The effect of a sexual abuse movie on a adolescents aggressive behavior

Authors

  • Paula Inez Cunha Gomide
  • Andressa Sperancetta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v6i1.3187

Keywords:

aggressive behavior, violent movies, female adolescent, ethology, anger

Abstract

This study analyzed the influence of a sexual abuse movie on female adolescent aggressive behavior. The main theories about this subject spring from Bandura (1986), Zillmann (1971), Huesmann (1982) and Berkowitz (1984, 1988). The ethological perspective also analyzes anger as precedent to aggressive behavior and as one of the mechanisms that are able to stimulate aggressive behavior through midia violence. The sample was composed of 82 female adolescents. By comparing the scores on aggressive behavior in pre and post-test the results were t (82) = 3, 93; p < .0001; x = 3,18 (s = 2,85) for pre-test and x=5,07 (s = 4,24) for the post-test, with more variability in the post-test response. This result, from the ethological point of view - where a violent stimulation elicits anger and this anger elicits aggressive behavior - proposes that watching a violent sexual abuse film may be one of the factors that contribute to the enhancement of human aggressiveness.

Keywords: aggressive behavior; violent movies; female adolescent; ethology, anger

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How to Cite

Gomide, P. I. C., & Sperancetta, A. (2002). The effect of a sexual abuse movie on a adolescents aggressive behavior. Interação Em Psicologia, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v6i1.3187

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2002)

Section

Articles

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