Pro-social Behaviour

Question 1

How is SLT used to describe the influence of media on PSB?

Answer 1

imitation of behaviour where more reward is expected than punishment, PSB more social norm so internalised so imitation associated with social reinforcement

Question 2

What laboratory experiment found support for the SLT explanation of media influence on PSB?

Answer 2

Sprafkin 1975: 5/6yr, A: Lassie where boy risked like to save puppy, B: Lassie with positive message about dogs, C: Brady Bunch family comedy, then prize win game, choice between helping puppy in distress and game. A children helped puppy more quickly and for longer

Question 3

What real life study supports the SLT explanation of PSB?

Answer 3

Ostrov 2006: education TV in 76 3/4yr, parents questioned, 2 year PSB observations, viewing education media = more PSB, more likely to imitate same sex role model

Question 4

What methodological issues does Ostrov’s study have?

Answer 4

home life will influence behaviour, parents may lie: social desirability, usually attrition: children showing aggression pulled out of study by parents

Question 5

What is impact value?

Answer 5

many antisocial acts have high impact value where pro-social acts tend to be less memorable, SLT requires children to notice act/message so they can recreate it

Question 6

What is sensitisation defined as?

Answer 6

empathy is critical for children’s social-emotional development, children have numerous opportunities in media viewing, highly empathetic children = more PSB, children can empathise with characters esp if same sex, children sensitised

Question 7

What is there a lack of studies on in sensitisation?

Answer 7

demonstrating that exposure to PSB in media directly leads to higher levels of empathy in children

Question 8

What adult research shows support of the sensitisation explanation?

Answer 8

Shelton and Rogers 2006: video of industrial whaling and PSB video of anti whaling, empathy for whales enhanced (long term pattern though?)

Question 9

What comparison can be made between the SLT and sensitisation explanations of media influence on PSB?

Answer 9

sensitisation more subtle explanation as its developmental so emphasises role of age but SLT is behavioural so no differentiation between age but children have been seen to be more affected by media so SLT is stronger