Theories of mass media have found:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

American functionalists viewed mass communication as a means of reinforcing social solidarity and shared history. They believed that the media could create a common culture that would bind diverse individuals together by sharing common experiences and values. This view of mass media as a means of promoting social cohesion has been a widely accepted theory in the sociology of media.

Answer: C
 Robert Merton and Talcott Parsons were critical of the media and believed that it could be socially destructive, weakening social ties and undermining traditional community values. They argued that the media could lead to a breakdown of traditional social norms and values, leading to social disintegration and breakdown. This view of the media as a negative force in society has been influential in shaping public policy related to media regulation and censorship.

Answers A and D are both incorrect. There is no evidence to suggest that the media is occupying a reduced status in modern social life, and conservatives are not generally supporters of the rise of mass culture.

Theories of Mass Media Have Found