Author(s) :

Theodora Papageorgiou .

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

With the rapid evolution of social media, children are spending more time on screens than ever before. Given this increased screen time, there is growing concern about violent media because such exposure can result in normalized aggressive behavior. Exposure to violent content and its effects on childhood aggressive behavior are examined, with particular focus on the role of gender and the specific context of Greece. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 mothers of school children living in Athens, Greece. Most mothers perceived that both girls and boys exposed to media violence expressed some form of aggression and/or violent thoughts. However, girls expressed a different kind of aggression than boys, as a result of their different content preferences. Specifically, girls express verbal violence, whereas boys resort to physical violence. Future studies should examine whether the gender differences in expressing violence follow children into their adult lives.