Finds that (1) messages discrepant with existing beliefs have a greater impact on confidence in beliefs than do nondiscrepant messages; and (2) more expert sources slightly increase confidence in beliefs. Suggests that effects of message exposure on confidence and the effects of confidence on belief change persistence may depend on whether beliefs…

Supports the hypothesis that exposure to nonmediated information that conflicts with information gained from a media source would cause an increase in media skepticism. Suggests that media skepticism may be a useful construct for future research in communication processes and effects. (NKA)

Finds that (1) for neutral ads, people estimated themselves to be more resistant than others, but for emotional ads, more yielding to influence than others; (2) for public service announcements, there were no differences in perceived self and other influence; and (3) judgments of persuasive influence on self and others were markedly overestimated.…

Studies children (grades 1-6) recalling watching television with someone who became scared--they described how they comforted the individual, rated aspects of viewing situation, described how they would comfort a hypothetical friend, and completed a self-report measure of empathy. Finds empathy related to comforting level in both…

Explores the interface between ego-involvement and the third person effect. Finds (1) that partisan viewers (pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian) believe that news coverage causes neutral viewers to view their side unfavorably and their antagonist more favorably; and (2) that news coverage did not significantly affect neutral subjects' attitudes. (SR)

Investigates whether audio/video redundancy improves memory for television messages. Suggests a theoretical framework for classifying previous work and reinterpreting the results. Suggests general support for the notion that redundancy levels affect the capacity requirements of the message, which impact differentially on audio or visual…

Investigates whether the intensity and scope of media system dependency (MSD) relations are positively related to perceptions of threats in the environment. Finds that higher perceptions of threat are associated with more intense MSD relations; threat perceptions are strong predictors of the intensity of MSD relations when demographic variables…

Attempts to elaborate the cultivation hypothesis by examining some proposed subprocesses, especially learning and construction with first- and second-order measures. Examines the relationship between first- and second-order measures. Argues that cultivation theory needs to be extended. (SR)

Examines social and parasocial interaction from interpersonal attribution perspectives. Finds subjects' relationships with soap opera characters, like social relationships with real people, are based on reduction of uncertainty and ability to predict the character's feelings and attitudes. Discusses implications for uncertainty reduction theory…

Investigates similarities in how people respond to mediated presentations and nonmediated experience in the realm of social interaction. Finds that viewing distance manipulation failed to support predictions and watching larger television screens led to more positive emotional responses, in which subjects selected a viewing position that…

Presents discussion of various studies of the effect of television on aggressive behavior. Argues for a positive and significant correlation between television violence and aggressive behavior. Performs additional tests to solidify conclusions. Provides substantive interpretation. (HB)

Discusses implications of the contextualism of William McGuire for media-effects research and for the answers media-effects researchers give to questions of social concern. Argues that mass communication research long has contained latent contextualist orientations. (MS)

Studies the effects of preexposure briefings upon male undergraduate communication students viewing films portraying violence against women. Concludes that viewings preceded by antirape messages and by the writing of antirape papers by the students themselves made students more likely to sympathize with female victims of violence. (SG)

Reports on a trial simulation in which exposure to publicity regarding the defendant and general stories about acquaintance rape were manipulated; participants then viewed an enacted rape trial. Finds that male subjects exposed to predatory rape publicity were pro-defendant, whereas women were unaffected. Discusses male reaction to information…

Reviews E. Noelle-Neumann's "spiral of silence" theory, which holds that, when a person learns through the mass media that public opinion has shifted away from the person's views, that person withdraws from expressing those views. Points to conflicting empirical evidence on Neumann's theory. Summarizes criticisms advanced against the…