“A Silver Lining”: Violent Media, Perceptions of a Dangerous World, and Campus Safety Intervention

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.