Meeting 12

Concerts and Festivals

  • The group discusses attending various music festivals and concerts.

  • Camp Flogna is mentioned as a regular event for one participant.

  • Festivals like Coachella, Warp Tour, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits are also mentioned.

  • The rising costs of concerts make festivals a more economical option for seeing multiple artists.

Research Study Discussion

Purpose of the Study

  • The group defines the purpose of their study: to determine if there is a correlation between preferred media (specifically thriller/horror) and neuroticism.

Hypothesis and Reasoning

  • The hypothesis is that there is a correlation between neuroticism and thriller-based media preference.

  • The reasoning includes:

    • Previous research (Nav et al. 2024) suggests understanding the link between neuroticism and other variables can lead to therapeutic methods to mitigate neurotic feelings.

    • Zamani (2024) found positive links between neuroticism and thriller/horror media.

    • People tend to enjoy media that portrays attributes they exhibit (Naive 2020).

    • Individuals may use thriller media to regulate their emotional state or find relief in a controlled environment.

Discussion on Findings and Previous Research

  • The group's study did not find a consistent trend between neuroticism and the enjoyment of thriller-based media.

    • This contradicts previous research suggesting individuals with high anxiety may find relief through thrilling content (Scribner).

    • The results contrast with Nave and Zamani's findings of a correlation, and also Menelinka, which found that it increased anxiety.

Contribution to Literature

  • The study contributes by furthering the conversation on the correlation between personality traits and media preferences, even if the results are inconclusive.

Possible Explanations for Results

  • Small and specific sample size (intro to psychology students) is a limitation.

  • The broad definition of "thriller" media may have affected results. Considering specific subgenres (slashers, horror) or media types (TV shows, movies, books) could yield different outcomes.

  • Neuroticism may interact differently with media consumption compared to other personality traits, meaning there may be no direct correlation.

Methodological Problems and Limitations

  • Convenience sampling (intro to psychology students) limits generalizability.

  • Small sample size reduces statistical power.

  • The broad definition of "thriller" media could introduce variability.

  • Gender disparity is present, with a high percentage of female respondents.

Improvements for Future Studies

  • Use a more general population for the sample.

  • Narrow down the thriller genre to specific subcategories or media types.

Implications and Future Research

  • Findings may suggest exploring correlations between gender and media preferences or between specific thriller subgenres and neuroticism.

  • Thrillers may evoke feelings associated with neuroticism but do not always depict neuroticism directly.

  • Further research is needed to understand the relationship between artistic mediums and the human psyche.

Concluding Thoughts

  • The group acknowledges the importance of understanding the connections between media consumption and psychological traits.

  • The study opens discussions on human relationships between consuming artistic mediums and their exhibited psyche.