Media Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is meant by pro-social behaviour?

A

Any behaviour that is carried out selflessly for the benefit of another person

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2
Q

What is meant by anti-social behaviour?

A

Any behaviour that involves harming another (usually violent behaviour

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3
Q

How is the social learning theory applied to media?

A

Anti-social behaviour

  1. Observes either an aggressive or pro-social act on TV
  2. Retains the act
  3. Imitates the act
  4. Continues to imitate the behaviour if positively reinforced or stops behaviour if negatively reinforced
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4
Q

How are the three factors of SLT linked to media?

A

Self Efficacy- We’ll only imitate acts we feel that we can carry out.
Similarity- Most likely to imitate characters on TV that we are similar to.
Vicarious reinforcement- More likely to imitate the act seen on screen if they are positively reinforced e.g. a villain gets away with murder.

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5
Q

How does the Bandura Bobo doll study link to an evaluation for ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour and SLT(Media)?

A

The children in groups 3-5 still carried out aggressive acts and copied the behaviour even though it was shown on a TV screen.
Also cartoon violence affected them the same way

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6
Q

What are the two debates involved in the evaluation of SLT?

A

Deterministic- implies that if we watch violent programmes we will imitate the actions
Nurture side- doesn’t consider biological factors that has shown that people are naturally aggressive

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7
Q

Which study evaluates SLT as an explanation for PRO-SOCIAL behaviour?

A

Sprafkin et al (1975) - Lassie study and 6 year old children

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8
Q

What were the 3 conditions in Sprakfin et al’s study (Lassie)?

A

Group 1 = watched an episode of Lassie where a boy risks his life to save a puppy (Pro-social)
Group 2 = watched an episode of Lassie where no help was involved
Group 3 = watched an episode of the Brady Bunch

All groups were then given the opportunity to help some distressed puppies but had to stop playing a game where they could win a big prize.

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9
Q

What were the findings of the Sprafkin et al (Lassie) study?

A

Children in group one spent on average over 90 seconds helping the puppies compared to under 50 seconds in groups two and three.
Shows that in group one they had observed the characters helping the puppies and therefore retained that and reproduced the behaviour.

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10
Q

What debate is linked to the Lassie study?

A

Takes the nurture side- children would have had other influences in their lives not just the video they watched
E.g the children in group one could’ve have been brought up more pro-social

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11
Q

What is desensitisation?

A

The result of reduced stress from exposure to observations or thoughts of violence
Empathy is lost for the victim of violence
E.g. watching graphic horror

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12
Q

What is sensitisation?

A

Involves feeling empathy for the victims and wanting to help

E.g. wanting to help an animal in pain on a documentary

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13
Q

How many studies evaluate desensitisation as an explanation for medias effects on ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour?

A

3

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14
Q

Describe Cline et al’s supporting study (1973) for evaluating desensitisation.

A

Exposed children and adults to mild scenes of violence and measured their arousal level.
Arousal levels declined every time a new scene of violence was shown - showed they had become desensitised

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15
Q

Describe Drabman and Thomas’ supporting study (1974) for evaluating desensitisation.

A

Showed children aged 8-10 years old a video and then placed them in a situation where they saw younger children fighting.
Those who had seen the violent video took longer to break up the fight. - became desensitised

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16
Q

Describe Mullin and Linz’s supporting study (1995) for evaluating desensitisation.

A

Looked at effect of violent pornography on adults.
Questioned adult males about their response to sexual and domestic violence and showed them violent pornography. 3 days later they were re-assessed and their empathy for the female victim had DECREASED meaning they had desensitised.
However, their attitudes returned to the same levels at the start of the study 2 days later.

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17
Q

How many studies are there to evaluate sensitisation as an explanation of media’s effects on PRO-SOCIAL behaviour?

A

2

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18
Q

Describe Sprakfin et al’s (1975) supporting study to evaluate sensitisation.

A

The children who had watched the pro-social Lassie episode may have been sensitised to the puppies’ distress in the episode so therefore felt empathy when presented with distressed puppies in real-life.

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19
Q

What is a limitation of sensitisation as an explanation of the effects of media on pro-social behaviour?

A

Lacks direct evidence of the media showing pro-social behaviour having a direct link with higher levels of empathy in children.

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20
Q

Describe Shelton and Rogers’ (2006) supporting study to evaluate sensitisation.

A

Showed adults footage of an industrial whaling video and an anti whaling video (pro-social). Found it increased the adult’s empathy to whales
This study doesn’t show whether the media can be used to develop long terms of pro-social behaviour in adults and children.

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21
Q

What leads us to believe that video games have a negative effect on behaviour?

A

It’s found that video games are overtly aggressive.
Evidence to show this from Hanner and Thompson (2004) they examined 80 computer games aimed at teenagers and found that 94% contained some kind of violence.

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22
Q

What is the main study that supports the negative effects of video games?

