Dolf Zillmann - Böcker

First published in 1985. Research into what is usually referred to as mass communication has concentrated on the societal impact of the media. The ways in which these media influence people and affect their behavior have been at issue. For the most part, undesirable effects were pondered and documented. Only a few desirable effects received similar attention and scrutiny. The research preoccupation with impact has been so pronounced that, comparatively speaking, next to no attention has been paid to questions such as why people enjoy whatever they elect to watch or hear, and more fundamentally, why they elect to watch or hear, in the first place, whatever it is that they elect to watch or hear. Without a symposium on research into selective exposure to informative and entertaining messages nor a publication that brought together the recent research in this area, this volume was put together in an effort to end this dilemma and to put selective-exposure research on the map as a significant research venture.

"...provides good coverage of the empirical literature."—Journal of Communication"...well written and presents a wide diversity of approaches to pornography."—CHOICE

This volume takes the next step in the evolution of mass communication research tradition from effects to processes -- a more detailed and microanalytical analysis of the psychological processes involved in receiving and reacting to electronic media messages. This domain includes investigations into those psychological processes that occur between the process of selecting media messages for consumption and assessments of whatever processes mediate the long-term impact such message consumption may have on consumers' subsequent behavior. The editors strive to further understanding of some of the basic processes underlying the ways we gain entertainment and information.

"...provides good coverage of the empirical literature."—Journal of Communication"...well written and presents a wide diversity of approaches to pornography."—CHOICE

This volume takes the next step in the evolution of mass communication research tradition from effects to processes -- a more detailed and microanalytical analysis of the psychological processes involved in receiving and reacting to electronic media messages. This domain includes investigations into those psychological processes that occur between the process of selecting media messages for consumption and assessments of whatever processes mediate the long-term impact such message consumption may have on consumers' subsequent behavior. The editors strive to further understanding of some of the basic processes underlying the ways we gain entertainment and information.

This book brings together a group of scholars to share findings and insights on the effects of media on children and family. Their contributions reflect not only widely divergent political orientations and value systems, but also three distinct domains of inquiry into human motivation and behavior -- social scientific, psychodynamic (or psychoanalytical), and clinical practice. Each of these three domains is privy to important evidence and insights that need to transcend epistemological and methodological boundaries if understanding of the subject is to improve dramatically. In keeping with this notion, the editors asked the authors to go beyond a summary of findings, and lend additional distinction to the book by applying the "binoculars" of their particular perspective and offering suggestions as to the implications of their findings.One of the goals of the conference that resulted in this book was consensus building in the area of media and family. From examining the findings and insights of a diverse group of scholars, it seems that consensus building in several areas is a distinct possibility. Addressing the concerns of educators about the influence of the mass media of communication -- entertainment programs in particular -- on children and the welfare of the nuclear family, this volume projects directions for superior programming, especially for educational television. The influence of sex and violence on children and adults is given much attention, and the development of moral judgment and sexual expectations, among other things, is explored. The critical analysis of media effects includes examination of positive contributions of the media, such as the search for missing children and exemplary educational programs.

This book brings together a group of scholars to share findings and insights on the effects of media on children and family. Their contributions reflect not only widely divergent political orientations and value systems, but also three distinct domains of inquiry into human motivation and behavior -- social scientific, psychodynamic (or psychoanalytical), and clinical practice. Each of these three domains is privy to important evidence and insights that need to transcend epistemological and methodological boundaries if understanding of the subject is to improve dramatically. In keeping with this notion, the editors asked the authors to go beyond a summary of findings, and lend additional distinction to the book by applying the "binoculars" of their particular perspective and offering suggestions as to the implications of their findings.One of the goals of the conference that resulted in this book was consensus building in the area of media and family. From examining the findings and insights of a diverse group of scholars, it seems that consensus building in several areas is a distinct possibility. Addressing the concerns of educators about the influence of the mass media of communication -- entertainment programs in particular -- on children and the welfare of the nuclear family, this volume projects directions for superior programming, especially for educational television. The influence of sex and violence on children and adults is given much attention, and the development of moral judgment and sexual expectations, among other things, is explored. The critical analysis of media effects includes examination of positive contributions of the media, such as the search for missing children and exemplary educational programs.

This text offers an examination of linkages between sex and aggression in terms of interdisciplinary theory and research. It addresses the relationship between sexuality and aggression from a psychological and biological perspective. Research is updated in this edition.

