Having a precise definition of aggression is important as it affects the way behaviours are

inspected. Research on media violence’s effects on physical aggression pivots on the

presentation of physical violence ignoring the reality that physical violence is not the only form

of aggression shown on television. Indirect (gossiping etc..) and direct (relationship withdraw

threats) relational aggression are the more common forms presented on television yet are widely

ignored. 90% of programmes on UK television portrayed forms of indirect aggression shown to

be rewarding and justified when performed by attractive characters. Consistently, it’s appropriate

to theorise that individual are learning relational aggression from exposure to such media.

Limited evidence indicates exposure to indirect aggression leads to such aggression. Coyne,

Archer, and Eslea (2004) exposed adolescence to video portraying various types of aggression.

      When the opportunity arose to aggress relationally indirectly, participants were exposed

to any form of aggression or more aggressive with the same stimulus compared to the control

group. The results were astounding as the hypothesis was that viewing indirect aggression would

cause indirect aggression. Their study introduced a crossover effect which has also been found in

other studies: people exposed to physical aggression were also relationally aggressive. This

crossover effect disproves critics who argue that exposure to physical aggression has no

subsequent effect on the populace. It could be that for most individual’s expressions of

aggression are indirect.  The alternative crossover effect is untested but would provide evidence

for relational aggression exposure leading to enactment of physical aggression. The general

aggression model (GAM) claims in memory cognitive scripts aids in interpreting and guiding

human behaviour. Exposure to violence should lead to activation of aggressive scripts.

    With the inclusion of physical and relational aggression accompanied by the opportunity

for participants to enact either form after media exposure, this study builds on existing literature
regarding the alternative crossover effect. Based on GAM, the hypothesis was that following

exposure to Physical and relational aggression in the media, fixed and generalised aggression

would be observed. 

      Initially, 60 undergraduate female students with the mean age of 23.13 were recruited.

Screenings yielded 53 participants. Three were eliminated for considerable absent data and three

for demonstrating suspicion. Remaining participants were split in groups consisting of 17 for

relational and physical aggression conditions while nonaggressive and relational conditions

contained 18.

    Participants were approached under the guise of the historical female heroine portrayals

in television and film. They completed an attitude questionnaire and were subsequently informed

about the viewing of a 10-to-15-minute clip from a certain time period. Participants filled out the

Richardson Conflict Response Questionnaire (RCRQ). Richardson & Green (2003) created the

(RCRQ) to measure prior direct and relational (indirect) aggressive behaviour. The motive

behind the questionnaire is to control prior aggressiveness in ensuing evaluations.

Participants were exposed to one of three videos then completed a questionnaire regarding

biographical data as well as their thoughts on the topic of the cover story. After this, they were

led to believe the study was complete.

   Experimenter then enticed them to participate in another study occurring next door.

Participants and then met a new confederate who hosted the remainder of the study.  The

confederate guided the participant through a three-minute puzzle completion task which included

10 advanced Raven, Court, and Raven’s (1983) matrices while nonchalantly analysing

completion speed. The confederate undertook antagonistic behaviours to incite aggression.

Participants then partook in a paradigm often used to measure physical aggression after exposure
to televised violence which was a competitive reaction time test (CRT). CRT consisted of a

button pushing contacts where the participants were told to complete a 25-trial task. Participants

had to choose from 10 noise levels ranging from 0 to 105 dB along with 10 noise durations

ranging from zero to five seconds as a punishment to their opponent for a slow reaction time

following the guidelines of Bushman (1995).

      As per Buss’s (1961) ten question evaluation on ten-point likert-type scale (with higher

scores equaling greater competence) to reflect gossiping in a laboratory setting; participants

filled out evaluation form for experimenters under the guise of them being used as part of an

employment recruiting process. Finally, participants were debriefed.

This study was gender constant as all personnel involved were women. It also used popular films

rather than prefabricated footage.

     This study was an experimental study. This is due to the fact that participants had no idea

the researcher’s true intentions. Also, that these events were stimulated. Participants thought that

it was real; it wasn't solely survey based.  The effects observed from the results of this study

were short term. The results of this study expanded on the GAM. This means its integrating fixed

and general scripts as routes to the possibility of aggressive outcomes. Exposure to aggression in

the media amplifies aggressive behaviour contrary to what’s shown. Subsequently the results

supported other research claiming physical aggression is amplified after exposure to physical

violence in the media. The study also concluded that exposure to physical aggression in the

media induced other forms of aggression. The main weakness of this experiment is that it only

included women, but that is also its greatest strength. Studies regarding aggression often solely

focus on men. The statistical analysis doesn't leave room for other explanations aside from the

conclusion the authors stated.

    This study is a warning to everyone. When it comes to aggression the conversation

almost always solely focuses on men’s behaviour. There's a tendency to exclude women from

those conversations simply because they’re supposed to be nurturing, kind, emotional, tender

etc... Women are just as capable of aggression as men. Considering how society conditions and

subsequently expresses toxically amplified qualities such as assertiveness, aggression, strength

etc…. Resulting in the effects of this study are likely amplified when observed in men.

Citation

Coyne, S. M., Nelson, D. A., Lawton, F., Haslam, S., Rooney, L., Titterington, L., Trainor, H.,

Remnant, J., & Ogunlaja, L. (2008, July 18). The effects of viewing physical and relational

aggression in the media: Evidence for a cross-over effect. Journal of Experimental Social

Psychology.