Abstract
Research has consistently shown that violent media exposure increases the prevalence of aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior among consumers. Although these effects have been well-established, a far less studied outcome is the tendency for violent media consumers to perceive the world in an increasingly hostile and dangerous manner and the implications of such worldviews. Building upon prior research on student reporting of potential campus violence, the present study tests the idea that being sensitive to danger in the world, a consequence of violent media exposure, may be associated with students' willingness to report potential threats to campus safety. The hypothesis was tested as a serial mediation model in a sample of undergraduates, with results supporting the proposed pathway. Limitations of the findings are discussed, along with their implications for both future research on media violence effects and for policymakers aiming to recognize and prevent campus violence.
Public Significance Statement
This study suggests that a possible benefit of consuming violent media content may be that it makes consumers perceive the world as a more dangerous and hostile place, something that could make them more able and willing to recognize and report incidents that foreshadow violence. Understanding this link may prove valuable in the development of interventions aimed at reducing campus violence.