FREQUENCY AND CHARACHTERISTICS OF VIOLENCE ON CROATIAN NATIONAL TELEVISION

Anja Wertag¹, Ivana Šakić¹, Maja Boban¹, Ljubica Bakić-Tomić²

Students on Croatia Studies, University of Zagreb, Croatia

E-mail: , ,

² Ljubica Bakic-Tomic,Ph. D., Teaching Faculty, University of Zagreb,

Abstract

Within a study curriculum, a group of senior students on faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, conducted content analysis to determine frequency and characteristics of violence (types of aggression as well as types of aggressive acts in presented shows) on Croatian national television. Analysis undertook 7 days (13.-19.02.2006.), between hours 7 am and 1 am. The programs that were taken into analysis were: HRT1, HRT2, Nova TV and RTL. As a basic analysis unit a scene containing violence was used. Besides types of aggression and types of aggressive acts, boundaries for age limits were analyzed. All together, there were 867 presented shows in analysis, of which more than half contained aggressive scenes, where was somewhat more physical (45,4%) than verbal aggression (42,7%). In 95% of presented shows, there were no warnings related to age boundaries. Movies, soap-operas and cartoons contained the largest amount of violent scenes on all the analyzed programs except on HRT1, where the largest amount of violent scenes was presented in news.

Key words: aggressive behavior, aggression in media, content analysis

INTRODUCTION

Most of the studies that were dealing with violence in media were conducted in United States and countries of Western Europe(Cumberbatch, 1995), while there are only few data on quantity of shown violence in media in Croatia.

National Television Violence study (1996 – 1998) determined that 61% of program contains violence, and Oliver (1994. acc. to Anderson& Bushman, 2001) has shown disproportion between shown violence on television (especially in so called reality-dramas) and actual situation. According to FBI report there are 87% of nonviolent crimes, and total of only 0,2% is related to murders. On the other hand, on television was presented such situation that only 13% are nonviolent criminal acts, while murders take up 50%.

Focusing on first unwanted consequence of exposure to the violence on television, which is learning aggressive behavior, number of longitudinal studies (for e.g. Eron, 1982; acc. to Aronson, Wilson & Akert 2005) have shown that children who see great quantity of violence on television also express greater quantity of violence in teenage years and as adults. Leyense’s study (Leyense et. all. 1975; acc. to Middlebrook, 1980) with young delinquents drew a parallel between the type of the aggressive act shown on the television and aggressive behavior preformed after. If the main subject of the shown program was physical violence, it dominated in later behavior of subjects

Inhibitions are temporarily suppressed by the drive to act. In the long term, a steady diet of graphic portrayals will tend to socialize viewers that strong violence is a normal part of everyday life and that it is a successful tool in resolving conflict (Huesmann, 1986; Huesmann et al., 1984). Thus, inhibitions gradually erode a person's schema for violence.

Increase in probability of expressed aggressive behavior due to exposure to the shown violence on television can originate also from disinhibition.There may be two processes at work in disinhibition - one that explains an immediate effect and another that explains a long term effect (Potter and Smith, 2000). In the short term effect we are dealing with increased emotional stimulation that causes person to react aggressively, while the long term effect goes for normalization - experiencing aggressive behavior as acceptable way of solving problems.

Second negative effect of exposure to violence on television is desensitization (dullness of sensitivity to aggressive events). That phenomenon has two explanations: first, by watching violence observer accepts conviction that violence is acceptable or even preferred in certain circumstances, and second, that watching violence promotes tolerance to the violence in daily life (Middlebrook, 1980). Therefore, exposure to great quantity of violence causes decrease of emotional reaction to aggressive behavior or increased indifference towards violence that can, lead to accepting of violence as integral part of the life. This theory was confirmed by experiment conducted by Thomas et. all. (1982; acc. to Aronson et. all., 2005) in which it was determined that the subjects that were exposed to greater quantity of violence have been ready to give stronger electric shocks to their colleagues, and that they had lower emotional stimulation when compared to control group.

Third effect of repeated exposure to violence on television is creating excessive fear from possible victimization - people who often watch television can draw a conclusion that world is very dangerous and unfriendly oriented place (Aronson et. all., 2005). Gerbner et. all. (1979; acc. to Myers, 1990) have shown that people who watch great deal of television have exaggerated frequency of violence in real world, and were more afraid of victimization as well as suspicious and distrustful towards other people.

