Violence In Movies

 

52% Say Violence in Video Games, Movies Leads to More Violence in Society

 

Rasmussen Reports: After alleged shooter James Holmes killed 12 people in a shooting spree at a midnight screening of the newest Batman film, many were wondering whether violence in movies leads to more violence in society.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults do believe violent movies and television shows lead to more violence in society. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree, but 14% are not sure.

Adults feel generally the same about violent video games: 52% think violent video games lead to more violence in society, but 32% disagree and 16% are not sure. 

However, this belief is down slightly from February, when 57% felt violence in movies lead to more violence in society.  In June of 2011, 55% said the same of violent video games.

Most adults say they are at least somewhat concerned about the level of violence in video games and in television and movies today. Sixty-eight percent (68%) are concerned about the level of violence in video games, including 42% who are Very Concerned. Thirty percent (30%) are not concerned about violence in video games, including 11% who are Not At All Concerned.

Similarly, 69% say they are concerned about the level of violence on television and in movies today, including 37% who are Very Concerned. Another 30% are not concerned, including eight percent (8%)

When it comes to the conflict between limiting the level of violence in media and defending free speech, though, most Americans favor free speech. Over half of adults (58%) say protecting freedom of speech is more important than limiting the level of violence in the media. Thirty-one percent (31%) feel limiting violence takes precedence, but 11% are not sure.

Women feel more strongly than men that violence in video games and movies leads to more violence in society. They are also more likely than men to say that limiting the level of violence in the media is more important than protecting freedom of speech.

Adults over 40 are much more concerned about the level of violence in video games, television and movies than those under 40 are. Adults over 40 also feel more strongly than those under 40 that such violence in the media leads to more violence in society.

Interestingly, adults without children at home are more concerned about the level of violence in both video games and in television and movies compared to adults with children at home.

While the Aurora, Colorado shooting had people speculating about the effects of violent movies on society, it also raised questions about gun laws in the country. Separate polling finds that 41% of Americans now think the United States needs stricter gun control laws. Fifty-one percent (51%) disagree and oppose more anti-gun laws.

View the original publication here.

The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on July 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.