Cultivation theory – research + finish

- Cultivation theory examines the long-term effects of television. "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 aligns with reality
portrayed on television." The images and ideological messages transmitted through
popular television media heavily influence perceptions of the real world.
- Cultivation theory was developed by George Gerbner.
- The theory argues that the media generally presents an image of the world that does
not reflect reality
- Gerber argued that this happens over time and does not change people’s ideas and
beliefs but just reinforces them.
- The media only reinforces opinions
- One experiment got a lo9t of college students to watch a lot of television and some
other college student to watch a little bit of television. The results showed that the
students that watched a lot of television were more fearful of life compared to the
students that watched a little bit of television.
- Cultivation theory has been criticized, people think it is too simplistic.
- Cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more
susceptible to media messages and the belief that they are real and valid. Heavy
viewers are exposed to more violence and therefore are affected by the Mean World
Syndrome, the belief that the world is a far worse and dangerous place then it
actually is.

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