Priming: The process of spreading activation in one area of the brain that deals with external observed stimulus excites another part of the brain that represents cognition, emotion, or behavior. The external stimulus is connected to cognition. The primed concepts allow for behaviors to be attached easily. If media violence excites aggressive concepts, then it is likely that aggression occurs.

Arousal: Aggressive behavior arouses the observer briefly based on excitation transfer and general arousal. A stimulus arousing an emotion is more severe due to the emotional response being wrongfully identified. If an increase in arousal is stimulated, then the inhibition of inappropriate responses decreases, and dominant responses are exhibited in social problem-solving.

Mimicry: This process is seen as a particular case of observational learning. Children observing social behaviors around them are likelier to mimic or copy them. This can be attributed to mirror neurons that start when a behavior is seen or copied.