The effects of violence in music videos on the level of aggression in emotionally disturbed adolescents

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of violent music videos on aggressive behavior in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Associations between male and female responses were investigated as well as responses between high-aggressive and low-aggressive subjects. Subjects were 30 in-patient emotionally disturbed adolescents, 13 to 17 years of age, all of whom served as their own controls. Treatment consisted of the viewing of a violent video with violent lyrics, a violent video without violent lyrics, and a non-violent video. Aggression was measured prior to the treatment with a 23 item True-False questionnaire completed by subjects and behavior rating forms completed by staff. A drum and an integrating sound level meter served as a physical measurement of aggression during the study. Results of the study indicated no significant increase in subjects' level of aggression after viewing the two violent music videos.

Note: violence, music-videos.

Keyword(s): adolescents, aggression, music, video, emotional-disturbance.

Zurück | Weiter