What’s in it for Them? Teens’ Differential Preferences for Types and Contexts of Televised Aggression

• In Event: What's in it For Them? A Look Inside Children's Media

Abstract

Effects of teens’ exposure to televised aggression depend on characteristics of the viewer and the portrayed behavior. However, few studies have investigated which teens prefer what forms of televised aggression. This study investigated how teens’ trait aggression and sex guide their preferences for specific types (physical, verbal, indirect) and contexts of televised aggression (reward, punishment, justification, graphicness, realism, and humor). Survey data of 156 teens (balanced for trait aggression and sex, aged 10-14 years) was combined with a content analysis of 4,839 scenes from their favorite television programs. Aggressive teens preferred more physical and verbal televised aggression than less aggressive teens. Trait aggression was not related to preferences for contextual features of aggression. Boys preferred more physical aggression than girls, as well as more realistic, graphic, humorous, rewarded, and punished aggression. This study underscores the importance of distinguishing between different viewers and forms of televised aggression.

Authors

• Amber van der Wal, University of Amsterdam

• Karin Fikkers, Utrecht University / UiL OTS

• Patti M. Valkenburg, U of Amsterdam