Daniel Linz and Edward Donnerstein criticize the research methods and conclusions of pornography researchers Dolf Zillmann and Jennings Bryant (who allege that consumption of pornography results in antisocial effects). Zillman and Bryant respond. (ARH)

Defines the violence profile as a set of indicators tracing aspects of the television world and of conceptions of social reality they tend to cultivate in the viewer's minds. Suggests using cultural indicators as a framework for a progress report on a long-range study of trends in television content and effects. (MH)

Compares newspaper readers' estimates of the incidence of specific crimes with the amount of news coverage that crime received and the readers' fears of being victimized with the crime news available to them. Suggests that newspaper emphasis upon relatively infrequent violent crimes may contribute to fear of criminal attack. (JMF)

Analyzes how war is treated in four films: "The Deerhunter,""Patton,""M*A*S*H," and "Apocalypse Now." Considers the critical question of how art handles the implication that "slaughter is attractive, necessary, or somehow glorious." (PD)

Contributes to research on schema theory and media effects by examining how violence is portrayed in comedy programs. Finds a high rate of violence (especially verbal forms) on comedy programs; and the combination of humor, minor acts of violence, and program context tend to trivialize its presence. Suggests that viewers' schema for comedy uses…

Reviews U.S. court decisions on cases in which a child or young adult was the victim of violence that was said to have been induced by the media. Suggests that the courts have generally hesitated to hold media organizations accountable for inciting the violent acts of individuals. (NKA)

Assesses the number of violent episodes aired on television each hour of each day during a one week period, and assesses the rate of this violence which is attributable to each of the major commercial sponsors of television programs. (MH)

Indicates that prime-time television presents a remarkably consistent portrayal of the world across program genres and that it offers few scheduling alternatives to avoiding violence-laden adventure programs. Finds that the average viewer has little opportunity to exercise any kind of choice in viewing. (JD)

Examines the relative relationship of heavy and light television viewing and anxiety. Studies the effect of action adventure programs in which justice triumphs and those with a preponderance of injustice on anxiety and on viewers' voluntary selective exposure to further action adventure fare. (JMF)

Discusses the findings of the eighth annual TV Violence Profile report confirming a sharp increase in televised violence across dramatic program categories. (MH)

Argues that the inclusion of viewer interpretation variables in experimental design and analysis procedures can greatly increase the methodology's ability to explain variance. Focuses attention on the between-group differences, while an analysis of how individual participants interpret the cues in the stimulus material focused attention on the…

Investigates the validity of the television industry's labeling of sensitive program content following the advent of the V-chip television ratings system. Examines programs for the nature and extent of portrayals of violence, sexual behavior and dialogue, and adult language. Suggests there are substantial limitations in the ability of the V-chip…

Provides support for the hypothesis that a causal relationship exists between exposure to television violence and aggressive behavior in children. (MH)

Reports on a study relating viewing film violence and aggressive verbal behavior. The effects of two viewing experiences in a nonlaboratory setting demonstrate the generalizability of previous laboratory results. (JMF)