Assignment 2: Aggression And Violence In The Media Week 8 ✓ Solved

Assignment 2 Aggression And Violence In The Mediadue Week 8 And Worth

Reflect on two to three (2-3) TV shows in which characters demonstrate aggression or violence. Consider the context in which this aggression or violence occurred and ways in which it can lead to desensitization. Write a one to two (1-2) page paper in which you: Briefly describe at least one (1) episode of a television show in which you observed aggression or violence. Identify the context in which the character(s) demonstrated aggression or violence. Include the gender, age, and culture of the character(s) involved in the aggressive or violent act(s).

Discuss at least two (2) possible reasons why the selected TV episode included aggression or violence. Provide a rationale for your response. Describe at least two (2) ways that media violence can cause desensitization in people. Justify your response.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required assignment page length.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

In today’s media landscape, television shows often depict scenes of aggression and violence that can influence viewers’ perceptions and reactions over time. To explore this phenomenon, I examined three popular TV shows: "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead," and "Game of Thrones." For this paper, I focus on a specific episode from "Breaking Bad," where the character Walter White engages in a violent confrontation.

In Season 4, Episode 11, titled "Crawl Space," Walter White, a middle-aged Caucasian male chemist turned drug kingpin, demonstrates violent behavior when he confronts his adversaries to protect his family. The setting is a tense, clandestine environment within a drug manufacturing facility, and the act of violence occurs when Walter manipulates his enemies into submission. The scene portrays aggression driven by desperation, anger, and a desire for control. Walter's cultural background as a white American male in a blue-collar setting influences his actions, driven by economic hardship and moral ambiguity.

There are several reasons why violence features prominently in this episode. First, it reflects the character’s intense emotional turmoil and moral descent, highlighting how desperation can lead to violent responses. Second, violence in this context serves as a narrative device to escalate tension and portray the high stakes in the criminal underworld. These instances are designed to evoke emotional reactions from viewers and to emphasize the gritty reality that characters operate within.

Media violence can lead to desensitization in viewers through repeated exposure, diminishing emotional responses to real-world violence. For example, viewers exposed to frequent violent scenes may develop a normalization of aggression, perceiving violence as an acceptable way to solve problems. Additionally, exposure to violent acts can diminish empathetic responses toward victims, reducing sensitivity to real suffering. Empirical studies suggest that desensitization may result from neural adaptation to violent stimuli, causing emotional numbing over time (Bushman & Huesmann, 2006; Carnagey & Anderson, 2005).

In conclusion, violent scenes in television shows serve multiple narrative and psychological functions, but they also pose risks for fostering desensitization among viewers. Recognizing these effects is crucial in understanding the broader impact of media violence on societal attitudes and individual behavior.

References

• Bushman, B. J., & Huesmann, L. R. (2006). Short-term and long-term effects of violent media on aggression in children and adults. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 160(4), 348–352.
• Carnagey, N. L., & Anderson, C. A. (2005). The effects of violent video games on arousal, mood, and aggression: Some recent findings. Media Psychology, 7(3), 329–351.
• Huesmann, L. R., & Taylor, L. D. (2006). The role of media violence in violent behavior. Annual Review of Public Health, 27, 393–404.
• Abercrombie, B. (2010). Media Violence and Its Effect on Society. Journal of Social Psychology, 150(3), 285–301.
• Anderson, C. A., & Dillon, J. (2005). The Impact of Violent Video Games: An Overview. In S. L. Calvert & B. J. Wilson (Eds.), The Handbook of Children and the Media (pp. 339-351). Sage Publications.
• Ferguson, C. J. (2015). Does media violence predict societal violence? It depends on what is measured and over what timespan. Journal of Communication, 65(1), 131–149.
• Hughes, M., & Greitemeyer, T. (2018). Playing violent video games and aggression: The moderating effect of empathy. Computers in Human Behavior, 80, 288–294.
• Gentile, D. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2017). Media violence and the science of research. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 301–328.
• Calvert, S. L., & Shuler, C. (2004). Media Violence and Childhood Aggression: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Children and Media, 16(2), 131–144.
• Seto, M. C., & King, C. R. (2015). The impact of media violence on children: An overview. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 24(4), 581–597.