Federal School Safety Commission Examines The Link Between Violent Video Games, News And School Violence
Federal School Safety Commission Examines the Link Between Violent Video Games, News and School Violence
During a meeting of the Federal Commission on School Safety in Washington, federal officials were presented with conflicting testimonies regarding the influence of entertainment on school violence. The creation of the commission was prompted by a series of mass school shootings that occurred earlier this year, with the aim of exploring the causes and potential solutions to such violence. Various topics were discussed during the meeting, including cyberbullying and the impact of the 24-hour news cycle. However, the most divisive issue was the role of violent video games in promoting real-life violence, a topic that is often brought up after school shootings.
L. Rowell Huesmann, a professor of psychology and communication studies at the University of Michigan, highlighted the influence of observational learning on people’s behavior. According to him, individuals imitate what they see from a very young age, and exposure to violence in different contexts such as the family, neighborhood, peers, television, movies, and video games can lead to the encoding of violent scripts in the brain. This exposure also influences one’s acceptance of violence as a normative belief. Huesmann further argued that repeated exposure to violence, especially in the family or on television, increases the likelihood of violent behavior in young people, particularly when combined with anger.
On the other hand, Christopher Ferguson, an associate professor of psychology at Stetson University, provided an alternative perspective. He explained that research on the effects of violent media on individual propensity for violence has produced mixed results. Even in studies that found a positive correlation, the effects were deemed insignificant. Ferguson also pointed out that in countries where violent media is consumed at higher rates, there is no proportional increase in real-world violence. In fact, he mentioned that youth homicides in the United States have decreased as the consumption of violent media has increased.
Confirmation bias was discussed as a common occurrence after mass shootings. When the shooter is a young male, people tend to focus on movies and video games as potential causes, while overlooking those factors when the shooter is an older male. Attorney General Jeff Sessions questioned whether violent video games or movies could trigger a predisposed individual to act violently. Huesmann agreed, but Ferguson disagreed, referring to a study that found no greater influence of violent media on vulnerable populations compared to other children.
Another aspect discussed during the commission hearing was the role of the news media in school shootings. Jennifer Johnston, an assistant professor of psychology at Western New Mexico University, emphasized the concept of "media contagion." She suggested that extensive coverage of mass shootings could actually contribute to an increase in such incidents. Although school shootings are statistically rare, Johnston noted that their frequency has risen since the advent of 24-hour news coverage and the rise of social media. Based on her research, she proposed that news outlets should refrain from publishing the names and other details of suspected shooters, as the desire for fame and recognition may motivate potential perpetrators.
In conclusion, the Federal Commission on School Safety’s meeting analyzed the various viewpoints surrounding the influence of entertainment on school violence. Conflicting testimonies were presented, with some experts arguing that exposure to violence in entertainment media contributes to real-life violent behavior, while others suggested that the effects are minimal or inconclusive. Additionally, the role of news media in provoking mass shootings was discussed, with the suggestion to limit the coverage of shooters’ details in order to mitigate the influence of fame-seeking motives.
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