Recently in Mass Media Category

My friend was actually the one who gave me the idea for this post, she told me (and subsequently gave me the link) about a documentary discussing the psychology of Batman and told me I had to watch it. This show, "Batman Unmasked", talks about many different types of motivation of Bruce Wayne and the villains of Batman; in the first ten minutes the commentators (usually psychologists) talked about fear and perceived choice. Wayne, as a child, was very fearful of bats which acted as a motivator for him, he wanted to avoid situations where bats or what he perceived as bats were involved. When Wayne was an adult he used a technique often used by psychologists, exposure, to overcome his fear. He stood in a room full of bats until he no longer felt fear and anxiety.

 

Another really interesting concept talked about was about identity. There is an argument about who is the real person: Bruce Wayne or Batman. Some believe that Batman is the real identity and Wayne is the identity used around others as a mask. Others believe that Batman is the true mask while Wayne is the true identity. Although the argument is not extremely relevant, it helps to show what Reeves talks about with roles in the textbook. Reeve states that a person holds many different roles and what role is chosen by a person is dependent upon the situation (p. 280). That is clearly seen with Wayne/Batman. While out in public Wayne acts a certain way, as a playboy and spoiled heir. When in his own house or around people who know the real him, Bruce acts very differently than he does in his public role. When in the role of Batman he is a protector and fighter, something that also very different from both his public and personal roles.

 

Other topics discussed included Jung and the unconscious/conscious mind, hero complex, anger, power, narcissism, and choice among many others. For me, the most interesting part was the discussion about the enemies of Batman, especially Harvey Dent or Two-Face. If you have about 45 minutes I strongly encourage you to watch the entire documentary, it is really fascinating. This is a link to the first part of the show (just ignore the subtitles): Batman Unmasked

 

 

Guilt in Advertising

This article was very interesting to read.  It describes the different ways that advertisements can tug at our emotions.  Guilt appeal is a great way to get consumer's attention, and it's used quite a bit in the advertising world.  A good example of this is the commercials showing the dying polar bears without ice to live on, or the cute little puppies and kittens without homes.  Another classic example of this is the commercials about the children struggling in poor countries, asking you to help them with a "dollar a day."   Seeing these commercials evokes an emotional response, and leads the viewer to feel guilty, something advertisers are counting on.  The hope is that if you feel guilty about these poor puppies and children, you will give them money to try and help them or "save a life."
Previous research found that mothers were the most likely target and more susceptible to these types of advertising techniques, so it was mothers that were used in this research study.  They actually discovered that many times commercials and advertisements that used guilt as a motivational factor to buy the product actually evoked some levels of anger in the participants. This anger acted as a mediator between the guilt and the consumer's attitudes about the product or advertisement.   This anger also seemed to affect whether or not the participants reported that they would buy the product or not. Though it may sound surprising that these depressing commercials could evoke anger, think about the last time you saw the Haiti relief commercials? Or the American Christian Children's Fund? Yes, they are all depressing and raise some amount of guilt, but at the same time many Americans feel that things need to change in our own country first.  The article also discusses aspects of annoyance, and how the annoyance levels of these commercials can raise levels of anger as well.
Many commercials of the commercials like this act on the principle of relatedness.  This aspect is also discussed in the book (Reeve, 161, 2009).  Commercials want to make you feel as though you have a connection with the people or animals shown in the advertisement.  This may be why they show close ups of big puppy eyes, and probably why they send you a "personalized letter and photo of the child you're saving."  The advertisements are attempting to make you feel as though these people and animals are just like you or similar to you, your pets, or your children, and this makes us feel as though we should help them.  The letters and pictures that the children's fund sends to you also plays a role in feedback, because these things give you good feelings about your donation, it will reinforce the behavior and allow you to associate donating with good feelings (Reeve, 117).
Using these types of positive reinforcements once they have the consumer to a point where they have made a donation increases the chances that they will make an additional donation in the future.  Making people feel good about the things they have done (donating money, volunteering) is a way to provide a reward, and eventually this reward could develop into intrinsic motivations.  When someone consistently volunteers and contributes to the community, there are positive feelings associated with the outcomes.  This acts as a reinforcement/reward to begin with. As they continue to participate in these types of activities, the reward may evolve into an intrinsic motivation (Reeve, 111) because they are so used to those feelings and actions that they feel a basic internal drive to continue with their good feelings and positive contributions to the community. Along with this, another aspect of intrinsic motivations is the idea of challenge. People who participate in things such as Habitat for Humanity or other volunteer programs many have had feelings of guilt in order to get them started, but then a challenge developed and lead to more intrinsic motivations (Reeve, 111).
These commercials also incorporate the idea of sociability. When we feel as though everyone is donating to these funds (when they say "over a million Americans donate daily," or things of that nature), we don't want to be the only one's not donating.  We have a drive to donate just because we hear that there are many other people donating. It's almost as if these commercials are peer pressuring us into donating to their particular fund.
Many aspects of the textbook can be seen in these emotion-provoking commercials.  They play off of the fact that human's levels of self-perceptions can change at the drop of a hat (Reeve, 279).  When we don't act on these donations, our mind often creates a negative affect from the guilt we experience, which leads us to feel bad about ourselves and could lower our self-esteem (Reeve, 266).  The main difficulty here, according to Reeve, is that raising self-esteem is motivational intervention.  Adversely, the lowering of self-esteem may also be a motivational intervention if you look at the effects that these commercials have on people.  Because these commercials have made people feel bad, it motivates them to donate their money in order to feel good again. Then, every time we donate money and get those good feelings, it reinforces that behavior so that the behavior continues.

