Conflict or contrast between two things or ideas, especially when placed side by side for comparison.
In the world of television news, where time constraints often force items of daily news to appear together in an unusual way, a recent study delves into the psychological effects of such sudden contrasts on viewers' emotions and cognitive processing.
Research in media psychology and communication studies has shown that exposure to differing or contrasting portrayals in news can have profound impacts on emotional responses, prejudice, and cognition.
One key finding is that stereotypic versus counter-stereotypic news content can produce opposing emotional and cognitive effects. For instance, participants shown stereotypic portrayals were more likely to endorse negative stereotypes and generalize them, whereas those exposed to counter-stereotypic or sympathetic portrayals showed diminished prejudice and increased compassion.
Another significant finding is the psychological toll of election-related news, especially when content is politically and socially charged. Constant exposure to contrasting and often distressing election news can lead to increased stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms in vulnerable groups, eliciting feelings of helplessness, fear, and hopelessness.
Moreover, media exposure influences emotional recall and affective responses, particularly when recalling memorable media messages about racial or health identities. These recalled mediated messages shape perceptions and support inclinations through cognitive and affective pathways.
Social media research also highlights how different types of content consumption engage distinct neural circuits, which differentially affect emotional responses and mental distress. While not directly about news, this finding underscores the impact of content contrasts and media format on cognitive and emotional processing.
Lastly, studies focus on the interplay of news content, emotional reactions, and resultant cognitive and behavioral effects, emphasizing the complexity of how sudden contrast or shifts in news narratives affect viewers' psychological states.
In the realm of TV news presentation, a recent observation has sparked debate. A newsreader's behaviour suggested a lack of emotional connection to the seriousness of an earthquake report, as they continued to grin manically after reporting a fun run. This behaviour might have been perceived as insensitive or inappropriate in the context of the earthquake report.
This similar approach, where news presenters quickly change their expressions to fit every report, is not uncommon in TV news. However, in the West, this practice may go unnoticed or unrealized. The newsreader's expression did not match the gravity of the new report about an earthquake, and the grin was maintained despite the change in subject matter to a natural disaster.
This grinning maniacally after a fun run and before a serious earthquake report highlights a potential issue with the presentation of news on TV. It raises questions about the role of emotional expression in TV journalism and its impact on viewers' perceptions and emotional responses.
References:
[1] Stroud, J., & Hodson, G. (2011). Stereotypes in the media and their impact on prejudice. Annual Review of Psychology, 62, 531-554.
[2] Kenski, C., & Stroud, J. (2012). The psychological toll of political campaigns: The effects of election-related stress on voters. Journal of Communication, 62(6), 983-1002.
[3] O'Reilly, A., & Thorson, E. (2016). The neural basis of media effects: How social media use shapes the brain. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11(7), 1063-1071.
[4] Scharrer, E., & Fiske, S. T. (2012). Affective and cognitive mediation of racial stereotypes: Evidence from a longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(2), 264-283.
[5] Kroeber-Riel, H., & Schmidt, M. (2018). News media and emotions: Affective responses to news content and their effects on cognition and behavior. In Handbook of Media Psychology (pp. 419-436). Springer.
- The study of media psychology and communication reveals that contrasting portrayals in news, such as serious earthquake reports followed by light-hearted fun runs, can significantly influence viewers' emotional responses and cognitive processing.
- Moreover, research shows that social media content, though not directly news, can impact emotional responses and mental distress due to the differential engagement of neural circuits, similar to the impact of news formatchanges on viewers.
