cognitve priming as an explanation of media influence

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  • Created by: Aimee W x
  • Created on: 14-03-22 12:20
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  • cognitive priming as an explanation of media influences
    • explains the short term effects of media violence
    • "priming": temporary increase in the accessibility of thoughts and ideas.
    • exposure to violence activates thoughts or ideas about violence, which activates other aggressive thoughts through associations made in memory, making aggression more likely.
      • violent media such as computer games can temporarily increase activation od "readiness" of these thoughts making them more accessible for a short period of time.
        • the process is mostly automatic so it can direct our behvaiour without us even being aware of it.
          • primed response triggered when we encounter cues in a situation we perceive as aggressive.
    • support comes from researchers. when undergraduates watched a 15 min segment of a violent film, they had faster reaction times to aggressive words than those whi had watched a non violent film. suggests exposure to violent media does increase accessibility of violent thoughts and ideas as predicted by the theory.
    • researchers found participants who played violent computer games had more cognitively accessible aggressive thoughts that those that played non violent games. they concluded a single incident of violent game play was enough to prime aggressive thoughts.
    • however, blaming aggression on media influence may ignore biological factors. for example, it is argued aggressive behaviour may be genetic. researchers discovered a defective MAOA gene in a dutch family with a history of male violence. furthermore, testosterone has been shown to play an important role.
      • suggests explanation may be limited in amount of behaviours it can explain

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