The Killing Screens: Media & the Culture of Violence

Mean world syndrome suggests that, due to our exposure to violent content from today’s mass media, we can be wrongly influenced into thinking that the world is more dangerous than it actually is.

The term was coined by researcher George Gerbner who studies the effects of television on society. He has noted that people who watch a large amount of television tend to think of the world as intimidating and dangerous. People who don’t view much television tend to view the world in a more positive light.

Gerbner has observed that this syndrome has spread as more people view DVDs and online content. Well known studies from the 1930s have showed how influential mass media can be on human behavior. This is called the Hypodermic Model wherein people are injected with messages and ideas constructed by mass media.

Another source of these messages and ideas is, of course, video games. Tests have shown that exposure to violent games clearly increases aggressive thoughts and increases arousal. When presented with images of violence teenagers who were used to playing violent video games were found to show lower hear rates and lower galvanic skin responses than those who had never played such games.

The conclusion of these studies suggest that by presenting violent behavior as normal then there is more chance that a person will employ those behaviors themselves when provoked.

Humans are highly suggestible creatures and the media is a very powerful influence upon us all. If we keep hearing that the world is a dangerous place then this is what we will believe. People who are strongly influenced by violent video games are much more likely to respond violently to real-life confrontations.

Mass media plays an enormous part in the way in which we view the world and modern gaming technology clearly influences those who play violent games.

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