cards

Stereotyping in the Mass Media

Definition: Using simple, often unfair, ideas about a group of people, which are shown in movies, TV, or online. Scenario: A TV show consistently depicts all teenagers as lazy and obsessed with social media, reinforcing a simplified view of that age group.

Social Justice Attainment

Definition: Making society fair and equal for everyone, especially when media helps to bring about change. Scenario: A documentary series highlights racial inequalities in the justice system, leading to public outcry and policy changes aimed at achieving more fairness.

Power of Words

Definition: How words can change what people think and feel about different groups. Scenario: A news report describes immigrants as an "influx" or "horde," which can evoke negative perceptions and fear among the audience, rather than neutral terms like "group of people."

Priming & Cognitive Accessibility

Definition: When seeing or hearing something makes you think a certain way about similar things later. Scenario: After watching several news reports about crime involving a specific demographic, a viewer might automatically associate that demographic with criminality when encountering them in other contexts.

Media Racial Representations

Definition: How different races are shown in media, which can affect how people in society view those races. Scenario: When a majority of leading roles in films are portrayed by one racial group, it can subconsciously reinforce the idea that other racial groups are less capable or important.

Cultivation Theory

Definition: The idea that watching a lot of TV or movies over time can change what people believe about the real world. Scenario: Someone who watches a lot of crime dramas might believe that violent crime is much more prevalent in their city than it actually is, leading them to feel less safe.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Definition: Feeling worried or anxious that fun things are happening without you, often because of what you see on social media. Scenario: Seeing friends' posts about a party they attended while you stayed home can trigger feelings of anxiety and regret about not being there.

Internet Addiction

Definition: Spending too much time on the internet so that it starts to cause problems in your daily life, like at school or with friends. Scenario: A student spends hours online every day, neglecting their studies, sleep, and social interactions, to the point where their grades decline and relationships suffer.

Parental Mediation

Definition: When parents help their children choose what to watch or play on media, and set rules for how much they use it. Scenario: Parents set screen time limits for their children, discuss the content of video games, and explain why certain shows are inappropriate, actively influencing their media use.

Dual-Coding Theory

Definition: The idea that you remember things better when you learn them with both words and pictures. Scenario: Learning about the human heart through a textbook description alongside a detailed diagram improves understanding and recall more than just reading the text alone.

Interactivity

Definition: When users can actively talk or get involved with what they're seeing or with other people online. Scenario: On a news website, users can leave comments, reply to others, and participate in polls, making the news consumption a two-way street rather than just passive reading.

Deconstruction of Stereotypes

Definition: Looking closely at how groups are shown in media to understand and question simple, often wrong, ideas about them. Scenario: A media studies class critically examines a commercial that uses racial stereotypes to sell a product, discussing how it perpetuates harmful ideas and why.

User-Generated Content

Definition: Stuff like videos, articles, or pictures made by everyday people, not by big companies or experts. Scenario: Videos uploaded by individuals to YouTube, blog posts written by amateurs, or photos shared on Instagram are all examples of content created by users.

Diversity in Media

Definition: Showing many different types of people from various cultures, races, and social groups in media. Scenario: A popular TV show features a main cast with characters from different ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and physical abilities, reflecting a broader spectrum of society.

Selective Exposure

Definition: When people tend to look for and believe information that already matches what they think is true. Scenario: An individual who strongly supports a political candidate primarily consumes news from outlets that praise that candidate and avoids those that are critical of them.