Comm170 Exam 1Diffusion of Innovations

Diffusion of Innovations

The process by which new ideas, products, or practices spread through a social system.

Hegemonic MasculinitySo

The dominant cultural ideal of manhood that values strength, toughness, and control.

Social identity theory

The idea that people define themselves based on the groups they belong to.

The Narrative Paradigm

The theory that humans are natural storytellers who understand the world through narratives rather than logic.

Framing Theory

The way media shapes how we perceive issues by emphasizing certain aspects over others

Uses and Gratifications Theory

Suggests people actively choose media to satisfy their needs

Standpoint Theory

The idea that people’s experiences and social positions shape how they view the world

Casual Play

Informal or recreational participation in sports without high stakes or structure

Amateur athletics

competitive sports played for passion rather than profit

Social fan

Watches sports mainly to socialize or fit in

Vested fan

Invested in outcomes but not deeply loyal

Focused fan

Supports specific teams or athletes with moderate emotional investment

Die-hard fan

Deeply loyal regardless of performance

Spectator fan

Casual observer with little emotional attachment

BIRGing

Associating oneself with a team’s success to feel pride

CORFing

Distancing oneself from a tea after losses or scandals

Parasocial relationship

A one-sided emotional bond between a fan and a media figure

Name, Image, Likeness (NIL)

The right of college athletes to profit from their personal brand

Strategic responses to crisis

Communication tactics organizations use to manage public image after a crisis

First-person supporter

A fan who identifies so strongly that they say “we” when referring to their team

Home-dwelling devotee

A highly committed fan who engages primarily through media rather than live attendance

Reasons for participating

Motivations for watching and playing sports including escape, knowledge, aesthetic beauty, drama

Identification

The psychological connection a fan feels toward a team or athlete

Convergence

The blending of media platforms and audience interactions

Eustress

Positive form of stress that feels exciting or energizing

Social connection

The sense of belonging or community gained through shared social experiences

Social scientific scholarship

Focuses on data and measurable behavior (quantitative)

Humanistic scholarship

Examines meaning and experience through interpretation

Critical/cultural scholarship

Studies power, ideology, and identity in sports

Qualitative scholarship

Uses interviews or observations for depth

Quantitative scholarship

Uses surveys or experiments for statistical results

Guttman

Scholar who analyzed the evolution of sports as a reflection of a modern society

Mythology

Stories or beliefs that express cultural values through symbolic narratives

Promotion of specific sport

Media and marketing efforts that highlight a particular sport’s appeal

Historic significance

The lasting cultural or social impact of a sports event or figure

Rituals

Repeated symbolic actions that reinforce identity or tradition

The spiral of silence

Theory that people stay silent when they think their opinion is unpopular

The third person effect

The belief that media influences others more than oneself