Chapter 6: Mass Media

Question 1

Mass media

Answer 1

Technology driven and usually profit-driven methods of communicating meaningful information between one source and many recipients or many sources and many recipients

Question 2

Desensitization

Answer 2

A theory suggesting that prolonged exposure to violent imagery has a numbing effect leading to an increased tolerance of violence

Question 3

Disinhibition

Answer 3

A theory suggesting that increased exposure to violent imagery may weaken ‘positive’ socialization, aggression/ violence is then seen as a normal response

Question 4

Cultural imperialism

Answer 4

Imposition of American culture and values on almost everyone worldwide due to global domination of mass media

Question 5

Reception analysis

Answer 5

Producers encode media messages with an intended message - audience decodes in various (and unintended) ways

Question 6

Political-economy

Answer 6

Concerned with how power relation and the pursuit of profit shape (1) media ownership, production,and distribution and (2) media influence

Question 7

Cultural studies

Answer 7

Concerned with the role of social institutions in the shaping of culture