Tough guys: The portrayal of hypermasculinity and aggression in televised police dramas

Psychological research evidence reveals serious, harmful implications for the intersection of macho personality and criminal behavior in individuals. This content analysis examines that intersection as it occurs in television content. Three hundred twenty-one male characters from police and detective dramas from the 1970s through the 1990s were examined for their levels of hypermasculinity and antisocial behavior. Results find strong associations for all male characters between physical aggression/antisocial behaviors and hypermasculinity, measured along three dimensions. "Bad guys" consistently rated higher than "good guys" for hypermasculinity, and "good guys" appeared to have become less hypermasculine over time.