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Violence In The Media

The

debate

over the

influence

of the

media in

American

culture is

one of

the

hottest

topics

among

policymakers, educators, and prevention

professionals. Research shows that violence and sex

on television and in other media constitute an

important and unrecognized influence on children

and adolescent health and behavior. Such impact

should be eliciting serious concern, not just from

parents and educators, but from physicians, public

health advocates, and ploiticians.

In fact, the topic has spurred numerous

congressional hearings, debates, and research

projects, and with each new tragic incident the

need for answers is mounting. Much of the debate

is concentrated on the influence of viewing violence

on television, and in motion pictures and music

vidoes. However, the drug use and exposure to

drugs in each of these media, as well as in

advertisements, is also a mojor concern for many

researchers.

While alcohol use by major characters on television

declined in recent years, the use of both licit and

illicit drugs rose. In fact, a typical viewer can see

some representation of substance use every 14

minutes. The explicit messages of drug use in many

music videos and the effect of billions of dollars in

alcohol and tobacco advertisements may also have

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a considerable influence on the behavior of

adolescents and is a prominent topic among

researchers, as well.

This resource guide provides an updated review of

the research into the negative influences on the

media (including television, motion pictures, music

videos, and advertisements) on our children. Use it

wisely and well.

Nelba Chavez, Ph.D.

Administrator

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration

Ruth Sanchez-Way, Ph.D.

Acting Director, Substance Abuse and Mental Health

services Administration

MS714

The listing of materials of programs in this resource

guide does not constitute or imply endorsement by

the Center fro Substance Abuse Prevention, the

Public Health Service, the Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration, or the

Department of Health and Human Services. The

materials have been reviewed for accuracy,

appropriateness, and conformance with public

health principals.

This Substance Abuse Resource Guide was compiled

from a variety of publications and data bases and

represents the most current inforamtion to date. It

is not an all-inclusive listing of materials on this

topic. This guide will be updated regularly, and your

comments or suggestions are welcome. To suggest

information or materails that might be included in

future editions, please write to SAMHSA's National

Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

(NCADI), P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD

20847-2345.

Produced by SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for

Alcohol and Drug Information, Denise C. Jones,

editor.

For further information on alcohol, tobacco, and

illicit drugs, call 800-729-6686, 301-468-2600, or

TDD 800-487-4889. Or visit us on our World Wide

Web Site at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov.

Books

Media in the Home 1999: The Fourth

Annual Survey of Parents and Children

Conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of

the University of Pennsylvania, this survey focuses

on the influence of the media in the home. The

survey followed the same methodology for 4 years,

with the baseline data collected in 1996. Telephone

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interviews were conducted with a national random

sample of parents of 2- to 17-year-olds and a

random sample of their 10- to 17-year-old children

in homes with televisions. The sample was drawn

using random digit dialing. The samples were

weighted to the U.S. Census by race, education,

and geographic region for the sample of parents;

and sex and geographic region for the sample of

10- to 17-year-olds.

Authors: Stanger, J.D.; Gridina, N.

Organization: Annenberg Public Policy Center

Year: 1999

Format: Book

Length: 30 pages

Topic: Media influence on youth

Target Audience: Professionals and general public

Availability: Annenberg Public Policy Center, 529

14th Street, NW., 320 National Press Building,

Washington, DC 20045; 202-879-6700

Cost: Not listed

Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to

Action Against TV Movie and Video

Game Violence

In the wake of youth-led violence sprees in towns

like Jonesboro, Arkansas; Pearl, Mississippi; and

Littleton, Colorado; authors Lt. Col. David

Grossman and Gloria DeGaetano explore the notion

that media does more than just condition children

to violent behavior. They posit the theory that

television and violent video games teach youth the

"mechanics of killing." Empirical data from scientific

studies is offered to support their theory.

Authors: Grossman, D.; DeGaetano, G.

Year: 1999

Format: Book (hardcover)

Length: 204 pages

Topic: Media and violence

Target Audience: Parents and general audience

Availability: Bookstores

Cost: $20

It's Not Only Rock and Roll

This book examines the research on adolescents

and popular music. The authors contend that

popular music is a major force and the lives of

contemporary youth cannot be understood without

serious consideration of how it fits into youth

culture. The authors describe and characterize the

content of music media according to a systemic

content analysis and examine how the content is

interpreted by adolescents. They also assess the

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research on the impact of music media on the

attitudes, values, and behavior of young people and

consider what, if anything, should be done about it.

The authors conclude that popular music is an

undeniable influence in the lives of many

adolescents, but its effects on sexual behavior,

violence, and drug use are probably not terribly

broad or massive. However, it may shape the

patterns of group interaction-alter study habits or

define modes of personal appearance, for

instance-and thus researchers should not ignore

the possible negative effects of music media

exposure.

Authors: Christenson, P.; Roberts, D.F.

