Violent Media Images as Socializing Agents: An Analysis of Role Models
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Authors
Stout, Shahna
Issue Date
2015
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
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Abstract
Socialization begins at the time of birth and continues throughout the life span, with some
of the most formative years being those of pre-adolescence and adolescence. During this time,
children typically distance themselves from the influence of their parents and seek role models
whom they wish to emulate. Advancements in technology have led to subsequent increases in
rates of media consumption, especially by youths. Through the increased use and access of
media sources, pre-adolescents and adolescents have greater access to their role models.
Research has shown that observing violent media images correlates with subsequent aggressive
behavior, as well as the formation of beliefs regarding violence and gender inequality in
relationships, which are formed during pre-adolescence and adolescence. During adolescence
identity formation takes place and the child chooses to either reject certain beliefs or incorporate
those beliefs into their identities; if the child incorporates violence beliefs of acceptance, they are
more likely to be accepting of the violence in an abusive relationship.
This paper examines the current literature regarding socialization and the importance of
role models during the socialization process as background to understanding the potential effects
of violent media images to pre-adolescent and adolescent girls. The current study looks at two
specific image sets of current role models to pre-adolescent and adolescent girls, as the subjects
in scenes of violence. By breaking down these images, according to a modified version of
Lacey’s (1998) model, the current study attempts to extrapolate the representative meaning of the
image sets. The modified version of Lacey’s (1998) model of formal aspects and their meanings
will be applied to violent media images of role models to assess the messages received by preadolescent
and adolescent girls from these images.
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