media influences on pro-social behaviour.

Question 1

what is pro-social behaviour ?

Answer 1

relating to or denoting behaviour which is positive, helpful, and intended to promote social acceptance and friendship.

Question 2

what could pro-social research impact ?

Answer 2

educational and social implications.

Question 3

key explanation on how media influences pro-social behaviour ?

Answer 3

Badura (1962)- social learning theory (SLT)

Question 4

what does social learning theory claim ?

Answer 4

children may learn prosocial behaviour from the media by observing it and later
imitating it if they expect that showing the prosocial behaviour e.g. sticking up for a friend who is
being bullied, is more likely to lead to reward than punishment.

Question 5

experiment that Bandura conducted ?

Answer 5

The Bobo doll experiment.

Question 6

another key explanation for media influences of pro social behaviour ?

Answer 6

parental mediation - austin -> argued that effective mediation involves the parent discussing the programme with the child, explaining any ambiguous or disturbing material,and following up with concepts presented in the programmes. Children where able to understand to complex moral messages.

Question 7

research ?

Answer 7

Mares(1996) - examines research considering four main behavioural effects.

Question 8

mares claimed that children that where exposed to pro-social content where more likely to …

Answer 8

….

• behave altruistically (lassie)
• show higher levels of social control in own behaviour.
• less stereotypes of prejudice in their attitudes/beliefs.
• act more positively towards each other after watching a pro-social programme.

Question 9

evaluation ?

Answer 9

• valkenburg - suggests that only some forms of parental mediation would be effective in enhancing the pro-social messages in TV.
• The problem of mixed messages - huston suggested that pro-social effects can be achieved by setting pro-social goals against anti-social, however.
• Mares and woodards found that children who watched mixed messages where more likely to be aggressive compared to children who only watched aggressive TV.
• TV for Pre-school children contained few pro social lessons.