Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Media Violence And Judgments Of Offensiveness: A Quantitative And Qualitative Analysis, Sarah M. Coyne, Mark A. Callister, Douglas A. Gentile, Emily Howard

Faculty Publications

Although many studies examine the behavioral effects of viewing media violence, there is little research on whether such violence is perceived as offensive to viewers. Accordingly, the current study examines whether media violence is offensive to viewers and whether feelings of offense mediate the relationship between viewing media violence and aggressive behavior. Participants consisted of 1,429 emerging adults from 2 different Universities in the United States. Results revealed that compared with other content in the media, media violence is perceived as relatively inoffensive. Certain situational (context, genre, and type of violence) and viewer characteristics (gender and religiosity) influenced feelings of …

Two Sides To The Same Coin: Relational And Physical Aggression In The Media, Sarah M. Coyne, Laura Stockdale, David A. Nelson

Faculty Publications

Purpose - This review aims to examine how aggression is portrayed in the media and how it can influence behavior and attitudes regarding aggression.

Design/methodology/approach - The authors reviewed the relevant literature and examined both physical and relational forms of aggression in multiple media forms (television, film, video games, music, books).

Findings - Across media types, evidence is found that both physical and relational aggression are portrayed frequently and in ways that may contribute to subsequent aggression. Furthermore, though there are studies finding no effect of exposure to media aggression, evidence is found that watching physical and relational aggression in …

Relational Aggression Among Students, Ellie L. Young, David A. Nelson, America B. Hottle, Brittney Warburton, Bryan K. Young

Faculty Publications

Some types of bullying are harder to spot than physical aggression, but they still damage students' self-esteem and impede academic success.

Proactive, Reactive, And Romantic Relational Aggression In Adulthood: Measurement, Predictive Validity, Gender Differences, And Association With Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Dianna Murray-Close, Jamie M. Ostrov, David A. Nelson, Nicki R. Crick, Emil F. Coccaro

Faculty Publications

The psychometric properties of a recently introduced adult self-report of relational aggression are presented. Specifically, the predictive utility of proactive and reactive peer-directed relational aggression, as well as romantic relational aggression, are explored in a large (N = 1387) study of adults. The measure had adequate reliability and validity and the subscales demonstrated unique predictive abilities for a number of dependent variables. In particular, reactive but not proactive relational aggression was uniquely associated with history of abuse, hostile attribution biases, and feelings of distress regarding relational provocation situations. Reactive relational aggression was also more strongly related to anger and …

The Effects Of Viewing Physical And Relational Aggression In The Media: Evidence For A Cross-Over Effect, Sarah M. Coyne, David A. Nelson, Frances Lawton, Shelly Haslam, Lucy Rooney, Leigh Titterington, Hannah Trainor, Jack Remnant, Leah Ogunlaja

Faculty Publications

Research has shown that viewing violence in the media can have a profound impact on aggressive thoughts and behaviors. However, the impact of viewing relational aggression in the media has rarely been examined. This paper presents the results of an experimental study that examines the impact of viewing relational and physical aggression in the media on subsequent aggression. In this study, adult females were shown video clips containing no-aggression, relational aggression, or physical aggression. Their aggressive behavior was measured through the use of a competitive reaction time task (physical aggression) and evaluations of a confederate of the experiment (relational aggression). …

Intent Attributions And Aggression: A Study Of Children And Their Parents, David A. Nelson, Carianne Mitchell, Chongming Yang

Faculty Publications

This research aimed to further clarify the relationship between children’s self-reported hostile intent attributions (for ambiguous instrumental or relational provocations) and peer-reported aggression (physical and relational) in 500 fourth-grade children. In addition, we examined whether parents’ intent attributions might predict children’s intent attributions and aggression. Both parents (mothers and fathers) in 393 families completed intent attribution questionnaires. Results showed, consistent with past research, that boys’ instrumental intent attributions were related to physical aggression. Children’s relational intent attributions, however, were not associated with relational aggression. Contrary to expectations, most children responded with hostile intent attributions for relational provocations. Finally, in regard …

Overt And Relational Aggression In Russian Nursery-School-Age Children: Parenting Style And Marital Linkages, Craig H. Hart, David A. Nelson, Clyde C. Robinson, Susanne Frost Olson, Mary Kay Mcneilly-Choque

Faculty Publications

Maternal and paternal parenting styles and marital interactions linked in childhood aggressive behavior as described in Western psychological literature were measured in an ethnic Russian sample of 207 families of nursery-school-age children. Results corroborated and extended findings from Western samples. Maternal and paternal coercion, lack of responsiveness, and psychological control (for mothers only) were significantly correlated with children's overt aggression with peers. Less responsiveness (for mothers and fathers) and maternal coercion positively correlated with relational aggression. Some of these associations differed for boys versus girls. Marital conflict was also linked to more overt and relational aggression for boys. When entered …