It is generally accepted that the causes of adolescent drug use are multi-factorial, involving psychological, social and biological factors. However, mass media has been identified as a possible source of influence, with illegal drug use featuring prominently in the media gaze. For completion of graded unit project, the researcher investigated the role of mass media in influencing illegal drug use among adolescents. The researcher explored this phenomenon by looking at a number of component parts of mass media: (1) social media, (2) exposure to celebrity lifestyle, (3) popular music, and (4) television/film, with the focus being on examining mass media influences on experimental drug use among young people, as opposed to problem use.
The two separate and distinct areas of psychological research: (1) mass media influence and (2) adolescent drug use, have, in themselves, attracted much attention from researchers. Comparatively, while extensive research exists on the influence of mass media in relation to adolescent smoking and drinking behaviours, surprisingly scant attention has been devoted to researching the influences of the media on illegal drug use among young people. Thus, this investigation provided the rare opportunity in psychology to produce some of the first research on a topic that remains relatively untouched by researchers. And while it is unlikely to have a groundbreaking impact within the psychological community, it could serve to pave the way for future research.
THEORIES – MEDIA
This investigation applied psychological perspectives from media psychology and social psychology to the topic under investigation. Media psychology emerged as an explicit and distinct field within psychology from a proliferation of mo...
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... condensed by the glamour which is often associated with the celebrity lifestyle.
Cultivation theory – a social theory which focuses on the long-term impact of television – is among the most popular of theories within the doctrine of media psychology. It advocates that long-term exposure to television, or other forms of medium, assist in subtly “cultivating” perceptions of reality among viewers, thus leaving individuals with misperceptions of the world. According to Cohen & Weimann (2000), “The primary proposition of cultivation theory states that the more time people spend “living” in the television world, the more likely they are to believe social reality portrayed on television.” For example, the more time people spend engrossed in the lives of celebrities or friends on social networking sites who use drugs, the more likely this is to seem like normal behaviour.
This article talks about the effects of media exposure on adolescents and the violence that is can bring. Using the social conflict theory it portrays the media as having a harmful impression on today’s children. The article shows how crime statistics have decreased the arrests for violent crimes committed by youth offenders has not (Fowler, 2002). The article also shows how the APA is teaming up with federal programs to help resolve these harmful effects that the media is portraying. The article shows that media is responsible for the social conflict that these adolescents are dealing with. The APA and other organizations along with the federal government are combating this problem from every angle (Fowler, 2002). While the article does speak of some statistics it may be inflating them by not including a breakdown of what violent crimes are being committed.
Two important, mighty Asian empires in history are the Ottoman Empire and the Ming China. These two empires are in totally different areas of Asia – the Ottomans were in the very west, the Chinese were in the oriental east. Therefore, these two empires, naturally, formed completely different cultures. However, surprisingly, these empires had many parts in common as well. The Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty had both many different and distinct parts, as well as many similarities.
The media is by far the most influential mean in millions of Americans lives today and can be used to impact behaviors, especially in the vulnerable minds of children and young adults. The media is responsible for the increasing amount of violent crimes and desensitizing society with explicit imagery and the importance of our culture and contributing to negative behavior, society should pay careful attention to the kinds of role models we provide to the youth. Possibly, the most powerful source of role models can be found in every home: the computer or television. Television is a source that has given more knowledge in the past several years than any other kind of knowledge distributor, including books and newspapers. Television is the most dominant invention of the twentieth century and has created more public figures than radio, books, and magazines combined. However, the role models that are created through the television are not always upstanding citizens like Barrack Obama or Steve Jobs, but instead psychopathic murderers such as Jeffery Dahmer, Ted Bundy and Charles Manson. Not only is society fascinated by the media attention that certain types of citizens receive but they are also mesmorized by films that make these people look like tough fighters who can kill people with the snap of a finger. Actors such as Steven Segall, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis have have capitalized in violent films because of the media exposure as killers and murderers.
Almost a century has passed since two revolutionaries have been born to change the world: television and drugs. It is clear that both drugs and television made their way to society at the same time, but it doesn't seem that obvious what is that made them escalate together. Some studious people say that it may have to do with the presence of drugs in the media, but it remains a mystery. In 'Crack and the Box' by Pete Hamill, there is an intention to explain the reasons to this phenomenon. Hamill accuses television to be the instigator of drugs. However, his statements fall into contradiction because the effects of television watching cannot be compared to those of drug consumption.