Year: 1998

Format: Book

Length: 320 pages

Topic: Violence in the media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: Hampton Press, Inc., 23 Broadway,

Cresskill, NJ 07626; 201-894-1686

Cost: $23.95

Media and the Construction of Random

Drug Violence

This is a chapter taken from the book, Drugs,

Crime, and Justice: Contemporary Perspectives,

edited by L.K. Gaines and P.B. Kraska. Between

1986 and 1990, the news media in New York City

constructed a compelling picture of a reality in

which drug-related violence was spreading and

becoming random in its selection of victims. In

addition, the news media encouraged a belief in the

growing vulnerability of white, middle-class people.

The reactionary agenda toward drug users and drug

traffickers resulted from a constellation of forces.

Liberal government officials reacted to a perceived

drug crisis by calling for a variety of programs. The

news media, pursuing a sensational story that

would sell the news and not contradict the policies

of government officials on whom they depended for

information, mobilized the white middle class with

an emphasis on the theme of random drug violence.

Faced with an alarmed voting public calling for law

and order, government officials promoted a drug

scare that would permit spending on law

enforcement programs during a time of fiscal crisis

and over-crowded prisons. The drug scare

associated with crack allowed the development of a

conservative agenda in a liberal political

environment. The author suggests that social

scientists should play a more active role in

influencing the news media and government

policies.

Author: Brownstein, H.H.

Year: 1997

Format: Book

Length: 483 pages

Topic: Violence in media

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Target Audience: General public

Availability: Bookstores

Cost: $25.95

National Television Violence Study: Vol. 2

The second year of the National Television Violence

Study project examines programming delivered

during the 1995-1996 television season. Data were

obtained from analysis of 2,700 hours of

programming, including 3,235 non-news and

non-sports programs broadcast on the 23 channels

most frequently viewed by the U.S. public. The

results indicate that violence is typically sanitized

on television -- it is rarely punished in the

immediate context in which it occurs, and it rarely

results in observable harm to the victims. There

was just as much violence on television in 1996 as

in 1995. Television poses a great deal more risk for

children under age 7 than for older viewers, and

most of the dangerous portrayals of violence are

found in the genres and channels specifically

targeted to these young children. Recommendations

are offered to parents, television producers, and

policymakers.

Author: Federman, J.

Year: 1997

Format: Book

Length: 424 pages

Topic: Violence in the media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: Sage Publications, Inc., 2455 Teller

Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320; 800-499-0721

Cost: $36.50

National Television Violence Study: Vol. 1

This study of television violence has two primary

goals: (1) to identify the contextual features

associated with violent depictions that most

significantly increase the risk of a harmful effect on

the audience, and (2) to shed light on the nature

and extent of violent depictions. Data were

obtained from a content analysis of 2,693 programs

airing over a 20-week period in the 1994-1995

television season on 23 of the most frequently

viewed U.S. broadcast and cable television

channels. The analysis reveals that the context in

which most violence is presented on television

poses risks for viewers. The negative consequences

of violence are not often portrayed in violent

programming. Perpetrators go unpunished in most

scenes of violence. Violent programs rarely employ

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an anti-violence theme. On the positive side,

television violence is usually not explicit or graphic.

Recommendations are provided for parents,

television producers, and public policy makers.

Author: Federman, J.

Year: 1996

Format: Book (paperback)

Length: 551 pages

Topic: Violence in the media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: Sage Publications, Inc., 2455 Teller

Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320; 800-499-0721

Cost: $39.95

Fugitive Cultures: Race, Violence and

Youth

Author Henry Giroux delivers a stinging criticism of

the plethora of Hollywood-produced films which

feature violence as the primary theme. He notes,

"serious films have given way to the blockbuster...

and the tradeoff has been an increase in the

number of violent films shown in movie theaters

across the United States." Giroux particularly

targets filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's films noting

that he "produces a racially coded, reactionary

cultural politics and pedagogy that transforms

neo-conservative callousness and contempt for the

underclass into a hip representation of avant-garde

high art." In addition to films, he examines the

growing influence of talk radio, and he critiques the

worldview of the Disney Corporation given its

depiction of racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes

in some of its productions.

Author: Giroux, H.A.

Year: 1996

Format: Book (hardcover)

Length: 255 pages

Topic: Violence in the media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: Bookstores

Cost: $80

Televison Violence: A Guide to the

Literature

This book provides a bibliography that brings

together sources on television violence. It is

subdivided by chapter, dealing with general studies,

television, children, behavioral links, sex, public

opinion, laws, and guidelines dealing with television

violence.

Author: Kelly, P.T.

