"Just How Graphic Are Graphic Novels?" An Examination of Aggression Portrayals in Manga and Associations With Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents

Keywords

Manga, graphic Novels, Aggression, Media violence

Abstract

Manga, a type of graphic novel, represent a widely popular literary genre worldwide and are one of the fastest growing areas of the publishing arena aimed at adolescents in the United States. However, to our knowledge, there has been almost no empirical research examining content or effects of reading manga. This article consists of 2 studies. Study 1 represents a content analysis of aggressive behavior in best-selling manga aimed at adolescents. Results revealed that aggression was common and was often portrayed in ways that may influence subsequent behavior. Study 2 examined the relationship between reading manga and aggressive behavior in 223 adolescents. Manga readers were more physically aggressive than non-manga readers and also reported more peer relationships with lonely individuals and smaller groups. In addition, reading manga with particularly high levels of aggression was associated with physical aggression even after controlling for media violence exposure in other media. Implications regarding these findings are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Coyne, S. M., Callister, M., *Stockdale, L., *Coutts, H., & *Collier, K. M. (2015). “Just how graphic are graphic novels?” An examination of aggression portrayals in manga and associations with aggressive behavior in adolescents. Violence and Victims, 30, 208-224.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2015

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5168

Publisher

Violence and Victims

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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