The Effects of Violent Media and Cinema on Mental Health and Behaviour

In today’s day and age, all of us are constantly surrounded by the media, often with little separation between entertainment and reality. What was once available solely in movie theatres or upon purchase can now be accessed on our personal devices at all times. Due to the widespread availability of content, understanding its influence on our mental health and behaviour is now more relevant than ever, especially for students and parents who use electronic devices on a daily basis.

The effect of violent cinema and media on the human brain has been a long and controversial topic of debate. Concerns about potentially harmful displays on screen date back to the 1920s, and have evolved from television to video games and now social media as well.

One of the first studies conducted was The Payne Fund Studies — a series of 13 research  projects that were conducted across several major American universities such as Yale and New York University between 1929 and 1932. It concluded that movies could provoke severe emotional responses, often encouraging imitation of the aggressive, violent and often unethical behaviour shown onscreen. Children were observed and thought to mimic and form ideas based on what they saw on television. Due to the power of influence being a rather new and radicalised concept in the 1930s, the findings of the study caused an uproar amongst parents and educators, strengthening movie censorship and awareness. This set the path for the enforcement of the MPAA film rating system which not only restricted but informed parents of any “immoral” content in films.

By the 1970s, there was a surge in various forms of entertainment such as video games and comics which not only exposed the public to a broader variety of topics but often glorified and added humour to violent acts such as gunfights, murder and other forms of physical aggression. To this day, film industries across the world have not only continued that trend but have expanded it, portraying violence across almost all genres — for example, shows like Breaking Bad, You and Bollywood films like Dhurandhar and Jawan.

The ‘80s and ‘90s were the golden years for video games. Most of the games, such as Doom (1993), Death Race (1976), and Wolfenstein (1981), captivated audiences with their graphics and interactivity, and also offered an adrenaline rush every time the player shot an enemy dead or ran over a pedestrian on screen. 

Numerous studies conducted by the American Psychological Association have shown that repeated exposure to violent images made children less sensitive to violence, which in turn promoted behavioral problems in consumers including swearing, increased arousal, aggressive thoughts, reduced sensitivity to suffering, perception of the world as more dangerous, hyperactivity and disobedience. They began viewing violence as a normal problem-solving tool. As this mainly occurred in children, parental mediation played a key role in moderating outcomes. Although most of these actions have not necessarily been linked to the children committing crimes when they grow up, they can leave psychological scars and permanently influence their behaviour, if not corrected immediately.

According to social cognitive models, a person's social behaviour is dependent on the situation, their emotions, their schemas, beliefs and social norms they have learnt. These are formed by observing family, friends, and the community around them. This is also the period where their schemas develop, and repeated exposure to violence can lead children to assume that aggression is a natural response, and as they grow older, these beliefs regarding what behaviours are acceptable will only become stronger. 

These days, with easy access to smartphones and social media platforms, all kinds of information can spread like wildfire, especially with knowledge readily available at our fingertips. This not only allows for the exchange of misinformation, but significantly contributes to violent behaviour and propaganda due to the dissemination of harmful content. One prominent case was during the wildfires last August in Greece. False messages spread rapidly across platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, falsely accusing migrants of intentionally starting the fires. This resulted in vigilante groups forming and filming the capture and arrests of numerous asylum seekers and uploading the violent content online, which was met with public applause.

A lot of studies have indicated a strong correlation between violent media and anxiety. In fact, even violence shown on news channels can impact people’s mental health. Due to technology, news about school shootings, terrorist attacks and natural disasters can be filmed and reported immediately, making the whole world exposed to these events almost immediately. For example, a study conducted shortly after the attacks on September 11, 2001 observed that people who diligently viewed all the news reports started developing symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Further, those who had pre- existing mental health issues or real life trauma, only worsened their symptoms.

Overall, consumption of such media has a way larger effect on toddlers and adolescents than on adults. Most children who develop aggressive traits during their childhood tend to carry them forward into adulthood, even if they no longer consume violent media as adults. 

Additionally, constant exposure can also unnecessarily increase perceptions of a hostile and crime prone environment, heightening one's sense of fear and being victimised.

Although violent media has overall been linked to aggression, linking it to a direct crime has been less definitive, as many researchers argue that violent media alone does not cause violent behaviour, and that factors such as family environment, mental health, and socio-economic conditions play a larger role.

As technological advancements evolved, so has media, getting more and more embedded in our daily lives. Therefore, staying safe in a media saturated world requires a conscious effort. 

Trust me, I know how easy it is to get lost in the online world, scrolling for hours on end and consuming all kinds of unfiltered information. This is why parents play a vital role in monitoring content and guiding media usage especially for younger children. They should create a safe space and a more informed environment for children to grow up in without affecting their mental health.

By Abha Nivasarkar, Grade 11