Music Videos and Lyrics, Violent Content in

One of the fundamental concerns driving the interest in violent content in music lyrics and videos is whether such content influences consumers’ thoughts and behaviors in a deleterious way. Available evidence has demonstrated that there is indeed a link between violent content in music lyrics and videos and subsequent attitudes and perceived social norms toward violence, as well as aggressive thoughts and behaviors. However, the relationship between violent content and violent behaviors is multifaceted and influenced by a wide range of additional factors. There is ample evidence that violent content has been present in music throughout recorded history—with varying degrees of overt references to and graphic descriptions of violence that have become of increasing concern in recent decades. This concern has been accelerated by the ...