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Chapter 11
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-3082-4.ch011
ABSTRACT
The media is one of the main resources from which people derive information about events surrounding
them. The media tries to mirror realities, transmit various events, including cases of aggression and
violence; however, lack of control on quality and quantity of information may result in perilous outcomes.
This chapter ofers a psychological analysis of the infuence of media on crime in society, as well as
the relation of crime levels with information about aggression and violence. The results of the research
suggest that frequent, overstated, and embellished media disseminations of information of an aggressive
character, without considering its possible psychological outcomes, increases viewers’ levels of aggres-
sion and violence. In order to prevent this increase, it is crucial not to eliminate aggressive information
from media completely, but instead to present it while taking into account its psychological efects.
INTRODUCTION
One of the primary sources society receives information from is the media, where aggression, violence,
and whatever happens in reality is described in maximum and sensationalized. The quantity and quality
of mediated information and its presentation forms should be taken into consideration, because, otherwise
it can cause dangerous consequences for society.
Research conducted on this topic in the USA, Canada, and North Africa between 1957-1989 has
shown that, always and everywhere, increased exposure to television correlated significantly with in-
creased quantity of murders (Старова, n.d.). Recently a growth has been observed related to the crime
of violence and particularly domestic violence crimes in families in Azerbaijan. Naturally, citizens have
the right to receive information from media about what happens around the globe, including the crime
level of society. While journalists should not hide the facts about crimes committed, they sometimes
The Psychological Effects
of Violence-Related
Information From the Media
Lala Jabbarova
Baku State University, Azerbaijan