Exam 13: Theories and Effects of Mass Communication

_____________ theory argues that people experience a kind of mental discomfort when confronted with new information.As a result,they consciously and subconsciously work to limit or reduce that discomfort.

What is the difference between micro- and macro-level media effects?

Research questions about the immediate,observable influence of mass communication are examples of _____________ research.

_____________ is the study of how economic and other influences on the way news is produced distort and bias news coverage toward those in power.

Briefly describe two-step flow theory.

Social cognitive theorists call the direct replication of an observed behavior

In a typical beer ad,"buy this beer" is the _____________ message,whereas "you need this beer to have fun,to be attractive,and to have friends" may be its _____________ message.

Social cognitive theorists give the label _____________ to the special form of imitation in which observers do not exactly copy what they have seen but make a more generalized,still-related response.

What is meant by middle-range theory?

In social cognitive theory,seeing a model rewarded for prohibited or threatening behavior increases the likelihood that the observer will perform that behavior.This is called