There are many other aspects of psychology within these types of commercials. What are some other areas where psychology comes into play within advertisements? What about within the media in general? How do these things affect our everyday lives when we aren't even thinking about them?

Advertising is a pretty manipulative business.  All kinds of industries use language, images, commercials, etc. to influence our emotions and motivate us to NEED their product or service.  While the United States is somewhat strict about inflammatory advertising, especially concerning hot topics (i.e. Tim Tebow's abortion commercial during the Superbowl caused quite a stir), France is much more liberal.  First, go to the following site and see what side of the fence you land on: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/24/french-oral-sex-anti-smok_n_474909.html

The issue at the heart of this controversey is teenage smoking. In France, 33% of the teens smoke.  The anti-smoking agency's motivation behind this is they are trying to extinguish or at least reduce this behavior. General advertising efforts solely commenting on health and dying hasn't elicited the type of reaction anti-smoking agencies would have liked. So this was there behavioral response to that antecedent.  From that, there has stemmed many emotionally-driven responses.  Obviously, the sexual connotations are driving this debate of whether or not this ad should be pulled. Pretty funny though because all this controversy by the opposition has made this ad tremendously popular and famous within France and obviously around the world as it has made it into a college classroom in the Midwest.

Personally, I think the ad is provocative and thus powerfully effective. This will undoubtedly grab the attention of youth emitting this addictive behavior. Consequently, the message will get across to these individuals, positively reinforcing the ad company's behavior of producing ads such as this one. It's ingenious really as controversial ads always seem to get more attention than they would have if the opposition kept its mouth shut. It's a pretty crazy behavior modification tool within the marketing business really as their extrinsic motivation to gain attention by producing this controversial ad proved to be a stimulus for discussion and smoking awareness (response).

While I do not smoke, I do wonder within the context of our class whether smoking is a physiological need or a quasi-need?  Is it possible for a quasi-need (a situationally induced want) to turn into a physiological need over time as one continues to smoke? (physiological need:  biological need within an organism orchestrating brain structures, hormones, etc. to regulate imbalances and necessary well-being)

Do you get mad when your internet goes down or is slow and all you want is to check Facebook? Are you compelled to check/respond to text messages or e-mails even when you have more important things to do? In fact, my internet cut out on me while typing this post and I got a little angry myself. But is there such a thing as internet withdrawal as a result of internet addiction?
I ran upon this interesting article:
Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction

This is an editorial from the journal Psychiatry that discussed internet addiction and whether it should be recognized as a common disorder. This disorder includes three different categories of  internet use: Gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messages. These all include 4 components:
"1) excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives, 2) withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible, 3) tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use, and 4) negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue"

Other countries like South Korea believe internet addiction is a serious public health problem, but in America the problem is more private. It could also be considered an economic problem due to decreased productivity.
With such reliance on the internet these days, the lines could be blurry as to what constitutes addiction and restricts functioning versus what is actually required to function.

I figured there is no time better than the present to touch of the drive and story of an Olympic athlete. I think we all know by now, being an Olympian takes much more than an occasional practice. Being an Olympian takes commitment, determination, drive, and natural ability. These athletes practice for hours on end. Then, when they are done, they go to sleep and wake up to do it all over again. Training is nothing less that extreme. Anything other than being the best is not acceptable, because no one goes to the Olympic games with out the desire to bring home gold. Every athlete dreams of being an Olympian, and every Olympian dreams of being recognized as the best... to be positively reinforces with a gold circle draped from their neck. 

