Thanks, Suzy.

Japan is an interesting case. There one has a society with extremely violent and sadistic entertainment by way of videos and magazines...and yet a very peaceful society with a very low crime rate. The violent pornography and other such media seem to act as a relief valve, rather than causing people to act out that violence in society.

I doubt it would work that way in many other places, but it does work that way in Japan, which again shows that they are operating from a basic psychology which differs greatly from American psychology. Japan is a society which has always emphasized dutifully serving the needs of the group and the nation over serving the needs (or desires) of the individual. The history of the USA indicates the opposite approach entirely, as rugged individualism is the ideal most celebrated in the USA, and exemplified in a long history of heroes and villains, gangsters and lawmen.

Either approach has its merits, its strengths, and its weaknesses.