Week 4: Psychology In the Media (Chapter 7)

Question 1

Media

Answer 1

All the ways in which we are exposed to information.

Question 2

Cathartic Effect

Answer 2

Belief that violent media may actually decrease violence.

• Not strongly supported.

Question 3

Media Salience

Answer 3

When the media chooses to cover one topic and that topic becomes more salient to us, the consumers.

• The salience of stories can influence how predominant it is.

Question 4

The Availability Heuristic

Answer 4

Our tendency to make about events based on how readily we can recall an example of them.

Question 5

Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

Answer 5

Ads with the goals of affecting public attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours.

• Typically funded by government agencies but can also be funded by specific interest groups.

Question 6

Effective PSAs

Answer 6

• Educate or raise awareness.
• Need to consider target audience.
• Have evidence for why a behaviour is (or is not) occurring.
• Theory of how to change that behaviour.
• Finally, we design our message and implement it.

Question 7

Pornography

Answer 7

Any sexually explicit material that you can find offline or online.

Question 8

Embedded Sexual Material

Answer 8

• Involves content that is intensely sexual in nature, but is embedded within a story and is not the emphasis of the story.
• Often found in movies rated R or NC-17 and in TV programs rated TV-14 or TV-MA.
• Material can be either violent or non-violent.

Question 9

Embedded Violent Sexual Material

Answer 9

Is found in an R-rated film that includes a sensual scene followed immediately by (or juxtaposed with) graphic violence.

• ex. most slasher films.

Question 10

Scholars of pornography generally study three types…

Answer 10

• Erotica
• Non-Violent Pornography
• Violent Pornography

Question 11

Erotica

Answer 11

• Shows nonaggressive sexual activity between willing, sensitive, and caring partners.
• The partners share the initiation and choice of activities.

Question 12

Non-Violent Pornography

Answer 12

• Non Aggressive explicit sexual activity typically amongst acquaintances.
• Neither individual is portrayed as having feelings of compassion, empathy, or self respect.
• Have one primary interest: satisfying their sexual desires and fantasies.

Question 13

Violent Pornography

Answer 13

• Portrays violence or coercion that is juxtaposed with, or an integral part of, explicit sexual activities with an underlying theme of dominance.
• Usually centred around male dominance and female subservience.
• Women in particular are degraded and demanded (seen as playthings).

Question 14

Ways to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Exposure to Violent Sexual Material

Answer 14

1. Legally Ban the Distribution and Sale of These Materials
2. Teach Critical Viewing Skills
3. Debrief People After Viewing Violent Sexuality.
4. Inform People About the Effects Ahead of Time