Replication Data for: \"Wait, there's torture in Zootopia? Examining the prevalence of torture in popular movies\"

Roughly half of the U.S. public thinks that torture can be acceptable in counterterrorism. According to recent research, dramatic depictions of torture increase public support for the practice. Yet, we do not know how frequently—and in what context—torture is depicted across popular media. What messages about the acceptability and effectiveness of torture do Americans receive when they watch popular films? To address this question, we coded each incident of torture in the top 20 grossing films each year from 2008 to 2017 to analyze how torture is portrayed in terms of its frequency, efficacy, and social acceptability. Results show that the majority of popular films—including films aimed toward children—have at least one torture scene. Across films, the messages sent about torture are fairly consistent. As expected, movies tend to depict torture as effective. Further, how movies portray torture is also a function of who is perpetrating it. Specifically, protagonists are more likely to torture for instrumental reasons or in response to threats, and are more likely to do so effectively. In contrast, antagonists are more likely to use torture as punishment and to torture women. The frequency and nature of torture’s depiction in popular films may help explain why many in the public support torture in counterterrorism.约有半数美国民众认为，反恐行动中使用酷刑具备可接受性。现有研究表明，对酷刑的戏剧化刻画会提升公众对该行为的支持度。然而，目前学界尚未明确酷刑在主流媒体中的出现频率，以及其呈现的具体语境。当美国民众观看热门电影时，他们所接收到的关于酷刑可接受性与有效性的信息究竟为何？为解答这一问题，我们对2008年至2017年间每年票房排名前20的影片中的每一起酷刑事件进行编码标注，以分析酷刑在影片中的呈现频率、功效及社会接受度。研究结果显示，绝大多数热门影片——包括面向儿童的作品——中至少包含一处酷刑场景。各类影片传递的关于酷刑的信息相当一致：正如预期，电影往往将酷刑刻画为有效手段。此外，电影对酷刑的呈现方式也取决于施暴者的身份：具体而言，正面主角更可能出于工具性目的，或是为应对威胁而实施酷刑，且其酷刑行为更易被描绘为有效；与之相对，反面反派则更倾向于将酷刑用作惩罚手段，且更常针对女性实施酷刑。热门电影中酷刑刻画的频率与性质，或可解释为何众多民众支持在反恐行动中使用酷刑。