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Year: 1996

Format: Book (hardcover)

Length: 237 pages

Topic: Violence in the media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: NOVA Science Publishers, Inc., 6080

Jericho Turnpike, Suite 207, Commack, NY

11725-2808; 316-499-3103

Cost: $79

Violence in the Media

This volume offers differing viewpoints on the

subject of violence in media. Each chapter provides

examples, annotated bibliographies, and lists of

organizations; and the chapter, "Gangsta Rap

Promotes Violence in the Black Community" is the

specific focus here. Rap is more than rhyming

words. It is the central part of a powerful cultural

movement ("hip-hop") that influences the way

young teens across races walk, talk, dress, and

think. While some forms of rap music promote

progressive social change, self-awareness, and

anti-drug messages; the key element in gangsta

rap is aggression-manifested in the rappers' body

language, tone, and witty rhymes. In gangsta rap,

women are disposable playthings who exist only for

men's abusive delight and it is admirable to be

cold-blooded and unfeeling. Although gangsta rap

as a cause of violent behavior by its listeners

cannot be proven as is the case for teens that listen

to acid rock music, the authors argue that there is a

correlation. For instance, black-on-black violence

escalated sharply in the late 1980's, when gangsta

rap popularity was on the rise. The change in the

values and behavior of young blacks in rural towns

is another example. This parallels the growing

violence and drug use among suburban white

teenagers who are typically viewed as mainstream

America. Nevertheless, the authors suggest ways to

counter the influence of gangsta rap including

economic boycotts of record companies who

produce it. Some black stations have banned

airplay of recordings that glorify drugs, sex,

violence, and the abuse of women.

Editor: Wekesser, C.

Year: 1994

Format: Book

Length: 192 pages

Topic: Violence in the media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: Greenhaven Press, 10911 Technology

Place, San Diego, CA 92127; 800-231-5163 and

bookstores

Cost: $20.96

Shaping Our Responses to Violent and

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Demeaning Imagery in Popular Music

A hearing held on February 23, 1994 by the U.S.

Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice explores

the impact of gangsta rap on U.S. youths and other

popular music that is violent, racist, anti-Semitic,

sexually graphic, or demeaning toward women.

Witnesses included panels of recording industry

executives, entertainers, and leaders of minority

and professional groups. Also included are an

Anti-Defamation League special report, "Hip to

Hate: Hateful Lyrics in Rap and Rock," and articles

from periodicals.

Organization: U.S. Senate Subcommittee on

Juvenile Justice

Year: Published in 1995

Format: Book (paperback)

Length: Not listed

Target Audience: General public

Availability: (Senate Hearing 103-1005) (This

document is no longer in print at the General

Printing Office) Available at the Library of Congress,

Washington, DC or university law libraries

Cost: Not listed

Booklets, Brochures, Fact Sheets, and

Reports

The UCLA Television Violence Monitoring

Report

This report is part of a 3-year project to monitor

television violence. It is based on an agreement

between Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) and the four major

broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC). The

UCLA Center for Communication Policy was asked

to monitor all television with a particular emphasis

on broadcast network television. The UCLA study

examined every series, television movie, theatrical

movie shown on television, children's programming,

specials, and advertisements aired during the

1994-1995 television season (September 1994

through May 1995). More than 3,000 hours of

television were monitored in each of the 3 years.

Departing from many previous studies, the UCLA

report examines the context in which violence

occurs, thus distinguishing between violence that in

its context raises concerns and violence that does

not. The UCLA study is also committed to an annual

report written in a clear and plain style accessible

to parents, the press, the Government, advocates,

academics, and anyone interested in the issue.

Author: Cole, J.

Organization: UCLA Center for Communication

Policy

Year: 1995

Format: Booklet

Length: Not listed

Topic: Media and violence

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Target Audience: Government officials, academics,

journalists, and general public

Availability: UCLA, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los

Angeles, CA 90024; 310-206-0788

Cost: Not listed

Violence and Drugs on Television: The

Cultural Environment Approach to

Prevention

Produced for The Annenberg School for

Communication at the University of Pennsylvania,

the authors argue that violence and substance

abuse are among the most pervasive and persistent

social pathologies of our time. But mostly reactive,

punitive, and remedial responses have not made an

appreciable difference in reducing them. This report

advances a new diagnosis and a new, preventive

approach. It summarizes the research on which the

new diagnosis is based, the action program that

stems from the research, and strategic planning for

future action. Part I is the first comprehensive

report of 20 years' analysis of network television

drama, the role of violence and drugs in that world,

and some consequences of exposure to it. Part II

deals with some institutional and economic forces

driving violence as a dramatic formula. Part III is

the account of a citizen action program, the

Cultural Environment Movement, mobilizing a

broad coalition for preventive action on the cultural

front.

Authors: Gerbner, G.; Morgan, M.; and Sinorielli,

N.

Year: 1994

Format: Booklet

Length: Not listed

Topic: Violence and substance abuse images in

media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for

Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345,

Rockville, MD 20847-2345; 800-729-6686

Cost: Free

Television Violence Profile No. 16: The

Turning Point

The Violence Profile is a periodic report that

includes both message system analysis, which

addresses the content of violence shown on

television, and cultivation analysis, which focuses

on the consequences of living with and learning

from television. The Violence default combines

three sets of observations (the percentage of

programs containing any violence, the rate of

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violent scenes per program, and the percentage of

major characters involved in violence) to make a

single indicator sensitive to a range of program

characteristics. The report discusses some issues

related to disagreement over measurements, the

dynamics of violence, cultivation analysis, and the

structural basis of violence.