Strasburger, V., M.D. (2010). Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Seven Key Issues. Pediatric Annals, 39(9), 556-64. Doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/00904481-20100825-06
...ers, Kim. Sexual Teens, Sexual Media: Investigating Media’s Influence on Adolescent Sexuality. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002.
Strasburger, V., & Donnerstein, E. (1999). Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues and Solutions. Pediatrics, 103(1), 129-139.
The media, including television programming, cartoons, film, the news, as well as literature and magazines, is a very powerful and pervasive medium for expression. It can reach a large number of people and convey ideas, cultural norms, stereotypic roles, power relationships, ethics, and values. Through these messages, the mass media may have a strong influence on individual behavior, views, and values, as well as in shaping national character and culture. Although there is a great potential for the media to have a positive and affirming effect on the public and society at large, there may be important negative consequences when the messages conveyed are harmful, destructive, or violent.
The media has changed significantly over the past decades. Technology has modified our abilities to expand our communication network, and it allows companies to spread their commercials over many different continents. Research done by Roberts (1993) shows that adolescent and children are often very influenced by media that involves sexual or violent conduct. This research is based on media involving children and adolescents, however this does not eliminate the effect media has on adults (Singer & Singer, 2001, p. 269).
A media panic, or often referred to as a moral panic, is a term that describes how the media is formulating issues amongst our society. Over time, our culture has shifted and caused many conclusions regarding media panics and the relationship between youth and the media culture. Based upon previous knowledge and course readings, I have drawn a very disturbing conclusion; this being that no matter what age, children are willing or non-willingly now under surveillance to determine what kind of role media is playing in their lives. With what I have gathered from the readings and class lectures, most authors strongly believe that different forms of media directly influence children's thinking or perception. What authors and researchers continue to imply is that there is a direct correlation to what youth today see in different forms of media and their behaviours.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “The Impact of Media on Adolescents' Sexual Behavior.” 10 June 1998. Online. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-98-079.html 19 March 2001.
The survey we conducted showed that most people believed it was more common for youths in the 14 to 22 age group to use recreational drugs. This was closely followed by the 23 to 30 age group, while the 13 and under age group was considerably further behind. The survey question that followed indicated that people also believed that drug users were irresponsible and inconsiderate. This slightly supports the misconception that teens are more likely to be involved with recreational drugs.
A teen who views these movies frequently is five times more likely to start drinking at a young age than a teen who does not view this material” (Media Influences on Juvenile Delinquency. (n.d.). The advertising industry invests about 1.7 billion dollars to lure in customers. Majority of the shows and commercial are viewed by the teen population. The television and movie industry is a mainstream to entice teens to a lot of unhealthy exposure. Not only does this industry promote underage drinking, but is also promotes the use of illegal drugs. “A teen who views this content is six times more likely to try a drug than a teen who is not exposed to this media. This drug use can also spark violence” (Media Influences of Juvenile Delinquency (n.d.).
The media is also influencing more people to use drugs by advertising how celebrities are going through rehab, and they are using drugs. Men and adults are affected by this, and the celebrities are influenc...
In order to understand how media can affect society or individuals, it is first necessary to look at different approaches that can be taken to analyze the media. According to the book Media Now, there are two main approaches that are used: the deductive approach and the inductive approach. The deductive approach is when a social scientist first comes up with theories or predictions through systematic observations of the media, and then uses the results of their research to support the theory or prove it false. An inductive approach is slightly opposite because this method looks first at peoples interactions with media and with each other, and then creates theories from the real-life situational research. The inductive approach tends to be used more frequently because its theories are based off real instances. Another difference in the ways to approach researching the effects of media is how some social scientists are interested in quantitative information while others are more interested in qualitative information. Quantitative information is when the desired results are as many as possible, while qualitative information is when the desired results are made up of the best, most useful information. All of these approaches and methods of research influence how social scientists determine the ways that media effects society and individuals. The kinds of studies done by these social scientists create detailed profiles of media and its content, and identify trends overtime. For example, one study found that exposure to alcohol advertising and television programming has been shown to be associated with positive beliefs about drinking and alcohol consumption (Austin 2).