The Influence Of Exposure To Violent Video Games On Aggression: The Effects Of Mediators

Along with the population of violent video games, the influence of VVE onadolescent aggression has drawed extensive attention. Many researches have shownthat exposure to violent video games causes increases in aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect and physical arousal. But the mechanisms ofthis effect have remained elusive. The GAM model proposed by Anderson &Bushman provided some explanation to this question. However, GAM was remaininga theoretical hypothesis. At present, there is no research systematically probed into theeffects of mediators of the influence of exposure to violent video games on aggression.And it is very important and exigent for better comprehension of the influence ofVVE on aggression.In this research, 818 students from 8 schools participated in the survey of theirlong term VVE, empathy, aggressive expectations, aggressive beliefs, retaliation andimpulsion. Based on these, we examined the correlations of them and explore themediators and the mediation size. And we further explore whether these mediationswill differ for gender and grades. The results are as follows:1. Violent video game exposure (VVE) is positively correlated with self-reportsof aggressive behavior, aggressive expectations, aggressive beliefs, retaliation andimpulsion. And it is negatively correlated with empathy.2. Aggressive expectations, aggressive beliefs, retaliation and impulsion areimportant mediators for the influence of VVE on aggression. Aggressive belief was afundamental factor among the mediation for it affected the aggressive expectations, retaliation and impulsion. However, empathy couldn't enter the model.3. Males' levels of VVE and aggression are significantly higher than females'. There is no difference of the VVE level of four grades' students. Grade 5 students'aggressions are significantly higher than other three grades.4. VVE has different influence on different period adolescents.