Violence against women in video games: a prequel or sequel to rape myth acceptance?
Beck, V.S.; Boys, S.; Rose, C.; Beck, E.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 27(15): 3016-3031
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1552-6518 PMID: 22550147 DOI: 10.1177/0886260512441078Document Number: 251226
Current research suggests a link between negative attitudes toward women and violence against women, and it also suggests that media may condition such negative attitudes. When considering the tremendous and continued growth of video game sales, and the resulting proliferation of sexual objectification and violence against women in some video games, it is lamentable that there is a dearth of research exploring the effect of such imagery on attitudes toward women. This study is the first study to use actual video game playing and control for causal order, when exploring the effect of sexual exploitation and violence against women in video games on attitudes toward women. By employing a Solomon Four-Group experimental research design, this exploratory study found that a video game depicting sexual objectification of women and violence against women resulted in statistically significant increased rape myths acceptance (rape-supportive attitudes) for male study participants but not for female participants.