For this post I wanted to find a really neat video to share. But instead I found a few and decided instead of sharing a video I wanted to share this whole site.  Maybe more people than I'm aware of know about TED but I just think it is a neat site to go to and learn and hear other opinions on various topics. So I want to encourage you all to go to this site and check out the different themes of videos and find one that is for YOU!

TED has the catch phrase "Ideas worth spreading".  They hold a few conferences each year where speakers will come and spread their idea.  They have some interesting topics that anyone could enjoy.  You should check it out!

I got carried away watching a few videos and decided to post one up anyway.  Do you remember the golden rule from when you were a kid?  "Treat others the way you want to be treated".  This stopped me in my tracks and made me really rethink how I was going about life now.  What would happen in this world if everyone started to live by that golden rule?  We should be sensitive to other's emotions by thinking of our own emotions.  I heard this analogy from someone else so I can't take all of the credit, (but just think about it).  Say you're driving and you realize you need to be over a lane, like NOW.  So you pull in front of someone and cut them off.  The way you react is most likely like, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" and you just feel bad and apologetic.  But then on the other side of that coin, when someone pulls in front of you or cuts you off you might blow up, curse at them, call them names...make assumptions.  We should just be empathetic of others (just think what the world would be like if we did.)
   
http://www.ted.com/talks/karen_armstrong_let_s_revive_the_golden_rule.html

Here is the link to the website:
www.ted.com
From there you can explore, and please, post a comment with a video you watched or liked.

For my Intro to Women's and Gender class one of the books we read was Women: Images and Realities by Amy Kesselman, Lily McNair, and Nancy Schniedewind.  This book was comprised of essays about experiences in women and mens' lives.  I enjoyed this book because it made me aware of many life experiences and how differently each person handles these experiences. 

One of my favorite essays was called, "Klaus Barbie, and Other Dolls I'd Like to See" by Susan Jane Gilman.  Gilman talks about Barbie dolls versus Dawn dolls.  She hates Barbie dolls with a passion and named them "Klaus Barbie dolls", after the Gestapo commander.  She feels Barbies are a pop artifact promoting Aryanism.  In fact, she compares the blonde-hair, blue-eyed dolls to Hitler's cult.  Although she commends Mattel on making an effort to create a variety of dolls, she feels they basically have the same Aryan features.  Gilman also states, these unique dolls are limited edition Barbies, and not the normal or standard look.

However, Gilman is not anti-doll.  As a child, Gilman and her friends played with Dawn dolls.  Before this reading, I had never heard of these dolls; however, they intrigue me.  Dawn dolls had four dolls in the collection.  Dawn was the blonde doll, Angie had black hair (Italian or Hispanic), Gloria had red hair (Irish or a Russian Jew), and Dale had an afro.  Gilman and her friends were Jewish, Black, Asian, and Latina and felt if you didn't look like Barbie, you didn't fit in. 

Gilman's essay ends with her describing Barbie's she would like to see (my favorite part).  These Barbie's include Dinner Roll Barbie, Birkenstock Barbie, Bisexual Barbie, Butch Barbie, Our Barbies, Ourselves, Harley Barbie, Body Piercings Barbie, Blue Collar Barbie, Rebbe Barbie, B-Girl Barbie, The Barbie Dream Team, and Transgender Barbie.

I found this reading unique and interesting.  Like Gilman, I'm not sure Barbie is to blame for young girls constantly being insecure with their bodies; however, I do think it is a possibility.  Personally, I never played with Barbies much.  I found it more enjoyable to pull their heads off or play outside in the sandbox or swinging. 

Does anyone agree or disagree with the fascinationtion and/or obsession our cultures has with Barbie dolls influencing young girls?

 

The last time I wrote a post, I did the BMI requirement for graduation, and not to my surprise I got some commentary. None the less everyone has an opinion about weight and how being "overweight" is a disease and in our country a huge "NO NO!" Not saying that is what people commented about, but how just in general people view this BMI requirement.  Somehow this is the new standard of feeling fit and being healthy. But what are the requirements of being healthy? Is it fitting into this BMI calculation? Or eating healthy with moderate exercise? How about those who are not in this range, who eat the rights foods and exercise daily, but are over the normal height/weight configuration, do they count as being unhealthy?

