what are the effects of mass media in the behavior of an individual?

Answer 1

The effect of Media on us today is a stealthy thief. As we read our daily Newspaper, the advertising sometimes takes up the whole page. We search for the rest of the article, hidden back beneath the ads. When we turn the Radio on during the ride to work, verses of songs can overwhelm us with the vulgarity and crudeness, casting us into a foul mood for the rest of the day. As we drive down the road we are still being contacted by advertising. The Billboards tell us where to stay, where to shop, and how to get to the racetrack. The Magazines we read now have articles we would not want our children to read. The racy and risqué now is commonplace, causing our children to grow up with way too much information. Our children and teenagers have used Games and gaming to such an extent that they now feel violence is normal and acceptable. The games children play with on the Internet seems to be destroying the value system we desire to teach. When we go online to surf the web we are bombarded with inappropriate Internet pop-ups and emails. Buy this, play the casino here - we will even give you money to start. Then, when we get home our place of peace, yet the Television is on, inciting our children, and toys there are. On TV they age can watch the ill manners of the Bart Simpson show, playing at a time that is not appropriate, the dinner hour. This show is adult humor, yet there it is when our little ones are still up.

We need to evaluate the trends of today. Does the influence in our family’s lives build stronger healthier families? Or do the TV, Radio, Magazines, Internet, and Games tear down what we are trying to establish, a good moral home place, family values that are taught and learned at home. Is what we see, what we are about to become? How much does what we see stay with us?
Lets think about it!

Answer 2

I believe you already know the answer to that question. Society speaks the answer so clearly. The question you should be asking is how should I cure the effects of mass media on an individual. I believe the effects are obvious in our culture of fast sex and fast cash. It is in the end a cycle....People influence the media, the media influences the masses, the masses influence society, society influences the media again. I use this illustration because I strongly believe that the effects that mass media cause come from the root of cultures and lifestyles. The media and society share a symbiotic relationship. Media therefore equals society. The media is trained to broadcast what people want to watch and the people feed the media with approval ratings. Therefore people affect the media and the media also affects the people.

Answer 3

If you are truly serious, and I hope you are, you need to read a book entitled THE LONELY CROWD by David Riesman. It was published in the 1950s and traces where people get their direction from. He breaks them down into such terms and inner direction and other direction.

Post WWII, the direction ceased to come from the family in our society and started coming from the media - magazines, radio, TV, etc. Just from reading the ASK section, you can see that has changed significantly. Direction from the media is called "other direction." What has happened with such things as ASK is that direction from peers seems to have taken a lead. There was some direction from peers in other directed society, but it has become more complicated. In other words, why are you asking us when research is present in a book that though written in the 1950s will show you the direction.

The field is social psychology from the socialologica perspective. there is also another field called social psychology that is from the psychological perspective. Riesman was a Sociologist.

The other directedness from the media tells you, or gives you clues, on what is acceptable dress, what is the acceptable language in your age group,

In the era before WWII and somewhat afterwards, those decisions would have been made by a parenting authority.

The dress of the Amish, for instance, show Traditional Direction. They don't watch TV, read too much other than what their parents allow them to and they function with a lot less stress in their lives than present "other directed" people do.

Answer 4

Mass media has very powerful effects on an individual's behavior. That's why we have to be very responsible for the kind of media we expose ourselves to, as these shape our behavior and character in both good and bad ways.

For example:

A child watching cartoons where his favorite characters are smoking might be led to think that it is okay to smoke. That very same child might learn his first cuss words from the shows his older brother watches. And at the slightest provocation, this child might also not think twice about hitting the other person, because the media sometimes depicts violence as cool.

A healthy adolescent girl might be led to think that she isn't beautiful and thin enough because all the actresses and models she sees on TV and magazines have the perfect hair and the thinnest bodies. As a result, she might end up eating very poorly and thus harm her health. That very same girl, because of the insecurities aroused in her by the media, might turn to other ways (courtesy of the media, of course) of gaining people's approval. For example, since a lot of shows on TV glamorize sex and drugs she might try experimenting in these even though she isn't ready to deal with them.

I am not against any particular show or book or magazine or song (because I enjoy all kinds). And exposure to "questionable" types of media can be good because it raises awareness. I think, however, that people should choose very carefully what messages they will believe and what they will just acknowledge and then leave behind.

Answer 5

Mass media has an intensive effect on the behaviour of an individual in the following ways:
1. By means of their editorials
2. by conducting exit polls in elections
3. candid camera observations
4. Surveys on peoples opinion
5. By not covering an news item to suit their way of presenting facts
6. Letters to the editors column
By all these influence on the people's mind is exerted to have a certain path by many of the units in the mass media. There is a fair reporting in certain cases, then many of the media is owned by politicians or influenetial businessmen and corporates.
VR

Answer 6

Mass media influences the behavior of an individual in the following ways:

Helps snowballing information
Effects a change in their perception
Effectively but obtrusively coaxes a person to imitate/emulate sth
Multiplies the needs of an individual thereby makes his/her life miserable
Makes him/her believe that this is " a real big bad world"
Can change/mould a person's opinion for good bad or ugly
Can make or mar a person's, particularly a celebrity's character
Insidiously promotes rumor-mongering attitude

Answer 7

Many and various and mostly detrimental.

We got brainwashed within the last 40 years to find a healthy, adult woman "fat"
A lot of us think that violence is the way to confront problems
Political correctness is used as a tool for avoiding discussion of real problems
Serious political discourse has been replaced by soundbites

Thes are only a few of the more blatant effects of the mass media culture.
Sorry but I can't think of anything positive.

Answer 8

Follow the leader behaviour, scared to tread the off-beaten path.
Mass media takes advantage of this and exploits individual by affording the reach giving the benefit of anonymity to the viewer, listener. This gives a false sense of security to the individual and persuades the 'easier to choose' path of such behaviour.

Answer 9

many, and sad to say, negative ones.someone has to have a very strong personality to be able to judge things correctly and not let them affect ones' life."they form opinions", is the key phrase to the problem.media shouldn't form opinions, they should let them float and people to judge. someone would say that that's what they do, but if you search a little deeper you would find out tragic effects on people behavior, since they pass a lot of their time in front of a t.v screen,and that gets into your skin whether you like it or not.

Answer 10

Mass media reminds me of working on the farm. I used to place feed out to the cattle and would yell "WHOO COW" and they would come running to eat. People who trust the media to tell you the truth are just like those cows.