Douglas Gentile, a research scientist, author and psychology professor, will present “It isn’t IS Brain Science: Media Violence as a Risk Factor for Aggression” on Monday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium in Melrose Hall at Linfield.
Gentile, an associate professor of developmental psychology at Iowa State University, will discuss psychological theory and research that has demonstrated both short-term and long-term effect of media violence on children, adolescents and adults. Gentile will review the research and demonstrate how using a public health risk and resilience approach can allow us to cut through the rhetoric to achieve a deeper understanding of this controversial issue. Jennifer Linder, Linfield professor of psychology, has conducted research and co-authored articles with Gentile.
Gentile’s experience includes over 25 years of research with children and adults. He is the editor of the book “Media Violence and Children” and co-author of the book “Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research and Public Policy.” He has written many peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, including studies on the positive and negative effects of video games on children in several countries, the validity of the American media ratings, how screen time contributes to youth obesity and what is being called video game and Internet “addiction.” Some of his work has also been reported on CNN, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Jo Frost’s Extreme Parental Guidance, the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and many others.
In 2010, Gentile was honored with the Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Media Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association. He was also named one of the Top 300 Professors in the United States by the Princeton Review.
The event is sponsored and coordinated by the Linfield PLACE program (Program for Liberal Arts and Civic Engagement), the Office of Academic Affairs and the Linfield Psychology Department. For more information, contact Linder at 503-883-2441, jlinder@linfield.edu.
