NEW YORK – Violence is a frequent occurrence in television shows and movies, but can watching it make you behave differently?
Although research has shown some correlation between exposure to media violence and real-life violent behavior, there has been little direct neuroscientific support for this theory until now.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center’s Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Research Center have shown that watching violent programs can cause parts of your brain that suppress aggressive behaviors to become less active.
Thoughts?
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
The brain reacts to many things. I'm not exactly surprised.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Yeah, after getting drunk and going to strip clubs with friends, the next morning I'd wonder why the attractive women at work weren't just getting naked.
TheCatt wrote:Yeah, after getting drunk and going to strip clubs with friends, the next morning I'd wonder why the attractive women at work weren't just getting naked.
Eh. This is a non-story. Like Catt is saying, it's like pointing out that a person gets horny while watching others have sex. Picture the "others" as attractive since movies do make the violence pretty cool and the motivations behind it are usually just (for the good guys).
Still, the key fact they're forgetting is that everyone has a moral compass. Just because you see a movie with a serial killer, doesn't mean you're going to become a serial killer, far from it.
They try to use "studies" like this to prove movies, video games, books, comics, music, D&D, etc. are bad influences.
The one variable that voids ALL of these studies is human nature. If everyone thought and acted the same all the time, they'd have a point. However, since that's not true, they're bullshit.
When this type of "science" accepts the fact that people are different maybe they'll be able to come up with something to get results that are worth a damn.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
That's actually a very good parallel. Implying that this study proves watching violence makes one violent is the same arguement as saying that watching porn makes one have orgies.
Of course, some people believe that's true.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Leisher wrote:If everyone thought and acted the same all the time, they'd have a point.
Then my plan to rule the world would be much easier. I'd just have a reality tv show during the writers' strike. The premise, everyone does what I tell them to do. MUWHAHAHAHA
TheCatt wrote:Yeah, after getting drunk and going to strip clubs with friends, the next morning I'd wonder why the attractive women at work weren't just getting naked.