It was shown that children of pre-school age are watching television the most, followed by retired people, and educated people are watching television the least (Myers, 2005). Research conducted on children’s program shows that children on average see 20 violent scenes in one hour (Gebner, 1980; Gross 1986; all acc. to Myers, 2005). Meanwhile, problem does not represent only frequency of violence shown in children’s program but also characteristics of violent acts in those programs. Violence is frequently shown as morally correct (positive characters often use violence in fighting negative characters), and that increases probability of imitation (Krcmar and Cook, 2001). Also, Williams et. all. (1982; acc. to Wilson et. all., 2002) have shown that animated films and cartoons contain more violence then non-animated shows for children. Regarding the fact that animated films and cartoons are mostly shown in the spirit of humor, effects of disinhibition and desensitization in children is increased.

In this work frequency of aggression and some characteristics of showing aggressive scenes on leading TV stations in Croatia will be examined.

GOAL AND AIMS

Goal of analysis was to determine frequency and basic characteristics of violence on leading TV stations in Croatia in given period.

Aims of the analysis were:

  1. Determine the frequency of shown violence regarding to the type of the show and frequency of that type of the show
  2. Determine the frequency of the show of certain type of violence and frequency of show of different types of violent acts regarding to the type of the show
  3. Determine age of the viewers that show is intended for.

PROCEDURE

Period for analysis of TV programs was 7 days (from 13. – 19. February, 2006) from 7 am until 1 am. Within given goals following TV programs were analyzed: HRT1 (First program of Croatian national television), HRT2 (Second program of Croatian national television), Nova TV and RTL. As a basic analysis unit a scene containing violence was used. Under such scene it was considered every scene in which one or more persons express aggression (verbal of physical) towards other person, group of people, or property, or verbally reporting on such an event.

Analyses matrix

Analyses matrix was used, in which certain criteria was determined for analysis of basic unit based on following information:

  1. Television program – categories: HRT1; HRT2; Nova TV; and RTL
  2. Name of the show, date and time of the program
  3. Type of the show – categories: played movie; animated film; serial; humor serial; soap-opera; talk show; documentary program; informative program; entertainment program; education program; children program; other
  4. Program is intended for – categories: children and youth; adults; all
  5. Type of aggression – categories: verbal; physical; verbal and physical

Judges and analysis procedure

Judges in analyses were 55 students of 4th year of psychology on Faculty of Croatian Studies from University of Zagreb that were previously trained to estimate. Each of the judges were in charge for following 5 or 6 in advance determined terms during one and half our. During analyses were not analyzed contents relating to the show of the aggressive sports (for instance karate, kick-boxing and such) nor those showing suicides, traffic accidents. Total number of analyzed scenes that met stated criteria was 1754.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Frequency of shown aggression regarding to the type of the show and TV station

Regarding to the already mentioned finding that in the greatest measure we learn and perform behavior that is most presented on television (Leyens et. all., 1975; acc. to Middlebrook, 1980) frequency of different types of violent acts in certain types of the shows was analyzed. It turned out that on Croatian TV stations most often is presented quarrel (31,9%). Great number of violent scenes is related to murders (23,4%), which is still less than half then presented in Oliver’s analysis (1994; acc. to Anderson and Bushman, 2001). Also, fight is shown quite frequently (21,6%).

It has shown that RTL was showing the greatest number of aggressive scenes (626 in 148 shows), and Nova TV was showing somewhat less (543 in 112 shows). HRT1 has shown 373 aggressive scenes in 148 shows, while HRT2 has shown the least violence in their program (212 aggressive scenes in 66 shows).

Nova TV and RTL have similar profile of the program where most of the aggressive scenes could be seen in movies, soap operas and animated films (and in the case of RTL in humor serials), while on HRT1 most aggression could be seen in informative programs.

The most aggressive scenes can be seen in movies (21,1%), and somewhat less in soap-operas (18,3%). Also, greater deal of aggressive scenes can be seen in animated films (13,6%) and informative programs (11,7%), Regarding the type of aggression shown in certain programs, physical aggression is shown in most of the cases (45,5%), followed by verbal aggression (42,7%). Verbal and physical aggression were shown the least (11,9%).

