Trends in public concern with media violence from the early 1950's through the present are reviewed. The evolution of empirical evidence on this subject is treated in seven phases: (1) the decline of the catharsis hypothesis; (2) the development of social learning, disinhibition and cue, and arousal theories to explain the effects of television and film on aggressive behavior; (3) introduction of evidence from a variety of methods; (4) increase in the ecological validity of measures; (5) maturation of the scientific literature to permit meta-analyses; (6) identification of psychological processes on which effects are contingent; and (7) inclusion of measures that represent criminal acts or harmful antisocial behavior. Qualitative tests that may be used to assess the relationship between media violence and aggression are described. The paper discusses roles that the Federal Government, the entertainment business, and the audience can play in preventing aggressive behavior attributable to media violence and concludes that a solution is left to the audience. Approximately 125 references.