Social Psychology of Media Effects

Communication Science (MC&RP): Prof. Brad Bushman

Brad Bushman is an internationally renowned expert on media-induced aggression, working as full professor at the University of Michigan, USA. His research on the causes and consequences of human aggression has challenged several societal myths, e.g. violent media have a trivial effect on aggression; venting anger reduces aggression; violent people suffer from low self-esteem; violence and sex on televeision sell products; and warning labels on television programs reduce audience size. Prof. Bushman is also an expert on meta-analysis, a quantitative approach to reviewing the scientific literature.

Bushman visits the Department of Communication Science each year for a two-month period to participate in collective research projects. Collaboration with Prof. Bushman has already resulted in joint research proposals, projects, and publications in high impact journals (e.g. Konijn & Bushman 2007; Bushman, Ridge, Das, Key, and Busath 2007; Lemmens, Bushman, and Konijn 2006; for more information see the documentation from the research programme “Message Characteristics and Receiver Processes”).

During his yearly visits Prof. Bushman also teaches courses in research topics (e.g. effects of using violent media) and advanced methodology (e.g. meta analysis) for PhD students, departmental researchers, and researchers members of NESCoR (the Dutch research school for communication scientists).