Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
09:12
The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
Profanity in media associated with attitudes and behavior regarding profanity use and aggression
Sarah M Coyne1, Laura A Stockdale, David A Nelson
1School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. smcoyne@byu.edu
Pediatrics
|October 19, 2011
Summary
Media profanity exposure is linked to adolescent beliefs and behaviors, including aggression. Attitudes toward profanity mediate this relationship, highlighting potential impacts on youth.
Area of Science:
- Media Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Adolescent media consumption is extensive.
- The influence of media profanity on youth behavior is a growing concern.
- Previous research suggests potential links between media exposure and aggressive tendencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct relationship between media profanity exposure and adolescent beliefs/behaviors concerning profanity.
- To examine the indirect relationship between media profanity exposure and adolescent aggressive behavior.
- To test the mediating role of attitudes toward profanity in these associations.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 223 middle school adolescents.
- Participants completed self-report questionnaires on media exposure, profanity attitudes and behaviors, and aggression.
- Statistical analyses examined associations and mediation effects.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between media profanity exposure and profanity beliefs, profanity use, and physical/relational aggression.
- Adolescent attitudes toward profanity significantly mediated the relationship between media profanity exposure and subsequent profanity use and aggression.
- The findings support the hypothesis that media profanity influences adolescent attitudes and behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the hypothesis that media profanity exposure is associated with adolescent profanity beliefs and behaviors, including aggression.
- Findings have implications for media rating systems and public health initiatives aimed at mitigating negative effects of media content on youth.
- Further research is recommended to explore longitudinal effects and intervention strategies.
More Related Videos
06:39Electroencephalographic, Heart Rate, and Galvanic Skin Response Assessment for an Advertising Perception Study: Application to Antismoking Public Service Announcements
Published on: August 28, 2017
11:01Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
Published on: December 14, 2014
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...
01:21Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
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.
01:28Conduct 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;...
01:27Punishment
Negative reinforcement and punishment are often confused but serve distinct functions in behavior modification. Reinforcement, whether positive or negative, increases the likelihood of a desired behavior, while punishment decreases it.
Punishment can be positive or negative. Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus, such as scolding, to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus, such as taking away a favorite toy, to decrease behavior.
Punishment can be positive or negative. Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus, such as scolding, to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus, such as taking away a favorite toy, to decrease behavior.
01:21Behavior Modification
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...