Are You Experiencing The Effects Of Mean World Syndrome?

Violence in the Media

Mean world syndrome suggests that, due to our exposure to violent content from today’s mass media, we can be wrongly influenced into thinking that the world is more dangerous than it actually is.

The term was coined by researcher George Gerbner who studies the effects of television on society. He has noted that people who watch a large amount of television tend to think of the world as intimidating and dangerous. Whereas those who avoid television view the world far more favourably.

Gerbner has observed that this syndrome has spread as more people view DVDs and online content. Studies in the 1930s showed that mass media has a considerable influence on human behaviours. This is called the Hypodermic Model wherein people are injected with messages and ideas constructed by mass media.

Another powerful source of messages is video and computer games. Tests have shown that exposure to violent games clearly increases aggressive thoughts and increases arousal. When presented with images of violence teenagers who were used to playing violent video games were found to show lower hear rates and lower galvanic skin responses than those who had never played such games.

It has been found that by presenting extreme violent behavior as normal there is greater chance that someone will display these behviors themselves when provoked.

Humans are highly suggestible creatures and the media is a very powerful influence upon us all. If we keep hearing that the world is a dangerous place then this is what we will believe. If we are provided with the means to react violently to confrontations, as in many video games, then this is more likely to be the way in which we react to real-life confrontations.

Mass media plays an enormous part in the way in which we view the world and modern gaming technology clearly influences those who play violent games.

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