Social Cognitive Theory and Mass Media Effects

Bandura’s social cognitive theory is one of the most highly influential and widely celebrated theories in the field of social psychology. Thus, it is no surprise that its influence has extended into multiple fields, including communication and especially the study of media effects. Still, despite the enthusiasm with which media scholars have embraced social cognitive theory, its integration into media research is still in its infancy. The purpose of this chapter is first, to lay out the historical background and basic tenets of social cognitive theory. We will then explore the ways in which media effects scholars have integrated it into their research and consider the ways in which scholars might build on the existing foundation of social cognitive theory-based media research to better illuminate media effects processes and outcomes.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/bookchapters/1003/thumbnail.jp

Explaining the effects of narrative in an entertainment television program: overcoming resistance to persuasion.

Research has examined the ability of entertainment-education (E-E) programs to influence behavior across a variety of health and social issues. However, less is known about In recent years, much research has examined the ability of entertainment-education (E-E) television programs to create awareness and change behavior across a variety of health and social issues. Although a good deal of evidence for E-E effects has amassed, less is known about the underlying mechanisms accounting for their effects. Of particular import is the need to understand how entertainment messages might overcome resistance to persuasion-one presumed key to their success. Althoug

Does Digital Media Use Harm Children's Emotional Intelligence? A Parental Perspective

Emotional intelligence (EI) is comprised of a set of critical life skills that develop, in part, through practice in social interaction. As such, some have expressed concern that the heavy screen media diet of today’s youth threatens the development of those crucial abilities. This research assesses how the media diet of children and the media use of their parents relates to child EI levels to assess what, if any, specific patterns exist. Four hundred parents of children aged 5-12 reported on, among other variables, their child's EI, empathy, and emotional regulation skills along with their child’s various digital and non-digital media use, and non-media activities. Parental EI, screen use, media emotional mediation, and media co-use with their children were also assessed. Analyses revealed no significant relationships between child EI and screen use of any kind, though reading positively associated with child EI. Especially interesting, children whose parents used their mobile device more frequently in the presence of their child had lower EI, and parents who engaged in emotional mediation around their child's media use reported higher EI levels in their children. These findings suggest that concerns about children's digital media usage are perhaps overblown in terms of impeding emotional skill development. Further, and especially critical, parents' own media-related behaviors around their children could have significant impact on child EI development

Facebook friends with (health) benefits? Exploring social network site use and perceptions of social support, stress, and well-being.

Abstract There is clear evidence that interpersonal social support impacts stress levels and, in turn, degree of physical illness and psychological well-being. This study examines whether mediated social networks serve the same palliative function. A survey of 401 undergraduate Facebook users revealed that, as predicted, number of Facebook friends associated with stronger perceptions of social support, which in turn associated with reduced stress, and in turn less physical illness and greater well-being. This effect was minimized when interpersonal network size was taken into consideration. However, for those who have experienced many objective life stressors, the number of Facebook friends emerged as the stronger predictor of perceived social support. The ''more-friends-the-better'' heuristic is proposed as the most likely explanation for these findings