Gerbner's Cultivation theory and violence in the media.

Gerbners Cultivation Theory and Television

Violence is popular in America; it is a cheap and easy way to attract forethought, sell newspapers, and get up ratings. Television offers a wealth of realistic portrayals of real-life drama, and with its secure short letter in living rooms across America, idiot box has hold up societys storyteller. However, televisions depiction of the world differs from reality (Perse, 1994). Crime is a prevailing topic of entertainment programming and news broadcasts. Violent crimes are most frequently aired, and although it rarely occurs in comparison to different types, murder is the most commonly covered crime on television (Reber, 2000). Crimes against people (assault, rape, murder) receive much more attention from the media than crimes against property, such as burglary or auto theft (Reber, 2000). showing large quantities of explicit violence twenty-four hour period after day on news broadcasts and drama shows can cultivate a social paranoia that counters notions of trustworthy people or safe surroundings (Griffin, p. 380). Some researchers argue that the prevalence of crime coverage in the media bestows an unwarranted importance...that deflects attention from noncrime issues, [and] may also unduly raise the publics fear of crime and the socially harmful consequences of that fear (Reber, p. 101).

In his tillage theory, George Gerbner postulates a relationship between heavy television think and peoples world-views.



He suggests that when people exposethemselves to vast amounts of symbolic violence on television, they become conditioned to view the world as a mean and scary place. In other words, the cultivation attitude holds that televisions consistently violent messages leads viewers to be more solemn and mistrustful of others (Perse, 1994). The overwhelming presence of violence on television and subsequent research supports cultivation theory.

In his theory, Gerbner defines violence as the transparent expression of physical force (with or without a weapon, against egotism or others)...

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