Citation

Scharrer E, Leone R. Mass Commun. Soc. 2006; 9(3): 261-286.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1207/s15327825mcs0903_1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examines 3rd-person perception--the idea that individuals think others are more susceptible to negative media influence than they are themselves--in the survey responses of 118 6th and 7th graders. Results show these early adolescents think that others of the same age and younger others are more susceptible to aggression, desensitization, and mean world syndrome effects of playing violent video games than they are. The 3rd-person perceptual gaps were greater for aggression effects compared to other types and for self compared to younger rather than same-age others. Finally, the potential of 2 variables--the amount of exposure to video games and the degree of liking of video games--to impact third-person perceptions is examined, with findings showing limited support.