Do children who watch violent TV shows become violent themselves, or is anyone from any background capable of murder? This program explores two theories of extreme aggression: that it is learned from media and other elements of one's social environment, and that it can be induced by the command of authority figures. Research into violence is illustrated using Milgram's conformity experiments, Hannah Arendt's ideas about "the banality of evil" in Nazi concentration camps, the Columbine shootings, and the tragic case of James Bulger, a toddler who was murdered in 1993 by two 10-year-olds from abusive households.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 27, 2013. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Murder of James Bulger (2:58) -- Social Learning Theory (3:12) -- Violence in Television and Movies (1:51) -- Script Theory (2:02) -- Critique of Longitudinal Studies (1:58) -- Columbine High School Tragedy (1:53) -- The Banality of Evil (2:02) -- Milgram Experiments (2:53) -- Social Identity Theory (2:55) -- Credits: Aggression: Is Violence Learned? (0:30).