Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: This study addresses the question of “why individuals are attracted to media violence” by examining relations between media violence use across generations and across modalities, i.e., passive and active media (e.g., television vs. video games) Using structural equation modeling and data from a study of 335 families, we examine relations between two generation’s preferences for violent passive and violent interactive media. Violent television viewing by the first generation positively predicts violent television viewing by both genders in the second generation, but does not predict violent video game playing in either gender. Although males in the second generation prefer more violent television shows and video games than females, liking for violent television viewing is positively correlated with liking for violent video games in both genders. These results suggest that there are characteristic individual differences in preferences for violent media that are transmitted across generations but that depend on availability of media.