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To test whether the results of the accumulated studies on media violence and aggressive behavior are consistent with the theories that have evolved to explain the effects. We tested for the existence of both short-term and long-term effects for aggressive behavior. We also tested the theory-driven hypothesis that short-term effects should be greater for adults and long-term effects should be greater for children.

Meta-analysis.

Children younger than 18 years and adults.

Violent media, including TV, movies, video games, music, and comic books.

Measures of aggressive behavior, aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, physiological arousal (eg, heart rate, blood pressure), and helping behavior.

Effect size estimates were combined using meta-analytic procedures. As expected, the short-term effects of violent media were greater for adults than for …