So, social psychologist Albert Bandura performed a couple of experiments in the 1960s, and he proposed that aggressive behaviour can be learnt. Basically, in experimental group he had kids watch an adult physically and verbally assault a Bobo doll. Kids in control group watched an adult play with other toys while the Bobo doll was left untouched. Then, kids from both groups played with some toys from a different room, until they were no longer allowed (this was done to build up frustration). Instead they were offered to play with toys in a room, where the Bobo doll and some other toys were. The results concluded that kids in experimental group showed more aggressive behaviour towards the Bobo doll. In a different experiment he also concluded that aggressive behaviour can be learnt trough cartoons or movies. [Here’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobo_doll_experiment) a link to a more detailed explanation.
So my question is, how is it possible that there are apparently no newer and stronger links between violent games/movies and violent behaviour, especially since games/movies are getting more realistic?
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The experiment establishes that the kids who watch an adult be violent against a doll, are also more likely to be violent against the doll when they play with it.
This is not the same as establishing that kids who watch an adult be violent against a doll will commit violence against each other.
The experiment shows that kid learn by imitation, but an important part of that is that they also learn boundaries by watching grown up behaviour.
A young child being shown that they can act out against an inanimate object with no repercussions and then doing so is a pretty specific set of conditions, and should not surprise anyone.
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