You see we slap the wrist of those who do not fit into this whole category that everyone thinks is healthy.  Even those who fit into this category, slap the wrist of those that they feel are unhealthier than they are.  Society has placed a great deal of pressure to "fit in" and be a part of this majority. Because those who are in the majority have the power. This power can affect our social needs, which we will talk about in chapter 7, and this in turns affects our motivation in how we live our lives. You see, they control everything from who is unhealthy, to who is socially accepted, what we wear, what size we wear, what we should look like, and in this case how the BMI is calculated. If you look at the weight from recent years to now you will understand that the weight keeps decreasing.

There is an epidemic that is arising with America's weight obsession with and their BMI. This obsession is something to worry about, because it places the emphases on weight, diet and societal expectations, which leads the idealization of what is considered perfect. This has shown up in recent studies that there are a few trends. These trends show a decrease in the normal weight, clothing size and increase the number of dieting programs.

  I did some research because for one even at my smallest weight and size which was 140lbs and a 5, I was still considered overweight, by the calculations of the BMI ( I was a 31), and now that I am no longer a 5, I am morbidly obese. I also, have some friends who have looked at their BMI and realized that they do not fit into this normal range that this calculator has for them. For some, this motivated them and they were like "oh my, it's time to return to the Gym". This friend is 5'4, 145lbs and wears a size 6. In looking at her you wouldn't guess at all that she is not in the normal range. Potentially a problem, maybe, maybe not.

Here are some websites that I found that have talked about the BMI and how it is outright wrong and the feministe has a picture gallery, which is interesting in itself, because you can see in pictures who is not normal, and who is considered overweight.  Some of them are athletics, who would have thought that they are overweight?

http://jezebel.com/306096/somethings-wrong-with-the-body-mass-index

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/10/01/the-obesity-epidemic-in-pictures/

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/-   The BMI calculator

So my questions to you are. Do you fit in this normal range? If you don't are you okay with your current weight and size? And if you do, the same question, are you okay with your weight and size? My last question is would you let this calculation define you? In answering this last question myself, I must say I do not, because I am much happier now and do healthier activities now that I not a size 5.

I have talked to my younger cousin about off the wall text messaging that younger teens are spreading through text messages within her school.  She says everyone knows who you have a crush on, or if you are mad at a friend, and with everyone knowing those kind of things; uncalled words are being said and the texting is getting out of hand.  I read one of her text messages that someone said to her and it said "____ said that you are too skinny and you should eat lol"  Now for a young girl in middle school that could harm her self-esteem and feel as thought no one likes her, and the way she is isn't good enough, even though she is a beautiful petite young girl who is only in 7th garde. 

When watching T.V. the commercial of teens getting abused by other teens via text messaging comes up a lot, especially on MTV. When is it becoming too of athinline for young teens with their text messaging?  The website (athinline.org) helps teens cope with abused text messaging, such as sexting, constant messaging, spying, digital disprespect, and cruelty.  This website definitely is taking a step to help out teens who feel as though they can't say anything to anyone, because if they do they will be called a nark or taddle tail.

It's very alarming how many teens are getting abused or are doing the abuse over text messaging.  When I was in middle school I was'nt allowed a cell phone, unless I went to a movie and needed to call for my parents to pick me up.  Now a days all I see is young kids with cell phones in their hands walking in the mall or down the street.  It's no wonder why the text messaging abuse is becoming so popular. 

Athinline.org is definitely a big step for helping teens with this abusive problem via text messaging.  Pass it along to friends and family who you know that have been abused or are the abuser. 

After reading the post about possibly motivational/inspirational music, I couldn't help but think about motivational/inspirational movies. With that in mind I developed a general formula for all of the movies I have ever seen that are supposed to be motivational/inspirational whether I liked them or not.  I think it generally goes something like this:
Character introduction: We don't know everything yet, but soon learn there is a goal/problem to solve. Protagonist is not perfect but this makes him/her more real (human). Introduced to Antagonist(s).
->Something happens to give protagonist a chance -> Antagonist cheats/gets the upper hand-> Hope seems lost-> Hard work/people come together (Usually in the form of a montage) -> Motivational speech -> The most important event of the movie (climax); The result is in question but always has a happy ending
Also there is almost always a great theme song that is played throughout the movie.  

I think the main reason movies that are considered "motivational" or "inspirational" include some kind of emotional connection with the protagonist. This is usually the result of identifying or empathizing with the protagonist and their situation.
A couple of my favorites that follow this formula that immediately come to mind are The Karate Kid, Goonies, Cool Runnings, and Mighty Ducks (think the flying V) as a result of my 1990's childhood.
Anyone else notice this formula or think I should to change mine in some way? Think of any other movies that follow this pattern? Are they usually good or just too cheesy?
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wRkzCW5qI