ABSTRACT
Perhaps the biggest area of controversy and most researched media-related topic is the study of the alleged effects of portrayals of violence. A broad consensus has been reached by many leading academics working in this field that screen depictions of violence can sometimes upset young viewers and trigger their aggressive impulses, render them more accepting of violence, and contribute to rising crime levels in society at large. There have been a few dissenting voices, but they are in a minority. There are many theories about how such effects can occur and especially about how they may infiltrate childhood. In recent years, research attention has moved away from studying TV to video games, many of which are violently themed. Furthermore, their interactive nature is believed by some to enhance their psychological impact on players. The conclusions reached by this chapter are more circumspect and suggest that there may be a few viewers and players that are more susceptible than most to such effects and this vulnerability is linked to their personality types.
