Faculty

Qualifications:

Ph.D (Social Psychology), 1989, University of Missouri
M.A. (Psychology), 1987, University of Missouri
M.A. (Statistics), 1990, University of Missouri
M.Ed. (Secondary Education), 1985, Utah State University
B.S. (Psychology), 1984, Weber State University

Courses Taught:

Communication in Society (COMM 1100)
Violent Media (COMM 2442)
Social Psychology (PSYCH 3325)
Advanced Research Methods in Communication (COMM 8801) 

Quick Introduction:

Brad J. Bushman is a professor of communication and psychology at The Ohio State University, and a professor of communication science at the VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands in the summer.  He studies the causes, consequences, and solutions to the problem of human aggression and violence. His research has challenged several 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 sell products, warning labels reduce audience size). (One of his colleagues calls him the "myth buster.") He has over 130 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including in the top scientific journals (e.g., Science, Nature). His research has been featured on television (e.g., ABC News 20/20, CBS Evening News, Jim Lehrer NewsHour, O'Reilly Factor), on radio (BBC, NPR, ABC, CBS, NBC, CBC) in magazines (e.g., Scientific American, Newsweek, Time, Health, Sports Illustrated), and in newspapers (e.g., New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today).

Psychology Today blogs (39,000+ readers):

Why Do People Deny Violent Media Effects?
The "Weapons Effect"
Video Game Guns and Realistic Guns
Do Violent Video Games Increase Aggression?
The Tradeoffs of Gun Ownership
Why Violent Shooting Sprees Can Paralyze People With Fear

 
Research:

President Obama's Committee on gun violence:
Agenda
Bushman PowerPoint
 

National Science Foundation (NSF) youth violence report:
Youth violence: What we need to know
Congressional testimony

Popular press coverage:

ANGER MANAGEMENT
Venting anger doesn't work
New York Times
Fitness
In-Mind

Revenge tastes "sweet," but doesn't work
NPR

Self-distancing works
Wall Street Journal
ABC News

Prayer works
Fox News
ScienceDaily
The Columbus Dispatch

WHO IS MOST AGGRESSIVE?
Winners (not losers) are
The Atlantic
Academic Minute 

Narcissists (not people with low self esteem) are
Newsweek
ABC News 20/20

FACTORS THAT INCREASE AND DECREASE AGGRESSION
Hot temperatures increase violent crime
National Geographic

Alcohol increases aggression
Scientific American
NBC News
USA Today

Glucose decreases aggression
Psychology Today

Relaxing video games decrease aggression
ScienceDaily
Reuters
Chicago Tribune

VIOLENT MEDIA
U.S. Supreme Court case on violent video games
Wired
NPR

"Boom headshot:" Violent games increase firing accuracy
Discovery News
Academic Minute

Media violence: A risk factor for bullying
UP

Violent video game effects
PBS NewsHour
O'Reilly Factor
Violence in Video Games — What Parents Need to Know
CBS Evening News
Science News for Kids
ITHP.org

Do violence and sex on TV sell products?
PBS NewsHour

Violent scriptures increase aggression
Nature
ABC News

SELF-ESTEEM TRUMPS SEX, MONEY, & OTHER REWARDS
New York Times
USA Today
Time
Wall Street Journal

THE RIGHT (AND WRONG) WAY TO PRAISE KIDS
Parade
Wall Street Journal
Wired

THE POWER OF A UNIFORM
Time