Children and Media, Quiz Example

Given an example of cultivation theory (that we did not discuss in class or read about in the book), and explain how the cultivation process works. b) Give an example of priming (that we did not discuss nor read about), and explain how priming works. c) Give an example of script theory (that we did not discuss nor read about), and explain how scripts work.

The essence of cultivation theory is a perception of the television as the story teller to the nation. Consequently, the task of the television is to tell stories to majority of people and in most times. The stories addresses extensive underlying worldwide assumptions in as far as facts of life are concerned in contrast to opinions as well as attitudes and therefore less concerned with artistic quality and the effects of the programs.

The implication of priming is a high level of sensitivity to specific stimuli arising from prior experience. The occurrence of priming is associated lack of conscious awareness and consequently, there is a difference of priming to memory which is dependent on direct information retrieval. During direct retrieval of information, explicit memory plays a significant contribution while priming is based on implicit memory. Priming effects has a significant impact on the process of decision making.

Young children can be subject to many non-cognitive effects of media consumption. Teens, on the other hand, are developmentally different. What’s the “major” thing going on in teenage (adolescent) development, and how does this affect their media use? Be specific and provide a complete explanation.

Teenagers watch a great deal of television; they are exposed to violence and sexualized images constantly. The biggest problem is that they spend more time watching TV, playing video games and chatting than they spend on doing their home works and that is why their grades average are very low. Also the media has a huge effect on their everyday lives and their understanding of the world around them. After watching all the shows where all you can see is sex, cigarettes, alcohol and sometimes drugs the teenagers feel like they can do it and this is not something special. They start dating in early age and start having sex which could cause to a teen pregnancy. On the other hands media is so wide now that some of the teenager dating each other through the Internet social media and not in real life.

There is a lot of violence in the news and as well as on television programming have a significant impact on the person watching and especially on a teenager. The constant barrage of aggressive and sexual behaviors appearing on television certainly increases the chances that the viewer will imitate such actions.

Most of teenagers’ decisions are based on knowledge that they got from media. They lose control of their lives and all the relationships that they have with their friends and families based on some TV shows or pictures that they could find online.

One of our readings said that new technology can help children learn the “old things” in new ways, and “new things” in new ways. What does this mean? Why might it be important to learn the “new things”?

Technology helps children learn the “old things in new ways, and “new things” in new ways. Kids rarely focus on past habits, preferences as well as preconceptions when using new technology. The presence of digital technology facilitates the application of technology by children in numerous and incredible ways and therefore understanding its impact is very crucial. The children assume the role of pushing for change as they become exposed to technology and it proves that the children are way ahead of adults with regard too the understanding of tools associated with the new technology. With technology, the children can virtually access any type of information tat is needed. It is very crucial for the children to learn the “new things” so that they are at par with advancing technology.

Stereotypes have always been around. Why do we have stereotypes, and how do media use this to their advantage? Explain the challenge to creating stereotype-free media (eg television, radio, books, cartoons, etc.).

Stereotypes are something that we can associate to a group of people. Something that they have in common makes them the same. If people have common characteristics, we stereotype them. One of the stereotypes that we can find in the media is a gender. Prior to the 1970, all pictures in book were stereotyped with the gender. All the doctors, lawyers and “big bosses” were represented by males and all the nurses and housekeepers were represented by females. All the males where aggressive and independent and female were kind and dependent. Since then it changed a little. We can see more often a female as a main character and there is no difference between male and female in the stories.

On TV programs, most of the times males are associated with drugs and we can see them more violent than females. They date a lot of women and they think it is a good idea. Females on the other hand are usually very positive, girls talking about clothes and make up. They do not cause many problems as male.

The other form of stereotype is race. In the past we could not find any black figure picture in books or in the movies. Today however, books, movies TV shows are filled with pictures of all gender.