Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
15:01
Peering into the Dynamics of Social Interactions: Measuring Play Fighting in Rats
Published on: January 18, 2013
Television viewing and aggressive behavior during adolescence and adulthood
Jeffrey G Johnson1, Patricia Cohen, Elizabeth M Smailes
1Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. jjohnso@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 30, 2002
Summary
Excessive television viewing in youth is linked to increased aggressive behavior later in life. This association persists even when controlling for various socioeconomic and psychological factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Media Studies
Background:
- Extensive research has explored the link between media consumption and behavior.
- Previous studies suggest potential correlations between television exposure and aggression, but long-term effects require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal relationship between television viewing habits and aggressive behavior.
- To determine if early and prolonged television exposure predicts later aggression in a community sample.
Main Methods:
- A community-based sample of 707 individuals was followed over a 17-year period.
- Data on television viewing and aggressive acts were collected and statistically analyzed.
- The study controlled for confounding variables including prior aggression, neglect, socioeconomic status, and psychiatric conditions.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between the duration of television viewing during adolescence and early adulthood and subsequent aggressive behavior.
- This correlation remained statistically significant after accounting for a comprehensive list of potential confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Television viewing during formative years is a significant predictor of later aggressive behavior.
- The findings highlight the enduring impact of early media habits on adult conduct, independent of other risk factors.
Related Concept Videos
01:47Aggression
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...
02:04Bullying
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is bullying.
01:16Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Latency
Following the phallic stage in Freud's theory of psychosexual development, children enter a phase called the latency period, which lasts from approximately six to twelve years of age. Unlike earlier stages, where sexual impulses played a central role, Freud believed these impulses are repressed during the latency period, becoming part of the unconscious. This stage is often described as a time of psychological calm after the turbulence of the phallic stage.
The latency period is not considered...
The latency period is not considered...
01:14Psychosexual Theory of Development
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the recognition that people have...
01:28Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...