Throughout the past several years there has been a rise in the amount of glorified risk-taking behavior in the media. Some examples of this type of behavior are excessive drinking, participating in extreme sports, reckless driving and smoking. We are exposed to these types of behaviors frequently on television, in movies, through advertisements, and in pop music song lyrics. Risk-glorified behavior is exemplified in shows such as the highly popular Jersey Shore, in which the characters’ daily lives revolves around binge drinking, smoking, and promiscuous behavior. Other popular examples in the media are MTV’s The Real World, the film Jackass 3D, and the videogame Need for Speed. These forms of media often portray high-risk behavior as fun, glamorous, and thrilling, and they are highly popular because they engage and entertain audiences, but we are unaware of the psychological impact they can have.
A study by Fischer, Greitemeyer, Kastenmüller, Vogrincic, and Sauer posted on February 21st in the Psychological Bulletin examined the psychological effects of risk-glorifying media. They conduced a meta-analysis (a combination of the results of many studies with a common hypothesis) made up of 88 studies with a total of 80,000 participants. The results of the study indicated a strong association between exposure to risk-glorifying media and high-risk behaviors. The results were based on a variety of types of studies including correlational, experimental, and longitudinal designs. Fischer et al. examined different forms of media including video games, music, advertising, TV and movies. Most importantly, they concluded that a causal relationship exists between exposure to risk-glorifying media and risk taking tendencies in real life. Their research demonstrated that risk-glorifying media was associated with risk-positive cognitions, attitudes, and emotions of participants. Furthermore, the data indicated that the effect of risk glorifying media was stronger for active engagement with media (i.e. playing video games) than passive exposure to media incorporating dangerous behavior (i.e. watching a movie), and also determined that interaction with high-risk behavior in the media had both short-term and long-term effects.
It is clear that this popular form of media has many negative consequences for our society. Risk-taking behavior is a primary contributor to fatal injuries among children, adolescents, and young adults (Harvey, Towner, Peden, Soori, & Bartolomeos, 2009). Traffic accidents are the leading cause of serious injuries to 10 to 24 year olds, yet these accidents are often due to risky behavior which is preventable (Harvey et al.).
The fact that the negative outcomes of exposure to this type of media are highly preventable is particularly striking to me, and this article prompted me to think about the potential political and societal implications of this issue. Is it necessary to restrict access to risk-glorifying media? Although the US and Europe have already outlawed most tobacco and alcohol advertisements, this study reveals that perhaps more intervention is necessary. This issue primarily targets young adults, as Fischer et al. found that effects were strongest for 16 year olds, and the 16 to 24 year old age group. Intervention could help to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, injuries, and other serious health problems related to risky behavior.
I found this article to be particularly relevant in today’s world, as the media plays an increasingly important role in everyone’s lives. Fischer et al.’s study provides a psychological perspective that illustrates the impact of the media on our behavior, emotions, and cognition. It is difficult not to be drawn to the engaging nature of this type of media, yet this study reveals the importance of being aware of its power to impact our behavior in harmful ways.
Carly Helmetag
Fischer, P., Greitemeyer, T., Kastenmüller, A., Vogrincic, C., & Sauer, A. (2011, February 21). The
Effects of Risk-Glorifying Media Exposure on Risk-Positive Cognitions, Emotions, and Behaviors: A Meta-Analytic Review. Psychological Bulletin. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1037/a0022267
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