In a recent commentary, Jonathan Freedman says that TV violence does not cause real violence. I include an excerpt:
It is unfortunate that the Federal Communications Commission has recently concluded that exposure to media violence increases aggression. Despite what the report says, the scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that exposure to media violence causes people to be aggressive. This was true in 1984 when I published my first review of this literature; it was true in 2002 when I published my comprehensive review of the research; and it is true now. Those who propose that media violence causes aggression have greatly overstated the results of the research, and have generally ignored findings that contradict their views.
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To summarize: The FCC report is not based on a thorough, objective review of the scientific research. It has reached conclusions that may be politically expedient but are not justified by the scientific research. The fact is simple: there is no convincing evidence that exposure to any form of media violence causes people to become more aggressive and none at all that it causes them to commit violent crimes.
I find it easy to believe, because violent crime existed long before media. We do not copy violence in the media. Rather, the media copies the violence in us.
What do you think?
