The wide study of human beings has led psychologists to the development of many theories explaining the elements that cause a persons behavior and attitude. In this paper I would like to reflect upon some of the theories we studied such as: the cultivation theory, social learning theory, the attribution theory, and the cognitive dissonance theory, and relate them to my life and surrounding environment. Id like to first start off with the cultivation theory (also keep in mind the social learning theory, it is of the same nature).
For those unfamiliar with this theory it states, the more media one consumes the more likely he or she will perceive the world as scary place. Now to be totally honest my views about violence in the media and its affects on people were pretty firm. I never agreed with this idea whatsoever.
Because I myself watch a ton of violent programs and listen to probably the most controversial music today, it was hard for me to accept that this media was supposedly inflicting harm upon others physically and mentally, when in no harmful way did it affect me. I always felt that people who were unintentionally affected by the media and act out violently because of certain programs or music just needed a basis for their stupidity or in other words a cheap excuse. I just believe that if a child is persuaded into burning the family couch resulting in the death of his little sister because he saw it on a past episode of Bevis and Butthead, then I feel that child is unstable. Its not the content of the media we need to examine its the child that needs to be picked apart and dissected. I have yet to experience a personal situation like this in my life the only cases I can relate to are the ones put on display on TV and in the papers. Everyone has their own individual thoughts and mind frames, some choose to be leaders, while others choose to be followers, who do you think is more likely to be persuaded by the media? But I would like to say that after studying both the cultivation and social learning theories in class, I have been able to open up and accept that some media content can and has had a negative affect on some people. The most interesting thing that I never really thought about until after the discussion of these theories was learning that people are more likely to copy actions that receive positive reinforcement than negative.
The Essay on How does Mass Media affect people in society?
So far, there’re various media for people to choose and access the information such as television, radio, Internet, or even mobile phone, consequently, media have a full capacity to set a social subject for mass audience to think and talk about. Often, media do not deliberately set the agenda and determine the pros and cons of that particular issue, so it repeatedly causes bad consequences ...
I totally agree with this statement, and feel that nowadays in relation to my life clothes, money, and cars get the most positive feedback from the public. The next theory that I would like to discuss is the attribution theory. The attribution theory basically states how we judge other people by both appearance and actions. When we first started discussion of this theory I was quite confused. I thought the reading was difficult to understand and very unclear at stating what the attribution theory was all about. Well, then the theory was broken down in class and it all became clear to me, I was able to relate well with it. I connected strong with the whole intra and inter-personal part of the theory, mainly because that was what my first two essays for Prof.
Paulman were on. So I had part knowledge of this theory already without even knowing it, and I basically put the pieces together. When I think of the attribution theory I think of the popular saying, dont judge a book by its cover. I can totally relate almost everyday of my life to this theory, which to me is rather irritating. One of the most obvious situations is store harassment. My friends and I cannot go into a store, whether it be clothing or convience it doesnt matter, there will always be those one or two employees that think all thieves look like my friends and I.
The Essay on Financial Accounting Theory And Practice
If you developed a theory to explain how a person’s cultural background influences how they prepare financial statements, would you have developed a positive theory or a normative theory? The first of all, it is important to understand the mean by a ‘theory’. According to Contemporary Accounting Theory 4e, Oxford English Dictionary provides various definitions, including: A scheme or system of ...
This brings to mind a kind of funny story. Me and two of my friends, Jay and Terrance, were called upon by Jays mother to drop some sort of paper work off to her at her job, she was on the clock and could not leave to come pick it up. Jasons mother was one of the store managers at Big Y. When we arrived at her store she was in a short meeting, so to kill time we walked around for a little bit until she was finished. Well to make a long story short, Jays mother approached us and said, you guys better hurry up and get out of here, youre under heavy surveillance. We didnt know what to think we just turned to each other with a confused look. What do you mean, we asked. Jasons mother said, when the meeting ended store security approached her pointed us out on the security monitors and said that they were going to keep an eye on us and to be careful because we look suspicious.
I felt a burst of laughter nearing but it quickly fled as a rage of anger approached. Seriously, I said. Yeah seriously, she replied. She then said, follow me. We followed as she led us down a narrow hallway and up a flight of stairs into a dark room filled with surveillance monitors. Theyre they sat the two men who without knowing me or my friends or why it was we were even at the store in the first place persecuted us upon looks.
Jasons mother with a sort of grin on her face then said to the men, so and so Id like you to meet my son Jason and his two friends, Mark and Terrance. Id give anything in the world just to again see the look on their faces when hi mother said, Id like you to meet my son. Last but not least Id like to talk about the cognitive dissonance theory. This theory states cognitive dissonance as a distressing mental state in which people feel they find themselves doing things that dont fit with what they know, or having opinions that do not fit with other opinions they hold. I made a strong connection with this theory right off the bat. I always catch myself going against my own will, for the simple fact that I say to myself this will be the last time.
But most of the time I change my views or opinions about an idea or I go ahead and do something that I did not feel like doing because of others. My friends can have a strong impact on some things I do, mainly because I dont want to hear them piss and moan, so instead of saying no I say, ok but only this time, or yeah alright but after this Im done. I really found the chart we created in class although a little confusing very helpful and interesting (and so, and but chart).
The Term Paper on Edge Of Time Connie Mother Piercy
English 1302 November 27, 1996 Mother To The Tribe Throughout time people have been questioning their society. Many wonder if the beliefs and customs of their culture are actually what is in the interest of themselves or even the masses. Times of hardship can create strong and powerful people to bring about change; however the means to achieve such is relevant to ones morals or ethics. For many ...
We brought up a lot of strong ideas, but the main one that basically everybody in class could relate to in one way or another alcohol, and driving while intoxicated. This is one of the biggest problems among us college students todays, drinking and driving, when are we going to realize its stupid. The answer to that would be Guys you know I dont like drinking and driving BUT Ill do it this one last time. When my friends and I go out we always try to have a DD, but a lot of the times being around people that are drinking and acting goofy, is very persuasive in getting that person to drink.
Now what. Well now the parties over and everybodys drunk, so whos going to drive, obviously someone who was not willing to in the first place because they felt its not smart. But you know how quickly alcohol can change that, Ill drive Im fine, no really Im fine I only had about twelve beers, I can barely walk or talk, but Ill drive. In conclusion, I would like to say that learning about these theories and their meanings and differences has been totally interesting and helpful to me, honestly. I think its pretty cool to know a little bit more about people and why they act the way they do, particularly my family and friends and even myself. It has and will allow me to make better judgements about situations and the behaviors of others.
