Media theories

Copycat theory

This theory puts forward the idea of recreating a violent act such as murder or suicide from a media text in real life. The film 'Child's Play' has been associated with a few 'copycat' crimes: In December 1992, four people who tortured and killed a 16 year old girl were said to be influenced by one of the 'Child's Play' movies. Furthermore, during the torturing, the perpetrators were said to have taunted her with quotes from the film.

Desensitization theory

This theory puts forward the idea that because people are so exposed to violence in the media, violence no longer has a strong emotional impact upon them. By watching violent films, a viewer will not become upset when watching others as they have become desensitized or used to it.  However, the debate surrounding this concept is whether people will also be desensitized to real life violence. If a person watches a violent film, and then sees a real dead body on the street, will this person still experience desensitization?

Cultivation theory

Cultivation theory focuses more on how people's attitudes are impacted by the media, rather than just behaviors. It therefore theorists focus more on how people think rather than what they do. Much of this research involves comparing the attitudes of heavy media users, moderate media users, and light media users.