longitudinal research, it is also observed that excessive exposure to media violence makes the youth less emotional and desensitized towards real life violence which ultimately leads to aggressive behavior and have negative long-term effects on the brain. Future research should integrate other risk factors and research paradigms in order to have a more comprehensive picture with continuous development in next generations' media technology and changing horizons of violence.

The scientific evidence does not support the notion that TV and film violence cause aggression in children or in anyone else. So argues Jonathan Freedman, based on his findings that far fewer than half of the scientific studies have found a causal connection between exposure to media violence and aggression or crime. In fact, Freedman believes that, taken to a more controversial extreme, the research could be interpreted as showing that there is no causal effect of media violence at all. Media Violence and its Effect on Aggression offers a provocative challenge to the accepted norms in media studies and psychology. Freedman begins with a comprehensive review of all the research on the effect of violent movies and television on aggression and crime. Having shown the lack of scientific support for the prevailing belief that media violence is connected to violent behaviour, he then explains why something that seems so intuitive and even obvious might be incorrect and goes on to provide plausible reasons why media violence might not have bad effects on children. He contrasts the supposed effects of TV violence on crime with the known effects of poverty and other social factors, and discusses the difference between television advertising, which, he argues, does have an effect, and violent programs, which do not. Freedman concludes by noting that in recent years television and films have been as violent as ever and violent video games have become more and more popular, yet during this period there has been a dramatic decrease in violent crime. He argues that this makes it highly implausible that media violence causes aggression or crime.

Via 134 signed entries, this encyclopedia provides students, researchers, and the general public with an accessible, comprehensive, and well-balanced eviddence-based examination of theory, research and debates related to media violence. Entries conclude with Cross-References and Suggestions for Further Readings to guide users to related entries and resources for further research, and a thematic Reader’s Guide in the front matter groups related entries by topic to make it easier for users to locate related entries of interest.