Authors: Gerbner, G.; Morgan, M.; and Sinorielli,

N.

Year: No date

Format: Booklet

Length: 31 pages

Target Audience: General public

Availability: NCJ #152836, National Criminal

Justice Resource Center, P.O. Box 6000, Rockville,

MD, 20849-6000; 800-851-3420

Cost: $8.10

Magazines and Newsletters

Prevention Pipeline

The CSAP/NCADI award-winning bi-monthly

magazine features an array of articles, statistics,

abstracts, descriptions of new materials in the

NCADI catalog, updates on new research in the

substance abuse field, funding resources, public

service ads, and reprinted materials. Subscribers

are encouraged to "lift" articles and artwork for

their own newsletters.

Publisher: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

(CSAP)

Year: Published bimonthly

Format: Magazine

Length: 60 pages

Topic: Alcohol and substance abuse

Target Audience: Substance abuse prevention

professionals, educators, parents, teens, and adults

Availability: SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for

Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345,

Rockville, MD 20847-2345; 800-729-6686

Internet:http://ncadi.samhsa.gov

Cost: Annual subscriptions are $28 for domestic

orders, $32 for international orders

Videos, Posters, and Other Items

The Glitter: Sex, Drugs, and the Media

The Glitter explores the powerful messages that

various media use to make sex and drugs look

appealing. This video discusses the dangers of

youth accepting the products and lifestyles

proposed by the media. A teacher's resource book is

included with the video.

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Organization: NIMCO, Inc.

Year: 1994

Format: Videocassette

Length: 23 minutes

Topic: Substance abuse and media

Target Audience: Jr. high school and sr. high school

youth, young adults, educators, and prevention

professionals

Availability: NIMCO, Inc., 102 Hwy. 81 North,

Calhoun, KY 42327-0009; 800-962-6662

Cost: $189

Warning! The Media May be Hazardous

to Your Health

In this video, the producers warn against the

glamorization of violence, fear, and hatred between

the sexes that is depicted in thousands of

Hollywood-produced films and videos. Based on a

slide show by activist, writer, and national lecturer

Ann J. Simonton, this work also explores the "lifeaffirming nature of both genders." A 20-page

instructional guide and other documentation are

included in the video package.

Organization: Media Watch

Year: 1990

Format: Videotape

Length: 36 minutes

Topic: Violence in media

Target Audience: General public

Availability: Media Watch, P.O. Box 618, Santa

Cruz, CA 95061-0618; 800-631-6355,

831-423-6355

Cost: $45 for individuals, $155 for groups and

institutions

Studies and Articles

Television and Motion Pictures

Substance Use in Popular Movies and Music

Robert, D.; Henriksen, L.; Christenson, P.G.; and

Kelly, M.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration, Washington, DC, 1999

Available from SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse

for Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345,

Rockville, MD 20847-2345; 800-729-6686

This study examines the frequency and nature of

substance use in the most popular movierentals and

songs of 1996 and 1997. The intent was to

determine the accuracy of public perceptions about

extensive substance use in media popular among

youths. Because teenagers are major consumers of

movies and music, there is concern about the

11 of 23 01/06/16 4:51 PM
potential for media depictions of tobacco, alcohol,

and illicit drugs to encourage use. For instance,

portrayals that tend to legitimize, normalize,

trivialize, or glorify substances might suggest to

young people that this behavior is without negative

consequences. Careful examination of media

content is a crucial first step in determining what

role media may play in promoting substance use

and abuse.

Youth and Violence on Local Television News

in California

Dorfman, L.; Woodruff, K.; Chavez, V.; and

Wallack, L.

American Journal of Public Health, 87: 1311-1316,

1997

Available from Sage Publications, Inc., 2455 Teller

Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320; 800-499-0721

This study explores how local television news

structures the public policy debate on youth

violence. The authors conducted a content analysis

on 214 hours of local television news from

California. Each of the 1,791 stories about youth,

violence, or both was coded and analyzed for

whether it included a public health perspective.

There were five key findings. First, violence

dominated local television news coverage. Second,

the specifics of particular crimes dominated

coverage of violence. Third, more than half of the

stories on youth involved violence, while more than

two-thirds of the violence stories concerned youth.

Fourth, episodic coverage of violence was more

than five times more frequent than thematic

coverage, which included links to broader social

factors. Finally, only one story had an explicit public

health frame. The researchers conclude that local

television news provides extremely limited

coverage of contributing etiological factors in

stories of violence. Also, if our Nation's most

popular source of news continues to report on

violence primarily through crime stories isolated

from their social context, the chance for widespread

support for public health solutions to violence will

be diminished.

