OverviewGreitemeyer, T. (2009). Effects of songs with prosocial lyrics on prosocial thoughts, affect, and behavior. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45(1), 186-190. The purpose of the research study on the effects of songs with prosocial lyrics on prosocial thoughts, affect, and behaviors was to examine the following research question: Does exposure to prosocial media promote relationships prosocial? results ? The study attempts to determine the predictive validity of a previous construct known as the general learning model, a theoretical model of the effects and consequences of video gaming (cited in Greitemeyer, 2009). The authors note that previous research on the effects of media and behavior has focused exclusively on aggressive media content and its effects on aggressive cognition. The work of Andersen et al. (cited in Greitemeyer, 2009) previously established a framework known as the General Aggression Model (GAM). The GAM states that “exposure to violent media activates individuals' internal states, including (cognition, affect, and arousal), which in turn alters the interpretation of a potential conflict situation that results in aggressive behavior » (Greitemeyer, 2009). This model has been extended to the general learning model that explains the effects of violent and non-violent video games (Greitemeyer, 2009). The GLM suggests the possibility that positive media can have positive effects. However, Gretimeyer (2009) highlights the lack of research on the effects of prosocial media and prosocial outcomes. Thus, this study attempts to provide research on a previously unexplored topic. The researcher tested the following hypothesis, "listening to prosocial (compared to neutral) songs increased the accessibility of prosoc...... middle of paper ..... .s and the GLM model, thus showing an adequate measurement for the different variables. The study notes the small sample size. This raises a question of external validity and the generalizability of the results to a broader population outside of students (Cozby, 2009). A point of interest for future investigation could be to test listening to both prosocial and aggressive speech. In many real-life situations, people can actually listen to both instead of assuming one and not the other. It would be interesting to test the effects of both conditions, in addition to their long-term and short-term effects. Works Cited Cozby, PC (2009). Behavioral research methods. McGraw Hill. Greitemeyer, T. (2009). Effects of songs with prosocial lyrics on prosocial thoughts, affect, and behavior. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 186-190.