A

Konjin et al (2007)-Dutch study
112 Dutch boys aged 12-16 given 3 conditions
1. Violent video game
2. Violent fantasy game
3.Non Violent game
After 20 minutes told they were playing against an unseen partner and the winner could blast a noise on the scale of 1-10. There was no opponent but they were told they had won.
Aggression was measured by noise level and how much they identified with the character.

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23
Q

What were the findings of the Konjin et al (2007) study of negative effects of video games?

A

Found that boys taking part in the realistic violent video game averaged giving the highest level of noise and the boys in group 1 who’d identified most strongly with the character gave significantly higher levels of noise
Shows more aggression after playing game

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24
Q

What is the 2 evaluation points for Konjin et al’s study (negative effects of video games)?

A
  • Low ecological validity as carried out in lab and is different to playing video games at home
  • Unethical as immoral to put children in a position where they could be made to be more aggressive.
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25
Q

What leads us to believe video games have positive effects on behaviour?

A

Not all video games are aggressive and some encourage pro-social behaviour e.g. Mario games

26
Q

What is the main study that supports the positive effects of video games?

A

Gentile et al(2009) conducted a number of studies attempting to show that the content of the game affects the behaviour later shown e.g. pro-social
Participants were American college students and were allocated 3 conditions:
1. Group one played a pro-social game (Mario sunshine)
2. Group two played a violent game (Ty 2 or Crash Twin Sanity)
3.Group three played a neutral game (Super monkey pinball)
Played the game for 20 mins and then were assessed by pairing with another student where they had the chance to win $10 for completing puzzles within 10 minutes, the puzzles were chosen by the participant- easy, medium and hard. Pro social = easy level

27
Q

What were the findings of the Gentile et al (2009) study (positive effects of video games)?

A

Those who had played the pro-social game chose the easiest puzzles (showing the pro-social behaviour)
Those who played the violent game chose the hardest puzzles.
Shows pro-social games increase pro-social behaviour

28
Q

What are the two evaluation points for Gentile et al’s study (positive effects of video games)?

A
  • Low ecological validity as in a lab and the participants were given an artificial task
  • Unethical as made children behave maliciously who played the violent game
29
Q

What makes us believe that computers have a negative effect on our behaviours?

A

Computers isolate people from socialising with family and friends
Negative effects on social relationships and causes loneliness and isolation

30
Q

What is the main supporting study for negative effects of computers on our behaviour?

A

Sanders et al (2000) used 89 American students aged 17-18
Gave them two questionnaires:
1st asked them about internet usage and this put them into 3 categories
Low users (less than an hour a day)
Moderate users (1-2 hours a day)
High users (more than 2 hours per day)

The second questionnaire measured their social relationships with family and friends.

31
Q

What were the findings of the Sanders et al study about the negative effects of computers?

A

Low users had better relationships with parents and peers which shows that high internet usage has a negative effect on social relationships

32
Q

What are the two limitations of the Sanders et al study (negative effects of computers)?

A

Correlation-so can’t infer cause and effect, could’ve been that had poor sociability before using the internet

Doesn’t consider how the internet is being used as social media maintains existing relationships like Facebook

33
Q

What leads us to think that computers have a positive effect on our behaviour?

A

Can be used for sociable activities such as planning events and speaking to people online

34
Q

What is the main study that supports computers having a positive effect on our behaviour?

A

Ellison et al (2007) specifically looked at Facebook and its effect on college students
286 college students and a number of measures were taken from them:
-Demographic variables (ethnicity, gender age)
- Measure of internet usage
-Measure of real-life relationships
Measure of psychological well-being.

35
Q

What were the main findings of the Facebook study (positive effects of computers)?

A

Facebook was mainly to maintain existing relationships rather than create virtual ones - strengthens relationships

Facebook used to enhance students social life, used as a source of knowledge of parties and events

Useful for those who are shy or lonely as anonymous or easier to talk over a screen - enhances sociability

36
Q

What are the two evaluation points for the Facebook study (positive effects of computers)?

A

Low population validity- only American students and Facebook is used worldwide

The study only looks at Facebook so can’t assume other social networking sites have the same effects

37
Q

What are the two models that explain the persuasive effects of the media?

A

Hovland-Yale Model

Elaboration-Likelihood Model

38
Q

What 3 factors does the Hovland-Yale model explain as being the key to effective persuasion?

A

Source factors
Message factors
Audience factors

39
Q

What are source factors (HY model)?

A

Source factors are based on who is presenting the advert that then increases the likelihood of persuasion

Expertise- experts seem more reliable

Attractiveness- Attractive celebrities are persuasive as people aspire to be like them.

40
Q

What are message factors (HY model)?

A

Message factors are based on the content of the message that increase persuasion.

Moderate anxiety levels- Mustn’t frighten the audience but must create some anxiety in order to make the advertised threat serious

41
Q

What are audience factors (HY model)?

