MEDIA INFLUENCE

MEDIA INFLUENCE

1. Media Influences on social behaviour

   • Video Games
     • Explanations/Studies: -Anderson et al (2007) report powerful effects on agression for violent video games. -Gentile et al (2004) amount of video game play did not correlate with arguments or physical fights. -Violent video game play associatedd with decreased activity in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)
     • Evaluation: -underestimated claims, evidence far from conclusive. -weak data. - can they be cathartic? Remains a possibility -validity of knowledge, evidence of a publication bias in research in this area.
   • Prosocial Influences
     • Explanations: -The pervasiveness of television. -Exposure to prosocial messages clearly evident. -Social learning theory. -Developmental trends in prosocial influence.
     • Research: -Mares (1996) gave evidence for influence on positive interaction, alteruism, self-control and anit-stereotyping. -More consistent effects found for girls then boys. -Effects stronger among higher socio-economic groups.
     • Evaluation: -Children studies cant easily be generalised. -Prosocial messages more subtle than antisocial themes. -Greater effect on young children, contrary to development trends.
   • Antisocial Influences
     • Explanations: -Observational learning- imitation (bobo doll studies), but little research suppourt for this. -Demand Characteristicsand artificial setting. -Cognitive priming. -Desensitization
     • Research: -Some studies suggest a sleep effect for media influence.- Resesarch suggests that children are 'media literate'.
     • Evaluation: -inconclusive case for media effects. -The nature of the audience (hagell & Newburn). -Methodogogical problems (lab and naturalistic problems. -Studies lack external validity.

2. Persuasion, attitude and change

   • Decision Making
     • Cognitive dissonance
     • Self-perception Theory
   • Effectiveness of television
     • Psychology and advertising
     • Advertising and children
   • Persuasion
     • HYM
     • ELM

3. The psychology of celebrity

   • Attraction of celebrity
     • social psychological explanations
     • Evolutionary explanations
   • Intense Fandom
     • Celebrity Worship
     • Stalking