Frequency of showing different types of aggressive acts regarding the type of the program

Verbal aggression is mostly present in soap-operas (12,2%) that are known for frequent verbal conflicts of characters, which contributes to drama in that type of the shows. Also, more verbal aggression are in played movies (7,7%) and humor serials (6% - in case of sarcastic comment). Physical aggression is most present in movies (10,6%). Somewhat more of physical violence also can be seen in animated films (7,2%) and informative programs (7%).

Quarrel as aggressive act dominates in soap operas (10,2%), as already stated. Murders are mostly present in movies (6,4%). There are many reports on murders in informative programs (4,8%), since they represent interesting news. Fights are mostly present in animated films (5,5%) and somewhat less in movies (4,8%).

Regarding showed violence on television, finding from the study of informal character (TV Guide, 1977; acc. to Myers, 2005) conducted with prisoners, shows that 9 of 10 prisoners recognized that they have learned new tricks by watching television, and 4 of 10 prisoners said that they have tried specific crime seen on television. What is also concerning is the fact that such types of programs consisted of many violent scenes are in great measure present on TV stations in Croatia.

Age of the viewers that show is intended for

Most of the programs are assigned for all viewers (274), in which were 1018 aggressive scenes. By frequency followed programs assigned to the adults (130), in which were 514 aggressive scenes. In shows assigned for children (42) were 214 aggressive scenes. Although on the first hand it could seem that results are not in accordance to Wilson’s findings (Wilson et. all., 2002 - programs assigned for the children consist mostly of violence) it should be taken into consideration that the number of the shows assigned to the children is very small comparing with those assigned to all viewers and adults.

Today on TV stations there are many different types of animated films. Nathanson (1997; acc. to Wilson et. all.., 2002) makes difference between classical, action, futuristic and adventure animated films. Increase in number of different animated films creates a problem not only because there is greater number of aggressive scenes in them, but also main characters (like Spiderman) are shown as righteous characters that are using violence against negative characters, which represents a problem if violence is shown as morally correct. That is closely related with cognitive skill of moral reasoning (capability to choose solutions that are ethically correct when an individual is faced with moral dilemma), which is not developed enough in early childhood. (Krcmar & Cook, 2001). It should be clear why there is greater probability of imitating aggressive behavior if it is presented as morally correct: ‘righteous’ characters in animated movies have good intentions and that is the reason why their violence seems justified to children.

SPECIFIC CONCLUSIONS

  1. Analysis of the contents of television programs of leading TV stations in Croatia has shown that something more than half of the programs containes violence. From analyzed programs, RTL has the most aggressive scenes (626 in 148 shows), Nova TV follows (with 543 aggressive scenes in 112 shows). HRT1 has closely half the less aggressive scenes (373 in 120 shows) while HRT2 has the least (212 aggressive scenes in 66 shows). The most of aggressive scenes on all TV programs was shown in movies, soap operas and animated films, except on HRT1 where most of aggressive scenes were shown in informative programs. In general, physical aggression is mostly often is presented (45,4%).
  2. From aggressive acts the most present are quarrels (31,9%), which are most common for the soap operas, murders (23,4%), which are most present in played movies and informative programs, and fights (21,6%), which can most often be seen in animated films and movies.
  3. It has been shown that majority of programs are assigned to all viewers (64%), among which there is the biggest number of soap operas (93). Significantly less of the programs are assigned to the adults (25%), among which there are mostly informative programs (104), while the smallest number of the programs are assigned to children and youth (11%), among which there are most animated movies (40). In most of the programs there is no age limit.

GENERAL CONCLUSION

This analysis shows trend of TV stations in Croatia that they are, according to the shown program, becoming more and more alike to European and TV stations in United States – which can have good, but also very bad consequences. As good side, getting closer to world standards in quality of the program can be seen, but on the other hand programs are becoming more saturated with violence and with potentially more dangerous consequences. Fact is that world media lobbies are familiar with scientific data on influence of violence presented on television, and that despite of that, violence remains one of the main themes in wide variety of programs.

REFERENCES

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