Violence in the Media: A Reference Handbook

(Hardback)

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Description

From Mortal Kombat to reality TV, this book offers a candid compilation of the history, problems, impacts, and solutions relating to media violence. By age 18, the average American child will have seen up to 200,000 acts of violence on television, including 16,000 murders. More than 1,000 studies have proven that viewing entertainment violence can increase aggressive attitudes, values, and behavior in children. Is the media really giving the American public what it wants Violence in the Media: A Reference Handbook documents the issues, impact, controversies, and consequences of one of the most insidious phenomena facing American society. With 99 percent of American homes having TV sets, the book's main focus is on television violence and in particular its effects on children, who spend an average of 28 hours a week watching television. A historical synopsis covering early concerns that are still being hotly debated describes congressional hearings and their outcomes, and brief biographies present perspectives on key players like theoretician Albert Bandura and Representative Edward Marke. A discussion of the evidence both supporting and condemning media violence includes its use by perpetrators in the Columbine High School shootings and recent sniper attacks.

Reviews

"This kind of handbook is a great place to begin more in-depth work on a highly controversial subject." - CBQ

Author Bio

Nancy Signorielli, PhD, is professor of communication at the University of Delaware, Newark, DE.