When cooler heads prevail: Peacemakers in a sports
riot
Gordon Russell and Robert L. Arms (University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge,
Alberta, Canada)
Anu Mustonen (University of Jyv(skyl(, Jyv(skyl(, Finland)
Abstract Male sports fans (N = 74) were asked to estimate the likelihood
they would intervene in a crowd disturbance in an attempt to stop the fighting.
They also completed a battery of measures that included their attitude
toward law and order, fight history, the false consensus effect, impulsivity,
sensation seeking, anger, physical aggression and identification with their
favorite team. Law and order, anger and the false consensus effect were
positively related to peacemaking whereas sensation seeking was negatively
related. A multiple regression analysis yielded a solution that accounted
for 33% of the variance with attitude toward law and order and anger emerging
as the best predictors. (back to top)
Gender, guns, and perceptions of danger
Mary B. Harris and Kari C. Miller
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM)
This questionnaire study investigated perceptions of personal danger
and use of a gun for self-defense in four experimental scenarios. Each
scenario manipulated gender of protagonist plus an additional variable.
In general, females were more fearful than males but Anglos and Hispanics
did not differ. The results also suggest that people have stereotypes associated
with gender which make them perceive certain individuals as potentially
more dangerous in otherwise identical situations. These perceptions
have both theoretical and practical implications. (back
to top)
The attractions of violent entertainment
Jeffrey H. Goldstein
(University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Researchers have concerned themselves with the effects of violence
in the media, but have neglected the question of why violent entertainment
attracts an audience in the first place. I describe a project supported
by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation on the attractions of violent
entertainment. Media representations of violence can be found throughout
history, from classical Roman sports and art to the latest virtual reality
games. Interest in and acceptance of violent imagery reaches a peak
in times of war. The audience does not necessarily experience pleasure
at seeing blood and gore, but like aggression researchers, may have over-riding
reasons for consuming it. Violent entertainment can help one establish
a social identity and can be effective in mood management. (back
to top)
Why sex and violence? Emotional education and mass
media
Ross Buck and Ipshita Ray
(University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT)
Examines the motivation behind the attraction to sexual and violent
media. Anger and sexual feelings are difficult to communicate interpersonally,
and children learn ABOUT these feelings/desires (emotional education) from
observing models. Media exposure is a safe and effective way to observe
such models, functioning as Piagetian aliments for emotional education.
We can learn how to design media content that is both attractive and fosters
emotional competence: teaching how aggressive feelings can be dealt with
appropriately. (back to top)