Who Watches Verbally Aggressive Shows?

Abstract

A television-use questionnaire was completed by undergraduate college students (N = 773). Based on results from the television-use survey, respondents’ popular television programs (33 shows) were content-analyzed for amounts of verbal aggression. A measure called the Verbal Aggression Television Consumption Index (VATCI) was calculated for each individual by combining the results of the content analysis with participants’ reported viewing levels. We examined the effects of various personality factors on the VATCI (both overall and by genre). Additionally, the relationship between the VATCI and risk behaviors was evaluated. Both sensation seeking and viewer aggression positively predicted overall VATCI and, in particular, VATCI for animated sitcoms and political satires. Overall VATCI was positively associated with risky driving, fighting, delinquency, alcohol drinking, and drug use. Implications of findings are discussed.