A Sociological Perspective on Television and

Violence

Murray, J.P.; Donnerstein, E.; and Freedman, J.L.

Hofstra Law Review, 22(4): 807-854, 1995

A symposium held at Hofstra University in 1994

explored the links between television viewing and

violence. J.P. Murray's review of correlational,

experimental, and field studies concludes that

exposure to TV violence is as strongly associated

with aggressive behavior as any other behavioral

variable that has been measured. E. Donnerstein

asserts that such research should be used to inform

social policy, but should not be used to justify

regulation. J.L. Freedman asserts that the

TV-aggression connection is based on misreading or

distorting the findings of both laboratory and field

research.

The Effects of Television Violence on Antisocial

Behavior: A Meta-Analysis

Paik, H.; Comstock, G.

Communications Research, 21(4): 516-546, 1994

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A meta-analysis is performed on studies pertaining

to the effects of television violence on aggressive

behavior. Partitioning by research design, viewer

attributes, treatment and exposure variables, and

type of antisocial behavior allows one to interpret

computed effect sizes for each of the variables in

the partitions. The authors find a positive and

significant correlation between television violence

and aggressive behavior, albeit to varying degrees

depending on the particular research question.

Moreover, erotica emerges as a strong factor even

when it is not accompanied by portrayal of violence.

Additionally, the effect of television violence on the

antisocial behavior of boys and girls is found to be

marginally equal in surveys. A host of tests are

performed to solidify these and further results, and

the authors provide substantive interpretation.

Music

The Link Between Rap Music and Youth Crime

and Violence: A Review of the Literature and

Issues for Future Research Taum, B.

Justice Professional, 11(3): 339-353, 1999

This article assesses the validity of the perceived

association between rap music and youth violence.

Studies examining this issue are virtually

nonexistent and do not consistently support a

cause-effect relationship. Theoretical,

methodological, and conceptual shortcomings

further limit the significance of the research

findings. The history of this music genre, arguments

for the censorship of popular music, and issues for

future research are also discussed.

Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll and the Media Are the

Media Responsible for Adolescent Behavior?

Strasburger, V.C.

Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews,

8(3): 403-414, 1997

This article reviews what is known about the role of

the media in major adolescent morbidities of sex

(teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted

disease), drugs, and violence (homicide, suicide,

and interpersonal aggression). The author argues

that the research demonstrates a clear relationship

between media violence and real-life aggression.

However, more research is needed to indicate which

children are the most vulnerable to the influence of

the media. The research indicates that there is

considerable variability in how teenagers view the

same program, depending on ethnicity, family

background, and other characteristics. The authors

add more research is needed to understand the

connection between sexual content and adolescent

sexual beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors; the

effectiveness of counter-advertising; and the

influence of the media on suicide. The author also

offers solutions to the influence of the media.

Violence and Weapons Carrying in Music

Videos: A Content Analysis

DuRant, R.H.; Rich, M.; Emans, S.J.; Rome, E.S.; et

al.

Archive of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine, 151(1):

443-448, 1997

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This article examines the portrayal of violence and

weapon-carrying in music videos by using a content

analysis of 518 music videos in five genres of music

(rock, rap, adult contemporary, rhythm and blues,

and country) from four television networks (MTV,

VH1, BET, and CMT). The results indicate that overt

violence and weapon-carrying was higher in rap

and rock videos than in the other genres. Because

of the short duration of a typical music video, the

authors conclude that even modest viewing of a

music channel may result in substantial exposure to

violence and weapon-carrying.

Tobacco and Alcohol Use Behaviors Portrayed

in Music Videos: A Content Analysis

DuRant, R.H.; Rome, E.S.; Rich, M.; Allred, E.; et

al.

American Journal of Public Health, 87: 1131-1135,

1997

This study analyzes music videos from five genres

of music for portrayals of tobacco and alcohol use

and for portrayals of such behaviors in conjunction

with sexuality. Music videos (n=518) were recorded

during randomly selected days and times from four

television networks. Four female and four male

observers ages 17 to 24 were trained to use a

standardized content analysis instrument. All videos

were observed by rotating two-person, male-female

teams who were required to reach agreement on

each behavior that was scored. Music genre and

network differences in behaviors were analyzed

with chi-squared tests. A higher percentage (25.7

percent) of MTV videos than other network videos

portrayed tobacco use. The percentage of videos

showing alcohol use was similar on all four

networks. In videos that portrayed tobacco and

alcohol use, the lead performer was most often the

one smoking or drinking. The use of alcohol was

associated with a high degree of sexuality on all the

videos. These data indicate that even modest levels

of viewing may result in substantial exposure to

glamorized depictions of alcohol and tobacco use,

and alcohol use coupled with sexuality.

