this may be the best thing i have read all semester.

One of the striking characteristics of the new mass media – radio, television, and the movies – is that they give the illusion of face-to-face relationship with the performer.  The conditions of response to the performer are analogous to those in a primary group.  The most remote and illustrious men are met as if they were in the circle of one’s peers; the same is true of a character in a story who comes to life in these media in an especially vivid and arresting way.  We propose to call this seeming face-to-face relationship between spectator and performer a para-social relationship.

Lots of great, weird examples from the 50’s.

Wegner, Daniel M. Psychological Review. Vol 101(1), Jan 1994, 34-52.

Abstract A theory of ironic processes of mental control is proposed to account for the intentional and counterintentional effects that result from efforts at self-control of mental states. The theory holds that an attempt to control the mind introduces 2 processes: (1) an operating process that promotes the intended change by searching for mental contents consistent with the intended state and (2) a monitoring process that tests whether the operating process is needed by searching for mental contents inconsistent with the intended state. The operating process requires greater cognitive capacity and normally has more pronounced cognitive effects than the monitoring process, and the 2 working together thus promote whatever degree of mental control is enjoyed. Under conditions that reduce capacity, however, the monitoring process may supersede the operating process and thus enhance the person’s sensitivity to mental contents that are the ironic opposite of those that are intended.

(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

The Mean World Syndrome - Case Study: Child Abductions

The Mean World Syndrome - Media As Storytellers

The Mean World Syndrome - Desensitization & Acceleration

“be one of us by being none of us” : the spotlight effect and anonymity on the internet

{great paper / presentation title}

Internet porn statistics

Traditionally, television sitcoms are shot from an objective, third person camera perspective. How does the use of the subjective, first person camera perspective affect the viewer’s experience of the program? Due to the novelty of this structural feature, it is unclear what would be expected in terms of the viewer’s identification, transportation and enjoyment with a program that employs this feature as a main narrative device. Participants were asked to complete a brief survey about their viewing habits then watch a series of short clips and complete a survey that was made up of scales to measure each clip on dimensions of identification, transportation, humor, sexuality, enjoyment and perceived realism. Results of a pretest with the clips are reported and avenues for a larger study are explored.

hopefully i can report back with awesome results.