A

Audience factors are based on the characteristics of the audience

Gender- Women are easier to persuade

Intelligence- People with moderate intelligence levels are easiest to persuade as people with little intelligence won’t understand and people with high intelligence levels will delve to deep into the message

42
Q

How many research studies support the Hovland Yale model?

A

2

43
Q

What study supports the role of an expert for the HY model?

A

Bochner and Insko (1966)
Students were asked to indicate how much sleep they thought was healthy - most said eight hours
Then presented with an ‘expert’ and a non-expert
Believed the ‘expert’ that said one hour of sleep a night was enough.

44
Q

What study supports that reducing fear by providing a solution for the HY model?

A

Witte and Allen (2000)
Content analysis was carried out to determine what made an effective fear campaign (quit smoking, drink driving)
Most successful adverts provided a solution as well as provoking the fear in viewers
Shows we should maintain moderate anxiety levels

45
Q

What study goes against that women are easier to persuade- HY model?

A

Karabenick (1983)
Found that men are more influenced by messages containing feminine content and women - male content.
Gender differences in persuasion down to methodology of advertisers and not gender itself.

46
Q

What did Petty and Capioppo (1986) create?

A

Elaboration-Likelihood model

47
Q

What is the central route to persuasion? (EL model)

A

Describes that the message itself is the most important and for a message to be persuasive it must be convincing so use facts and figures maybe an expert. The people that use this route tend to have high need for cognition.

48
Q

What is the peripheral route to persuasion? (EL model)

A

Used by individuals that aren’t motivated by a message but visual cues such as images, celebrity endorsements and brand image.
The people that use this route tend to have low need in cognition.

49
Q

How many studies support the elaboration-likelihood model?

A

2

50
Q

What did the supporting study by Haugtvedt et al (1992) find out about the elaboration likelihood model?

A

Found that people with high need of cognition cared more about the evaluation of a product whereas those with low need of cognition simple peripheral cues were more important
Supports who takes what route

51
Q

What did the supporting study by Vidrine et al (2007) find out about the elaboration likelihood model?

A

Measured high needs of cognition in 227 college students who had to evaluate a fact based (central) or emotion based (peripheral) smoking risk pamphlet.
High NC pp’s the fact based message produced an increase in risk perception
Low NC pp’s the emotion based message produced the greatest change

52
Q

What is the major weakness of the EL model?

A

States that we can’t central and peripherally process information which is bad as we should look at it as though its on a continuum.

53
Q

What is a parasocial relationship? (Attraction of celebrity)

A

A parasocial relationship is one in which an individual is attracted to a celebrity and they are unaware of the existence of this individual who created the relationship

They are seen as easy as no commitments and no risk of criticism or rejection.

54
Q

When are parasocial relationships more likely to occur according to Schiappa et al (2007)?

A
  • Celebrity is attractive
  • Celebrity is seen as being similar to the fan
  • Celebrity and their actions are seen as realistic (unlikely to form an attraction to a teletubbie)
  • Fan is a female
  • Fan is shy or lonely
55
Q

What is a weakness of the explanation of a parasocial relationship explained by Rubin et al (1985)?

A

The idea that parasocial relationships are dysfunctional and brought about my loneliness has been questioned.
Found that loneliness was not a significant factor in parasocial interaction and that people who are most socially active and socially motivated are more likely to engage in such relationships.

56
Q

What is a weakness of the explanation of a parasocial relationship explained by Eyal and Cohen (2006)?

A

The idea that parasocial relationships aren’t real is not necessarily the case, research has shown that people go through the same type of emotions as in a real relationship.
Assessed viewers reactions after the last episode of Friends - the amount of break-up distress reported by viewers was best predicted by the intensity of their parasocial relationship with their fave character.
This mirrors what would happen in a real relationship

57
Q

What is a limitation of the explanation of a Para-social relationship?

A

Reductionist - not one answer to why people form relationships could be loneliness, admiring the accomplishments of celebrities.

58
Q

What does the evolutionary explanation of the attraction of a celebrity explain?

A
  • We choose a partner who will maximise our chances of passing on our genes- must be careful of who we choose
  • Women need to invest in a strong and successful partner as only have limited chance to reproduce (need a wealthy and a man with resources like a celebrity)
  • Men choose attractive and young women as shows signs of fertility (usually attracted to young female celebrities)
59
Q

What is a strength of the evolutionary explanation of attraction to a celebrity?

A

Mate choice is supported by Waynforth and Dunbar (1995) found that women are more likely to advertise youth and beauty whereas men are more likely to offer wealth and resources which is what both genders seek.

60
Q

What are two limitations of the evolutionary explanation of attraction to a celebrity?

A
  • Saying that a woman wants resources to provide for her family may not be true as she may want a wealthy man so that she can buy whatever she likes for herself
  • Doesn’t indicate why a person is attracted to one celebrity but not numerous others who have the same qualities and doesn’t provide an explanation to why people have no strong attractions to no celebrities at all