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Related Experiment Videos

Audience effects when viewing aggressive movies.

M Dunand, L Berkowitz, J P Leyens

    The British Journal of Social Psychology
    |February 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary

    Watching violent movies with an active audience increases aggression. The social context, particularly an engaged co-spectator, significantly amplifies aggressive behavior, highlighting social facilitation and disinhibition effects.

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    Area of Science:

    • Social Psychology
    • Media Psychology
    • Behavioral Science

    Background:

    • Filmed violence can instigate aggression.
    • Audience presence is a factor in spectator behavior.
    • Social context influences responses to media.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate audience effects on aggression after viewing filmed violence.
    • To compare the impact of passive versus active confederates.
    • To understand the role of social context in aggression.

    Main Methods:

    • Male subjects viewed either an aggressive or neutral film.
    • Experimental conditions included viewing alone, with a passive confederate, or with an active confederate.
    • Aggression was measured using a modified aggression apparatus.

    Main Results:

    • Filmed violence increased aggression as expected.
    • An active audience significantly amplified aggression compared to viewing alone or with a passive confederate.
    • Subjects with an active confederate during violent films showed the highest aggression.

    Conclusions:

    • The social context is crucial when viewing filmed violence.
    • Active audiences may reduce inhibitions against aggression.
    • Social facilitation and disinhibition explain increased aggression in social settings.

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