Deck 22: A: Reading

Question 1

Which of the following is not a conclusion about aggressive behavior drawn by Berkowitz as a result of his research?

A) People who have been angered and then see filmed violence will act more aggressively than people who have not been angered before seeing filmed violence.
B) Aggressive behavior is most often directed toward specific targets.
C) Films with violent themes and scenes make anyone who sees them act more aggressively and at approximately the same level of aggression.
D) A frustrated person can enjoy fantasy aggression.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In Berkowitz's study on the effects of filmed aggression, participants who were paired with an annoying confederate rather than a neutral co-worker:

A) were more likely to be noncooperative in their joint task.
B) were more likely to shock their co-worker.
C) were less likely to see the aggression in the film as justified.
D) rated the experimenter more negatively in a post-experimental questionnaire.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Berkowitz's study of the effects of filmed aggression on behavior was designed to test which of the following theories?

A) the serial killer syndrome
B) catharsis
C) cognitive dissonance
D) compliance

Answer 3

B

Question 4

From his own research and from his analysis of related work by others, Berkowitz maintains that the most important danger in viewing film violence is that:

A) for a short period right after viewing violence, a person is predisposed to act violently.
B) it has long-term effects on memory, which can lead the viewer to act aggressively for a long period after viewing the film.
C) violent films are so impactful that the emotional trauma of viewing them is never eliminated.
D) a "systematic desensitization" to violence occurs, such that the more viewers watch violent films, the more violence those films must contain in order to have the same arousing effects.

Question 5

Berkowitz's experimental findings suggest that one of the key factors affecting whether viewing filmed violence will lead to aggressive behavior is:

A) if the violence is especially graphic.
B) if the violence is portrayed as justified.
C) if the type of violence in the film is consistent with the viewer's past behavior.
D) if the violence is seen in a large group.