"It Doesn't Affect Me!" - Do Immunity Beliefs Prevent Subsequent Aggression After Playing a Violent Video Game?

Abstract

Abstract. We identified participants in the United States ( N = 302) who believed that they were vulnerable to becoming more aggressive after playing a violent video game (a vulnerability belief) and those who believed that playing violent video games would not make them more aggressive (an immunity belief). Participants played either a violent or a nonviolent video game and then competed with a fictional opponent in a competitive reaction time task. Results revealed that those with an immunity belief did not behave more aggressively after playing a violent video game. Unexpectedly, those with a vulnerability belief behaved less aggressively after playing a violent video game. We discuss implications for future research and media literacy education.