Media influences Flashcards
There is research evidence for drugs being used in films
Films showing drug use depicted scenes of drug competence and enjoyment of the effects. The enjoyment was contrasted with the dullness or their life. The drug use was also a way of alleviating a particular problem in the film e.g. relationship problems.
There is research support for smoking being represented in films
Research has found a correlation between the likelihood of taking up smoking and how many films had been viewed showing actors smoking.
What is the major issue with the research been done on addiction in films?
The data is only correlational, there is nothing to indicate a causal relationship between exposure and addiction.
Describe the research support for smokers who watched films and then started smoking/
Researchers surveyed adolescents then and were re-surveyed a year later. Individuals who has not smoked when first surveyed, it was found that exposure to movie smoking over the year was a strong predictor of whether they had begun to smoke.
Describe the research for films depicting addiction in a negative light
Films do represent addiction in a negative light. For example by physical deterioration, sexual degradation, violence and crime and moral decline. Film makers are given advice about how to represent drug use and are offered financial incentives if they do so in a negative way.
What are the positives of the media in changing behaviour?
Tv can be used to provide a form of intervention to people. It can be used to promote healthy lifestyles and behaviour change.
How has television used anti drug campaigns-PABLO
This was used to a warn teenagers about the dangers of cocaine abuse. It followed those who had taken cocaine to see the effects it had upon them. The effectiveness of such campaigns however are far from conclusive.
Do anti-drug campaigns even work?
Campaigns have been used to educate on resistance, raising self-efficacy and negative consequences. These campaigns not only failed to accomplish it’s goals but led to unfavorable effects e.g. increase in drug use
Why didn’t the campaigns work?
The messages weren’t novel.
It also suggested drug use is commonplace telling people their peers were using and hence were more likely to imitate them and their behaviours.
What are the ethical guidelines for the representation of drugs in films?
Writers should communicate drug use as being ‘unhealthy and harmful for all persons’ and that addiction should be presented as a disease. There should be no reference to recreational drugs and there is no such thing.
