Just because Jill and Jamie watch television does not mean that they will develop the “mean-world syndrome.” Explain the mean world syndrome--what is it? How does it develop? Who is most affected? In your response, make sure to identify and explain the two ways that cultivate the mean world syndrome.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

According to cultivation theory, the mean world syndrome is a cynical or fearful view of society that individuals develop from watching too much TV. Because TV contains so much violence, heavy viewers (who watch four or more hours of TV per day) are more likely to believe that this violence will affect them personally. Cultivation theory suggests that viewers’ attitudes are cultivated in two ways: mainstreaming and resonance. Mainstreaming implies that heavy viewers develop a common view of reality based on frequent exposure to the repetitive and dominating images, stories, and messages shown on TV. Thus, heavy viewers are likely to perceive the world in ways that parallel TV’s portrayal of life--as more corrupt, violent, and crime ridden. Resonance occurs when individuals who have actually faced violence in their own lives and then watch violent TV programming; these individuals are forced to replay their own life situations again and again, reinforcing the idea that the world is a mean and scary place. In sum, heavy viewers who watch a lot of TV, especially violent programming, are more like to develop the mean world syndrome.