Advertisements

Adolescent Perceptions of Underage Drinkers

in TV Beer Ads

Slater, M.D.; Rouner, D.; Beauvais, F.; Murphy, K.;

et al.

Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 42(1):

43-56, 1996

This study tested adolescents' perceptions of the

ages of persons portrayed in television beer

advertisements and examined correlational

relationships between such age judgments and

alcohol use. Male and female adolescents ages 12

to 18 recruited through public schools (n=401)

each viewed four beer advertisements from a pool

of 48 randomly selected from national television.

They judged the ages of the youngest persons

shown using the product in the ad. Almost 40

percent reported that the youngest person was

under age 21 in at least one of the four ads viewed.

The amount of alcohol use interacted with junior

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versus senior high school status in predicting

whether participants reported one or more

underage persons in the beer ads. The relationship

between alcohol use and such perceptions was

positive for junior high and negative for senior high

school students. Identifying underage persons in

the ads was not related to polarity of responses to

the ad. The results suggest that beer industry

guidelines are not achieving their stated goal of

ensuring that persons shown in beer

advertisements appear consistently to be age 21 or

older. More tentatively, this failure may be

associated with inappropriate drinking decisions by

younger adolescents.

Tobacco Promotion and Susceptibility to

Tobacco Use Among Adolescents Aged 12

Through 17 Years in a Nationally

Representative Sample

Altman, D.; Levine, D.; Coeytaux, R.; Slade J.; and

Jaffe, R.

American Journal of Public Health, 86: 1590-1593,

1996

The purpose of this study was to examine whether

youths' participation in tobacco promotion

campaigns is associated with susceptibility to

tobacco use. The data were collected from

telephone interviews of a national random sample

of 1,047 adolescents ages 12 to 17. A proportional

odds model was used to estimate the effects on

susceptibility to tobacco use of age, gender,

presence of a tobacco user in the household,

awareness of tobacco promotions, knowledge of a

young adult or adolescent friend owning a

promotional item, participation in tobacco

promotions, and receipt of free tobacco samples or

direct mail from tobacco companies. All of the

covariates, except for receiving direct mailings and

knowledge of a young adult friend who owned a

promotional item, were significantly associated with

susceptibility. The study concludes that there is a

strong association between an awareness of and

involvement with tobacco promotions and

susceptibility to tobacco use or products.

Television Beer Advertising and Drinking

Knowledge, Beliefs, and Intentions Among

Children

Grube, J.W.; Wallack, L.

American Journal of Public Health, 84(2): 254-259,

1994

The relationships between television beer

advertising and drinking knowledge, beliefs, and

intentions were investigated in a survey of school

children. The research was guided by a theoretical

model specifying that awareness of advertising, and

not mere exposure to it, is necessary for it to have

an effect on beliefs or behaviors. The participants

were a random sample of 468 5th- and 6th-grade

school children from a northern California

community. The data were collected in the home

with a combination of self-administered

questionnaires and structured interviews.

Non-recursive statistical modeling indicated that

awareness of television beer advertising was

related to more favorable beliefs about drinking, to

greater knowledge of beer brands and slogans, and

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to increased intentions to drink as an adult. The

effects of advertising awareness on knowledge,

beliefs, and intentions were maintained when the

reciprocal effects of beliefs, knowledge, and

intentions on awareness were controlled. The

authors argue that these findings suggest that

alcohol advertising may predispose young people to

drinking. As a result, efforts to prevent drinking

and drinking problems among young people should

give attention to countering the potential effects of

alcohol advertising.

The Frequency and Nature of Alcohol and

Tobacco Advertising in Televised Sports, 1990

through 1992

Madden, P.A.; Grube, J.W.

American Journal of Public Health, 84(2): 297-299,

1994

This study examines the frequency and nature of

alcohol and tobacco advertising in a random sample

of 166 televised sports events representing 443.7

hours of network programming broadcast from fall

1990 through summer 1992. The findings indicate

that more commercials appear for alcohol products

than for any other beverage. Beer commercials

predominate and include images at odds with the

recommendations from former Surgeon General C.

Everett Koop. The audience is also exposed to

alcohol and tobacco advertising through the

appearances of stadium signs, other on-site

promotions, and verbal or visual brief product

sponsorships. Moderation messages and public

service announcements are rare.

General Media

Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues

and Solutions

Strasburger, V.C.; Donnerstein, E.

Pediatrics, 103(1): 129-139, 1999

Television and other media represent one of the

most important and unrecognized influences on the

health and behavior of children and adolescents in

the 1990's. While television represents the primary

medium, adolescents can spend nearly equal time

listening to music on the radio, and use of the

Internet is on the rise. Researchers have been

increasingly concerned with the influence of these

media. Strasburger and Donnerstein review the

research to date. They examine the impact of

exposure to television and other media on several

dimensions, including violence, guns, sex, and

drugs. They also discuss the need for future

research and possible solutions, including

discovering the way children view media, providing

more effective office counseling and public health

activism, regulating the media, and improving the

entertainment itself.

