Media adolescence exam final

social leaning theory

• Suggests we are passive recipients of the effects of media

• When observing a model, the consequences of their behavior can

 influence or shape our behavior

what is social learning theory based off of

Bobo doll experiment

what is this an example of “Seeing someone be reinforced for aggressive behavior makes us more likely to behave aggressively ourselves”

social learning theory

cultivation theory

• Media (particularly movies and TV) cultivates the worldview most 

reflected in media

• The more media people consume, the more likely they are to view the 

world as a dangerous place and believe that they are likely to be victim of a violent crime

• Tied to the amount of violence regularly portrayed in the media

• (e.g., news broadcasts, action movies, etc.)

uses and gratification approach

active consumer of media

-Uses and Gratifications Approach is a communication theory that explains how people actively choose and use media to satisfy specific needs—such as gaining information, entertainment, social interaction, or relaxation—rather than being passive recipients of media influence

what are the five uses of media

-entertainment

-identity formation

0high sensation

-coping

-youth culture identification

what are the results of the media boom

• In 13 countries across Europe, Asian, and Americas, 80% of persons over age 18 report using the Internet

• 90% of 8-to 18-year-olds in the U.S. have access to a computer with Internet connection

• Many report using the Internet almost daily

• Growing cell phone usage and text messaging

what are the benefits media

• Health care for rural regions

• Staying in touch across long distances / time

• Access to information

• Everyday tasks

what are problems of media

• “Always connected”

• Dependence?

• Losing ability to communicate in person

• Social comparison

what is the relationship between global media nd individualism

• here are many examples of how adolescents’ beliefs and values are changing in developing countries as media, including Western media, have become part of their daily lives. Ethnographic research has shown how Moroccan adolescents’ beliefs about gender have become more egalitarian. Field studies in Ethiopia have shown how adolescents who gained access to a laptop became more individualistic, even as they also retained collectivistic values. Although media are a powerful force in the globalization of adolescence, in most cul- tures young people use local media as well as Western media.

what is the relationship between narrow socialization and social media

• Because adolescents essentially can seek out the media content they want, there is a risk that in spite of the wide array available they will become immersed in narrow media communities that provide false or highly distorted worldviews. Also, in these online and social media communities, young people experience strong emotional affiliations, because members share the same interpretations, views, and values, and they support each other.

what is our knowledge of TV and aggression correlation

• One study result: Boys who watched violent television at age 8 were more likely to be arrested, have traffic violation, and abuse their children when they were 30

• One study: aggressive behavior in children increased after television was introduced to a rural community 

what is our knowledge of video games and aggression

Some general conclusions form the research