From Dr. Dre to Dismissed: Assessing Violence, Sex, and Substance Use on MTV

MTV is the world’s most popular television network. The target audience is 12-34 year olds and USA Today has said that this network molds the way that audience “looks, talks, acts and consumes.”  Eighty percent of 9^th to 12^th graders reported watching MTV at least two hours a day although parents regard it as the second most discouragable program to watch.

                Social science shows that viewing media violence (as in through music videos) contributes directly to aggressive behavior as it shows viewers that violence is acceptable and un-punishable. It also brings up aggressive memories and the probability of ‘generalized aggression.’ Violence is prominent: it is in up to 61% of music videos. This, of course, differs along genre lines. Rap videos were more likely to feature physical aggression, which is more than in rock videos which is in turn, more than rhythm and blues. One study found that “males exposed to violent rap videos were more accepting of violent conflict resolution.” Another found that almost any type of violence will heighten the probability of aggression.