What Does Mean World Syndrome Mean To You?
The Killing Screens: Media & the Culture of Violence
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 claims that the spread of this syndrome has become more intense with the use of DVDs, videos and online content. Well known studies from the 1930s have showed how influential mass media can be on human behavior. This is referred to as the Hypodermic model which describes how people are injected with messages and suggestions from the media.
Another source of these messages and ideas is, of course, video 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.
Its very clear that mass media and video games can significantly influence the way in which we view the world around us.
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