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General Purpose: To understand how media contributes positively to
our lives.
Unit Outline
I. Overview of Prosocial Messages
A. Definition - any nonviolent, social message designed to
be helpful or beneficial
B. Focus Strongly On Children
C. Primary Application of Modeling Theory
II. Prosocial Effects (Rushton, 1979)
A. General Procedures in these Studies
1. All studies make use of a prosocial message.
2. All were experiments (randomly selected
participants)
3. Almost always observed behavior
B. Altruism - unselfish acts
C. Shyness Reduction - shy kids are shown a prosocial
message of groups of kids playing and encouraging shy
kids to participate. Shy kids showed some improvement (1
out of 3).
D. Self-Control - Boys and forbidden toys with three groups
restraint, succumb, neutral. If they saw the restraint
video they kept from playing with toys the longest and
played the least. Succumb waited a little and played most.
F. Coping with Fear - Kids were shown a video tape of what
to expect on their hospital visit. Kids shown the video
had shorter recovery periods, less pain relievers, etc.
III. Classic Prosocial Research
A. MisterRogers Neighborhood
1. Format - simple, unchanging, slow, easy,
predictable with a strong Christian message
(families, togetherness). Kids crave consistency.
As they get older, they get bored. Tells a story
about the neighborhood...the world is just a
neighborhood (Japanese neighborhood, etc.).
2. Content
a. Develops on self esteem
b. Builds sense of community
3. Effects - 23 different studies have been done on
MisterRogers Neighborhood - moderate effect
B. Sesame Street
1. Format - Jazzy to keep kids' attention.
2. Content - focuses on symbolic learning (a media
headstart). It was designed to teach disadvantaged
kids the alphabet, numbers, etc.
3. Effects on Achievement - shows a moderate effect on
disadvantaged frequent viewers - see page 63
IV. Hearold's Summary of Prosocial Effects (Hearold, 1986)
A. Goals and Methods - summarized all the research studies
in the prosocial area and found an average effect. Found
over 100 studies on exposure to prosocial messages.
B. Types of Media Messages - Lassie, Sesame Street, etc.
C. Types of Prosocial Outcomes - does it work with altruism,
shyness, behaviors, etc.
D. Results
1. Average Effect of Message on Prosocial - if you see
a prosocial message, do you act prosocial? yes, a
moderate effect - see page 64
2. Effects for Lab, Field, and Natural Settings - no
difference when comparing where the study was done.
3. Real vs "Fictional" Messages - no difference
4. Age and Sex Differences
a. large age difference (after puberty, prosocial
messages have less effect)
b. moderate effect - girls are more responsive to
prosocial messages.
V. Conclusions about Prosocial Media
A. Behavioral Impact from Prosocial Messages
B. Effects Strongly Related to Age and Sex - not magic
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C. Society Reinforces Prosocial Themes
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