In a troubling development, new research has revealed that talk of homicide is becoming increasingly prevalent in movie dialogue, a trend that has health experts deeply concerned. The study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found a small but significant rise in characters casually discussing murder or killing over the past 50 years – and not just in crime films.
“The surprising thing is the increase occurs not just for crime genres, which you would expect because they’re violent, but also for non-crime genres,” noted lead author Brad Bushman, a professor of communication at Ohio State University. This pervasive “murder talk” across all types of movies has researchers worried about the potential impact on viewers, especially children.
A Disturbing Upward Trend
To conduct the study, Bushman and his colleagues analyzed dialogue from a staggering 166,534 English-language films produced between 1970 and 2020. Using data from the website OpenSubtitles.org, they searched for verbs with “kill” or “murder” as their root, excluding questions, negations, and passive forms.
The results were eye-opening: across all genres and characters, the usage of these “murderous verbs” within dialogue increased from 0.21% in the early 1970s to 0.37% in 2020. While the overall percentage remains small, the upward trajectory is unmistakable.
Crime and Non-Crime Genres Affected
Digging deeper, the researchers discovered that the rise in homicidal language was not limited to crime movies, as one might expect. In fact, non-crime films showed a similar uptick over time. However, an interesting gender disparity emerged:
- Male characters exhibited increased “murder talk” in both crime and non-crime movies
- Female characters only showed this increase in non-crime genres
Desensitization and Aggression Fears
The study’s authors expressed grave concerns about the potential real-world consequences of this trend, particularly for young, impressionable viewers. “We know there are many harmful effects of exposure to violent media,” Bushman warned. “It increases aggressive behavior, but also makes people desensitized, numb, to the pain and suffering of others.”
Adults can make their own choices, but I’m especially concerned about children being exposed to violence in the media.
– Brad Bushman, lead study author
Previous research has indeed suggested links between violent media consumption and increased aggression in young people, as well as higher levels of antisocial behavior and emotional distress. The cumulative effect of exposure to on-screen violence, the researchers argue, can shape a distorted worldview.
Promoting Media Literacy and Mindful Consumption
In light of their findings, the study’s authors are calling for a concerted effort to promote “mindful consumption and media literacy,” especially for vulnerable groups like children. While adults can make informed viewing choices, parents and educators play a crucial role in helping kids navigate an increasingly violence-saturated media landscape.
Some skepticism remains about the conclusiveness of the link between fictional violence and real-world aggression. “It’s a huge logical jump to go from counting the number of ‘murderous’ words in a movie, especially when that count is free of any context as to why the word is being used, to vague talk about health concerns,” noted Peter Etchells, a psychology and science communication professor at Bath Spa University. “This isn’t something I would really be worrying about.”
Nevertheless, the study provides compelling evidence of a disquieting dialogue trend in cinema over the past half-century. As the debate continues about the societal impact of media violence, promoting critical viewing skills and healthy media habits remains a priority for many health professionals and child advocates. In an entertainment landscape where murder is increasingly treated as casual conversation, such efforts may be more vital than ever.
The study’s authors expressed grave concerns about the potential real-world consequences of this trend, particularly for young, impressionable viewers. “We know there are many harmful effects of exposure to violent media,” Bushman warned. “It increases aggressive behavior, but also makes people desensitized, numb, to the pain and suffering of others.”
Adults can make their own choices, but I’m especially concerned about children being exposed to violence in the media.
– Brad Bushman, lead study author
Previous research has indeed suggested links between violent media consumption and increased aggression in young people, as well as higher levels of antisocial behavior and emotional distress. The cumulative effect of exposure to on-screen violence, the researchers argue, can shape a distorted worldview.
Promoting Media Literacy and Mindful Consumption
In light of their findings, the study’s authors are calling for a concerted effort to promote “mindful consumption and media literacy,” especially for vulnerable groups like children. While adults can make informed viewing choices, parents and educators play a crucial role in helping kids navigate an increasingly violence-saturated media landscape.
Some skepticism remains about the conclusiveness of the link between fictional violence and real-world aggression. “It’s a huge logical jump to go from counting the number of ‘murderous’ words in a movie, especially when that count is free of any context as to why the word is being used, to vague talk about health concerns,” noted Peter Etchells, a psychology and science communication professor at Bath Spa University. “This isn’t something I would really be worrying about.”
Nevertheless, the study provides compelling evidence of a disquieting dialogue trend in cinema over the past half-century. As the debate continues about the societal impact of media violence, promoting critical viewing skills and healthy media habits remains a priority for many health professionals and child advocates. In an entertainment landscape where murder is increasingly treated as casual conversation, such efforts may be more vital than ever.
