The Cultivation Theory

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the cultivation theory that if a person plays too many games with acts of violence in them, he will be more prone to committing violent acts. The paper relates that much of the publicity surrounding this theory focuses on the negative aspects of the media. The paper then explores how the cultivation theory can be used to produce positive effects and examines how role models can be portrayed in a positive manner to bring about societal change for the better.

Outline:
Part I: Understanding Cultivation Theory
Part II: Massive Multi-Player Online Games and Cultivation Theory

From the Paper:

"Television plays an integral role in US society, perhaps more so than in other countries. To understand the significant role that television plays, one must first take a step back in time, to the days before almost every household in America owned a television. Before television, people told each other stories. Grandparents told stories to children and neighbors told stories about the happenings of the world to each other. Information was passed by word of mouth. Long before television, there was the written word, such as newspapers, and later radio. However, not everyone had access to them. Not everyone could read, particularly in rural areas. Those who had access to newspapers and radio passed on the stories to others through word of mouth."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, C., Berkowitz, L., Donnerstein, E., Huesmann, R., Johnson, J., Linz, D., Mlamuth, N., & Wartella, E. (2003). The influence of media violence on youth. Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Dec 2003, 4(3), 81-110. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://parentcoachinginstitute.com/articles/anderson_Research.pdf
• Bandura, A (1965): 'Influence of Models' Reinforcement Contingencies on the Acquisition of Imitative Responses', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1: 589-95
• Bandura, A, D Ross & S A Ross (1961): 'Transmission of Aggression Through Imitation of Aggressive Models', Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 63: 575-82
• Berkowitz, L (ed) (1986): Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Vols 10 & 19. New York: Academic Press
• Brown, B. & Bzostek, S. (2003). Violence in the Lives of Children. Cross Currents. Issue 1. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/PDF/Violence.pdf

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