Impact of Electronic Media Violent Content on Violent Behaviour Among Offenders in Prisons in Pakistan

Electronic media has a wide range of impacts on human behavior, depending on the content. While substantial literature exists regarding violent electronic media content and violent behavior, such studies are very rare in the cultural context of Pakistan. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between violent electronic media content and violent behavior, as well as to evaluate the predictive impact of such content on violent behavior among offenders in prisons in Pakistan. The study comprised 112 prisoners (M = 29.75, SD = 9.03), adopting a correlational cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling technique. Two measures were used: the Violent Media Exposure Questionnaire (VMEQ) and the Historical Clinical Risk-20 (HCR-20) Version 3. The findings revealed that violent electronic media content was significantly associated with violent behavior, and it also significantly predicted violent behavior among offenders in prisons in Pakistan. The study provides comprehensive implications. For instance, PEMRA in Pakistan should take responsibility for promoting societal stability by regulating and censoring harmful and violent television content. Furthermore, mental health professionals in prisons should provide intervention strategies, such as yoga, meditation, and exercise, to help offenders overcome aggression and violent behavior.