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Research Report

“It Doesn’t Affect Me!” – Do Immunity Beliefs Prevent Subsequent Aggression After Playing a Violent Video Game?

Published Online:January 04, 2023https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000369

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.

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