Violent Television Viewing and Violent Video Game Play Have Opposing Effects on Fear of Violent Crime

• In Event: Critical Discoveries About Violence and Conflict in Media

Abstract

Fear of violent crime has become rampant around the world, even though violence is decreasing. This study tested whether violent television viewing would indirectly increase fear of violent crime, whereas violent video game play would indirectly decrease fear of violent crime. Perceived ability to control violent crime was expected to mediate both relationships. These hypotheses were based on the cultivation theory, which explains television effects, and the self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior, which explain video game effects. A multiple mediation model of data involving over 3000 adolescents showed that violent crime drama viewing was negatively related to perceived control whereas violent video game play was positively related to perceived control. Perceived control, in turn, was negatively related to fear of crime. Perceived control mediated the associations that were found. These findings suggest that television violence and video game violence have opposing effects on fear of violent crime.

Authors

• Kathleen Custers, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research

• Brad J Bushman, Ohio State U