Deck 8: Mass Media Effects

Question 1

Media effects that we easily observe, such as people cheering for a team when watching a football game on TV, are known as

A) process effects.
B) baseline effects.
C) visible effects.
D) manifest effects.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is true about the timing of media effects?

A) Long-term effects are easier to notice than immediate effects.
B) Long-term effects are enduring, while immediate effects are fleeting.
C) Long-term effects can show up after a single exposure.
D) Immediate effects occur during or immediately after exposure.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Physiological-type media effects

A) are usually beyond our conscious control.
B) can wear down over time.
C) involve our automatic bodily systems.
D) All of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The fact that some people judge others based on the impossible beauty standards set by the media is an example of

A) an attitudinal-type effect.
B) a behavioral-type effect.
C) an opinion-type effect.
D) an emotional-type effect.

Question 5

Long-term effects manifest

A) immediately and last for a long time.
B) after exposure to one powerful media message.
C) only after many exposures.
D) when we least expect it.

Question 6

Perhaps the most pervasive yet overlooked media effect is

A) the cognitive-type effect.
B) the behavioral-type effect.
C) the attitudinal-type effect.
D) the emotional-type effect.

Question 7

All of the following are types of media effects, except

A) belief-type effect.
B) attitudinal-type effect.
C) emotional-type effect.
D) valence-type effect.

Question 8

On which types of effects are the public and media critics fixated?

A) Manifest effects
B) Process effects
C) Baseline effects
D) All of the above

Question 9

Rebecca listens to classical music to relax (i.e., reduce her heartbeat and rate of breathing). The intended media effect here is

A) emotional type.
B) behavioral type.
C) physiological type.
D) psychological type.

Question 10

If we have a narrow perspective of what media effects are, we will be

A) less affected by negative influences.
B) motivated to increase our media literacy.
C) unable to perceive the many effects that are occurring around us.
D) in greater control of the media's influence on us.

Question 11

The valence of an effect refers to whether it is

A) weak or powerful in nature.
B) in a positive or negative direction.
C) influential at the individual or societal level.
D) None of the above

Question 12

A macrotype effect refers to an effect that

A) influences more than one person at the exact same time.
B) lasts for a long period of time.
C) is particularly powerful.
D) influences institutions, organizations, and society.

Question 13

All of the following are true about media and the institution of family, except

A) divorce rates have been climbing since television penetrated our culture.
B) many popular television series portray married life in a negative manner.
C) television is the only factor that has influenced the trend toward the breakdown of the traditional family.
D) media have the potential to bring the family together to share a common experience.

Question 14

Media effects on attitudes

A) are stronger at the specific level than at the general level.
B) are related to beliefs because beliefs are standards.
C) are always unintentional.
D) are called belief-type attitudes.

Question 15

According to the text, the timing dimension of a media effect refers to

A) a viewer's maturity level when experiencing the effect.
B) how long an effect lasts.
C) when evidence of the effect starts to show up.
D) None of the above

Question 16

The media constantly influence our thoughts and feelings, whether or not this influence is apparent to others. The effects are called

A) manifest effects.
B) process effects.
C) fluctuation effects.
D) subliminal effects.

Question 17

By observing role models such as famous athletes and musicians, we gather information about what it takes to by happy and successful. This is an example of

A) an attitudinal-type effect.
B) a cognitive-type effect.
C) an aspirational effect.
D) a brainwash effect.

Question 18

The effect of gradually losing the ability to feel sympathy for victims both in media portrayals and in real life after years of exposure to media violence is called

A) desympathization.
B) desensitization.
C) the numbness effect.
D) the callous effect.

Question 19

When you are influenced by a media message during exposure, you experience

A) an immediate effect.
B) an intended effect.
C) a real-time effect.
D) an exposure effect.

Question 20

Mass media effects

A) occur after exposure to negative messages.
B) are constantly occurring in a complex process.
C) are only changes in behaviors.
D) only happen to children and teens.

Question 21

You can experience intentional and unintentional effects at the same time.

Question 22

Which of the following factors influence the media effects process?

A) Cognitive abilities
B) Sociological factors
C) Motivations
D) All of the above

Question 23

Cognitive abilities have no influence on the way in which a person is affected by the media.

Question 24

Which of the following factors influence the media effects process?

A) Characteristics of a person
B) Characteristics of a message
C) Both characteristics of a person and characteristics of a message
D) Neither characteristics of a person nor characteristics of a message

Question 25

It is possible to control the process of media effects in your life.

Question 26

If we limit our attention to only manifested effects, we will greatly overestimate the degree of influence the media exert on us.

Question 27

Media only seem to exert a negative influence on society.

Question 28

When the goals of the media are in conflict with your goals, it typically results in

A) intentional effects.
B) physiological-type effects.
C) negatively valenced effects.
D) contradictory effects.

Question 29

Intentional media effects refer to those effects that

A) individuals seek out to fulfill specific needs.
B) occur in the attentional state.
C) occur in the self-reflexive state.
D) have a positive valence.

Question 30

Nicholas starts playing video games because he is bored over Christmas break. Eventually, he becomes addicted to the games and spends less and less time on his homework. This effect on his dedication to school work is

A) intentional and emotional type.
B) unintentional and behavioral type.
C) negative and attitudinal type.
D) negative and intentional.

Question 31

Physiological-type effects are within our conscious control.

Question 32

What can we do to expand our media literacy regarding media effects?

A) Understand that effects are constantly occurring
B) Understand that the media work with other factors in our lives
C) Understand that you can control the effects process in your own life
D) All of the above

Question 33

Long-term effects happen only after many exposures to media messages.

Question 34

An immediate effect lasts only for a short period of time.

Question 35

Unintentional media effects

A) only happen when we are in a state of automaticity.
B) can occur at the same time as intentional media effects.
C) are always negative.
D) are always long term.

Question 36

To increase your media literacy you need to

A) recognize immediate effects.
B) recognize long-term effects.
C) consider what you have internalized from the media culture.
D) All of the above

Question 37

The public and media critics are fixated on manifested effects.

Question 38

Allison's parents taught her from an early age that happiness is not dependent on financial success. Because of this, her belief in the meaning of happiness is resistant to change. This is an example of which influence that can contribute to the media effects process?

A) Media exposure habits
B) Development maturities
C) Sociological factors
D) Arousal

Question 39

We are always in a process of being influenced by mass media messages.

Question 40

Sandra reads The New York Times every day to stay informed about recent world affairs. Thus, for Sandra, the effect of becoming informed is

A) cognitive type and intentional.
B) attitudinal type and positive.
C) intentional and long-term.
D) cognitive type and unintentional.

Question 41

Define and exemplify manifested media effects and process effects.

Question 42

Define and exemplify immediate effects and long-term effects.

Question 43

Define and exemplify unintentional and intentional media effects.

Question 44

Name, explain, and exemplify three types of media effects.

Question 45

Name and discuss three characteristics about a person that constitute influences on the media effects process.