Gewelddadige Media en Agressie: Empathie als Moderator

Abstract

The existing literature has shown that there is a significant, but weak relationship between the consumption of violent media and subsequent aggressive behaviour. This may be due to the fact that individuals are susceptible to media effects in varying degrees. The aim of this study was to find out whether empathy plays a role in this sensitivity. Therefore the present study examined the moderating effect of cognitive and affective empathy in the relation between violent media consumption and aggressive behaviour. A total of 1029 adolescents in the age of 10 to 14 participated in this study. Results indicate that affective empathy does not weaken and cognitive empathy does not strengthen the relationship between violent media consumption and aggressive behaviour. To gain more insight into factors that moderate the relationship between violent media consumption and aggressive behaviour, additional research into other possible moderating factors is recommended.