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Abstract
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The past decade has seen an accumulation of evidence that TV viewing influences beliefs about social reality, particularly in areas related to violence. Detailed content analyses of the portrayal of aggression on North American television were conducted in an attempt to document some of the symbolic messages in television content and the extent to which those messages vary according to program category. The TV sample analyzed consisted of 109 programs (81 hours) chosen on the basis of audience viewing figures; 76% were produced in the U.S.A. and 22% in Canada. An average of 9 acts of physical aggression and 7.8 acts of verbal aggression per program hour were observed, but both type and rate of aggression varied by program category. Other methods of conflict resolution occurred rarely, and few witnesses sought alternatives to aggression. Less than 2% of the aggression observed was accidental, and most (69%) was incidental to the plot. Aggression, especially verbal abuse, was often portrayed as humorous, and there was little evidence of consequences. Some differences between Canadian and U.S. programming were noted. The possibility of using schema theory to understand the role of television in the development of beliefs about social reality is explored.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The authors examined the portrayal of aggression in North American television and analyzed this portrayal using schema theory in order to better understand the role television played in building beliefs concerning social reality.
METHODOLOGY:
The authors conducted content analyses on one hundred and nine programs selected on the basis of audience viewing figures. The authors investigated fifteen percent of the most popular programs for two separate weeks. Seventy-six percent of these shows were produced in the United States and twenty-two percent of the programs were produced in Canada. Coding was completed by six coders who received extensive training. The programs were coded to record data on general messages, character portrayal, context, setting of the program, incidents of conflict, and conflict resolution. The authors developed the coding format borrowing some items from Gerbner. Intercoder reliability was tested by coding fifteen percent of the programs twice.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The findings supported previous analyses of aggression portrayals on North American television. The authors used schema theory to argue that television influenced viewers' beliefs about social reality, where violence and personal mistrust was prevalent. Both verbal aggression and physical aggression were frequently portrayed on the shows analyzed. The authors pointed out that previous research has shown that television influenced verbal aggression in elementary school boys and girls. Aggression was found to be portrayed more than lesser forms of conflict. Aggression was usually depicted as a successful means of conflict resolution. Lastly, twenty-five percent of aggressive incidents were portrayed as humans, and twenty-five percent of the programs conveyed the message, "The world is a dangerous place to be."
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
It has been suggested that it was important to understand the relationship between television and other experiences in the development of beliefs about social reality. This study suggested that researchers needed to establish the presence of symbolic messages in television content, make content and viewing measures more specific than has been the case to date, and pay more attention to the processes involved in using television to construct social reality.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - US
KW - Canada
KW - Countries Other Than USA
KW - Television Violence
KW - Media Violence Effects
KW - Program-Film Content
KW - Aggression
KW - Television Viewing
KW - Physical Aggression
KW - Verbal Aggression
KW - Socially Approved Violence
KW - Social Perceptions
KW - Exposure to Violence |