Video and Computer Games: Effect on Children

and Implications for Health Education

Dorman, S.

Journal of School Health, 67(4): 133-138, 1997

Video and computer-based games have assumed a

prominent role in the culture of American children

and adolescents. Given the pervasiveness of their

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influence, it is likely that these games may affect

the health and well-being of children. This paper

examines the health effects of these games on

children, suggests criteria by which parents and

teachers may evaluate the games, and notes some

implications for health educators.

Mass Media Effects on Violent Behavior

Felson, R.

Annual Review of Sociology, 22: 103-128, 1996

This article reviews the literature on the effect of

exposure to media violence (including exposure to

violent pornography) on aggressive behavior.

Evidence and theoretical arguments regarding

short- and long-term effects are discussed. Three

points are emphasized: (1) Exposure to violence in

laboratory and field experiments is as likely to

affect nonaggressive antisocial behavior as it does

aggressive behavior. The pattern is consistent with

a sponsor effect rather than a modeling effect: an

experimenter who shows violent films creates a

permissive atmosphere. (2) The message that is

learned from the media about when it is legitimate

to use violence is not much different from the

message learned from other sources, with the

exception that illegitimate violence is more likely to

be punished in media presentations. (3) The fact

that violent criminals tend to be versatile-they

commit nonviolent crimes as well-is inconsistent

with explanations that emphasize pro-violence

socialization (from the media or other sources). The

author concludes that exposure to television

violence probably does have a small effect on

violent behavior for some viewers, possibly because

the media direct viewers' attention to novel forms

of violent behavior that they would not otherwise

consider.

Avoiding the Effects of Media Violence on Our

Children and Youth

Vereen, D.

Black Psychiatrists of America, 24(3): 40-43, 1994

Available from Baywood Publishing, P.O. Box 337,

Amityville, NY 11701-3004; 516-691-1270

Avoiding the Effects of Media Violence reviews 15

points of the 1990 legislation to curb violence on

television. The average preschooler watches 27

hours of television a week. Villains and heroes are

equally likely to harm each other in a TV show; 90

percent of aggressive actions are portrayed as

justified. Other studies on the effects of violence on

television are discussed. Field studies find that kids

who are already aggressive are most sensitive to

viewing aggression. Researchers need to study

those children who are not affected to find out what

it is that protects them from what they see.

Organizations and Internet Sites Federal

Government

Federal Government

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

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(ATF)

650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Room 8290

Washington, DC 20226

202-927-8500

http://www.atf.treas.gov/

Bureau of Justice Statistics

810 Seventh Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20531

202-307-0765

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs

Center for Mental Health Services

Knowledge Exchange Network

P.O. Box 42490

Washington, DC 20015

800-789-2647

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration (SAMHSA)

5600 Fishers Lane, Suite 900

Rockwall II Bldg.

Rockville, MD 20857

301-443-0365

800-729-6686 (SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse

for Alcohol and Drug Information)

http://ncadi.samhsa.gov

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockwall II Bldg., Room 618

Rockville, MD 20857

301-443-5052

800-729-6686 (SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse

for Alcohol and Drug Information)

http://ncadi.samhsa.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC)

Office on Smoking and Health

Public Information Branch

4770 Buford Highway, NE.

Atlanta, GA 30341-3724

770-488-5708

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco

Decision Support System for Prevention of

Substance Abuse

http://www.preventiondds.org

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20535

202-737-3759

http://www.fbi.gov

Health Resources and Services Administration

(HRSA)

Parklawn Building

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov

Health Topics A-Z

http://www.cdc.gov/health/diseases.aspx

National Center for Injury Prevention and

Control (NCIPC)

Mailstop K65

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4770 Buford Highway, NE.

Atlanta, GA 30341-3724

770-488-1506

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc

National Health Information Center (NHIC)

P.O. Box 1133

Washington, DC 20013-1133

301-565-4167

800-336-4797

http://www.health.gov/nhic

National Incident-Based Reporting System

(NIBRS)

http://www.search.org/nibrs/

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

6001 Executive Blvd., Room 8184

MSC 9663

Bethesda, MD 20892-9663

301-443-4513

http://www.nimh.nih.gov

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism (NIAAA)

6000 Executive Blvd., Suite 505

Wilco Building

Bethesda, MD 20892-7003

301-443-1677

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

6001 Executive Blvd., Room 5213

MSC 9561

Bethesda, MD 20892-9561

http://www.drugabuse.gov

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20892

301-496-4000

http://www.nih.gov

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

8600 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20894

301-594-5983

http://www.nlm.nih.gov

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Research

National Institutes of Health

Building 1, Room 326

1 Center Drive

Bethesda, MD 20892-0183

http://obssr.od.nih.gov

Office of Minority Health

Bureau of Primary Health Care

4350 East-West Highway, 3rd Floor

Bethesda, MD 20814

301-594-4490

http://www.omhrc.gov/

Office of National Drug Control Policy

(ONDCP)

P.O. Box 6000

Rockville, MD 20849-6000

800-666-3332

http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy

Partnerships Against Violence Network

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(Pavnet)

http://www.pavnet.org

(This Federal partnership includes the U.S.

Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education,

Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban

Development, Labor, and Justice.)

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol

and Drug Information (NCADI)

P.O. Box 2345

Rockville, MD 20847-2345

800-729-6686

800-487-4889 TDD

http://ncadi.samhsa.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

301-443-6315

http://www.samhsa.gov

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics

http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

301-443-6315

http://www.samhsa.gov

The Uniform Crime Report

http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/crime/

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20530-0001

http://www.usdoj.gov

Other Resources

American Academy of Child and Adolescent

Psychiatry

3615 Wisconsin Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20016

202-966-7300

http://www.aacap.org

American Academy of Pediatrics

141 Northwest Point Blvd.

Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098

847-228-5005

http://www.aap.org

American Bar Association Coordinating

Committee on Gun Violence

750 N. Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60611

http://www.abanet.org/gunviol/pubhealth.aspx

American Council for Drug Education

164 West 74th Street

New York, NY 10023

800-488-DRUG

212-595-5810, x7860

http://www.acde.org

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American Medical Association

515 North State Street

Chicago, IL 60610

312-464-5000

http://www.ama-assn.org

American Psychiatric Association

1400 K Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20005

202-682-6000

http://wwww.psych.org

American Psychological Association

750 First Street, NE.

Washington, DC 20002-4242

202-336-5500

http://www.apa.org

Center for Media Education

2120 L Street, NW., Suite 200

Washington, DC 20037

202-331-7833

http://www.cme.org/

Center for Media Literacy

4727 Wilshire Blvd. #403

Los Angeles, CA 90010

800-226-9494

323-931-4177

http://www.medialit.org

Center for the Study and Prevention of

Violence

Institute of Behavioral Science

University of Colorado at Boulder

Campus Box 442

Boulder, CO 80309-0442

303-492-8465

http://www.colorado.edu/cspv

Center of Alcohol Studies

Rutgers University

607 Allison Road

Piscataway, NJ 08854-8001

732-445-3568

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~cas2/

Children Now

1212 Broadway, 5th Floor

Oakland, CA 94612

510-763-2444

http://www.childrennow.org/

Children's Defense Fund

25 E Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20001

202-628-8787

Educational Fund to End Handgun Violence

http://www.gunfree.org

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer Information Center

445 12th Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20554

888-225-5322

202-418-0190

http://www.fcc.gov/

Gun Control Network

Handgun Control, Inc., and the Center to

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Prevent Handgun Violence

1225 Eye Street, NW., Suite 1100

Washington, DC 20005

202-898-0792

Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan (HELP)

HELP Network

Children's Memorial Hospital

2300 Children's Plaza, #88

Chicago, IL 60614-3394

773-880-3826

Join Together (Gun Violence Project)

http://www.jointogether.org/gv

Media Research Center

325 South Patrick Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

800-672-1423

703-683-9733, x132

http://www.mediaresearch.org

Media Scope

12711 Ventura Blvd.

Suite 440

Studio City, CA 91604

818-508-2080

http://www.mediascope.org

Media Watch

P.O. Box 618

Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0618

800-631-6355

http://www.mediawatch.com/

Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse

School of Social Work

University of Minnesota

105 Peters Hall

1404 Gortner Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota 55108-6142

612-624-0721

800-646-2282 (For Minnesota residents only)

http://www.mincava.umn.edu

Mother Jones Guns and Gun Violence

Resources

The Foundation for National Progress

731 Market Street, Suite 600

San Francisco, CA 94103

415-665-6637

National Association of Broadcasters

1771 N Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20036

202-429-5300

http://www/nab.org

National Center on Addiction and Substance

Abuse at Columbia University

633 Third Avenue, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10017-6706

212-841-5200

http://www.casacolumbia.org

National Coalition on Television Violence

5132 Newport Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20816

http://www.nctvv.org

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug

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Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

12 West 21st, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10017

212-206-6770

800-NCA-CALL

http://www.ncadd.org

National Medical Association

1012 10th Street, NW.

Washington, DC 20001

202-347-1895

http://www.nmanet.org

Pacific Center for Violence Prevention

http://www.pcvp.org

Partnership for a Drug Free America

405 Lexington Avenue, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10174

212-922-1560

http://www.drugfreeamerica.org

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Violence Prevention Program

1101 14th Street, NW., Suite 700

Washington, DC 20005

202-898-0150

http://www.psr.org

UCLA Center for Communication Policy

Box 951586

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1586

http://www.ccp.ucla.edu/

Violence Policy Center

1140 19th Street, NW., Suite 600

Washington, DC 20036

202-822-8200

http://www.vpc.org

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