Whether or not exposure to media violence causes increased levels of aggression and violence in young people is the perennial question of media effects research. Some experts argue that fifty years of evidence show that exposure to media violence causes children to behave more aggressively and affects them as adults years later. Others maintain that the scientific evidence simply does not show that watching violence either produces violence in people, or desensitizes them to it.

Join Albert Bandue and Stanley Baran as they discuss the scientific research into media violence and why there is such a lack on consensus on this issue.

Speakers:
Albert Bandura, Professor of Psychology, Stanford University
Stanley Baran, Professor of Communication, Bryant University

About Wonderfest Dialogues:
Wonderfest dialogues between pairs of researchers reveal the human/emotional side of science, and they entrust the listener with the responsibility of making up his/her own mind. They are divided into 3 equal segments: 30 minutes of introductory background remarks, 30 minutes of “debate,” and then 30 minutes of questions from the audience. High school science faculty serve as discussion moderators, and student volunteers offer assistance at each venue.