Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Posted
8:48 AM
by Gene
More epochal brilliance from Stale.com:A study argues that violent movies reduce crime. Old idea: Violent movies arouse violent feelings. New idea: Yeah, but these movies attract violent people, thereby keeping them off the streets. Data [PDF]: 1) "Between 6PM and 12AM, a one million increase in the audience for violent movies reduces violent crime by 1.1 to 1.3 percent." 2) "After exposure to the movie, between 12AM and 6AM, violent crime is reduced by an even larger percent." 3) "Violent movies deter almost 1,000 assaults on an average weekend." Theory: "Self-selection of violent individuals into violent movie attendance" results in their "voluntary incapacitation," keeping them away from booze and mischief. Caveats: 1) The study doesn't address long-term net effects of violent movies. 2) Non-violent movies reduce crime more effectively than violent movies do. 3) So would midnight basketball, video games, and any other activity that keeps young men off the streets. 4) The guy who did the study doesn't let his own kids watch violent movies. (Related: Web porn reduces sex crimes.)
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