This is the only available comprehensive monograph on interrelations and interdependencies between agonistic and sexual behaviors. Integrating theory and research from biology, anthropology, neurophysiology, endocrinology, psychophysiology, and psychology, this book focuses on the mechanisms that govern the mutual influences between sexuality and aggression in behavior sequences and especially in admixtures of aggressive-sexual behaviors. This book places human agonistic and sexual behaviors into an evolutionary context. It offers a Weltbild of human aggressive-sexual behaviors by tracing their biological and developmental origins and examines the plasticity and manipulability of connections between agonistic and sexual behaviors. Strategies for the maximization of sexual pleasures are elaborated , and intervention treatments--aiming at the control of violent behaviors--are considered. Coercive sexuality is given special attention. Prevalent motive ascriptions to rape are called into question and the motivation that dominates rape is reinterpreted in the context of pleasure maximization. This second edition brings the coverage of pertinent research up to date. It advances the exploration of aggressive-sexual behaviors by further integrating the research contributions from various disciplines, and by refining and unifying theory capable of explaining the behavioral phenomena under consideration. COPY FOR ZILLMANN MAILER Zillmann examines issues such as sexual access through aggression, the involvement of agonistic behavior within sexuality, sex-aggression fusion, the consequences of anticipatory imagination concerning sexuality, and aspects of libido loss due to excitatory habituation. This book also: * traces connection between sexuality and aggression in nonhuman species, especially in nonhuman primates, * subjects human behavior to comparative and evolutionary analysis, * examines connectedness in neurological and endocrinological terms, * details both central and autonomic commonalities between sexual and aggressive behaviors, * outlines sexual dimorphism and chromosomal-endocrine aberrations, * pays special attention to adrenal commonalities in sexual and aggressive behaviors and the fusion of these behaviors, and * examines aggressive-sexual connectedness in the analysis of motivation and emotion. Zillmann finally proposes new explanations for the numerous documented associations between sexuality and aggression. These proposals combine biological, neuroendocrine, autonomic, and cognitive aspects of aggressive and sexual behaviors. A trichotomy of excitatory interdependencies is developed for fight, flight, and coition. In the nomenclature of emotion, this trichotomy concerns the interdependencies between aggressiveness, fear, and sexual impulsion. A considerable amount of research evidence is aggregated in support of these interdependencies. The author ultimately examines the exploitation of the existing connections between sexual and aggressive behaviors, especially the exploitation that serves the enhancement of sexual pleasure. In this context he arrives at novel, and perhaps distressing, characterizations of sexual coercion. However, he also explores sexual boredom and discusses remedies in the framework of his theorizing. Last but not least, sexual aggression, and sexual and aggressive behaviors independently, are placed into an evolutionary context. Recognition and acknowledgment of the archaic nature of many aspects of sexual and aggressive behaviors, in contrast to the comparatively vernal development of behavior-guiding contemplation, leads him to a unique and provocative proposal of the function of aggression in the realm of sexuality.

This volume offers a new conceptual framework for exemplification, a coherent theoretical approach based on contemporary psychological models of information processing, and an exhaustive integration of the pertinent research demonstrations. Focus is on the news media, but the influence of fiction and quasi-fiction is also considered. The informational competition between concrete, verbal, or pictorial exemplification and abstract, mostly quantitative exposition is analyzed. Implications for issue perception, including delayed consequences are also examined. Exemplification is subjected to conceptual scrutiny and a new theoretical framework is offered. Contemporary psychological paradigms are applied to predict effects of various forms of exemplification. Perhaps most important, novel experimental research is presented to document the specific consequences of exemplifications featured in the news, even of those featured in fiction. Finally, recommendations for information providers and recipients are derived from the research demonstration in order to advance media literacy specific to exemplification. This unique volume:* provides a comprehensive account of the power of case-report selection in the manipulation of perceptions of social issues, * addresses exemplification in communication, i.e., the influence of case reports in the news media, primarily, on the perception of pertinent social issues, * offers an empirical assessment of the practice of issue exemplifying by the media, * gives an exhaustive account of representative research on exemplification effects on issue perception--primarily by the news media, but also by the entertainment media, and * includes a compilation of guidelines for information providers and recipients in efforts at creating media literacy with regard to exemplification.

This volume offers a new conceptual framework for exemplification, a coherent theoretical approach based on contemporary psychological models of information processing, and an exhaustive integration of the pertinent research demonstrations. Focus is on the news media, but the influence of fiction and quasi-fiction is also considered. The informational competition between concrete, verbal, or pictorial exemplification and abstract, mostly quantitative exposition is analyzed. Implications for issue perception, including delayed consequences are also examined. Exemplification is subjected to conceptual scrutiny and a new theoretical framework is offered. Contemporary psychological paradigms are applied to predict effects of various forms of exemplification. Perhaps most important, novel experimental research is presented to document the specific consequences of exemplifications featured in the news, even of those featured in fiction. Finally, recommendations for information providers and recipients are derived from the research demonstration in order to advance media literacy specific to exemplification. This unique volume:* provides a comprehensive account of the power of case-report selection in the manipulation of perceptions of social issues, * addresses exemplification in communication, i.e., the influence of case reports in the news media, primarily, on the perception of pertinent social issues, * offers an empirical assessment of the practice of issue exemplifying by the media, * gives an exhaustive account of representative research on exemplification effects on issue perception--primarily by the news media, but also by the entertainment media, and * includes a compilation of guidelines for information providers and recipients in efforts at creating media literacy with regard to exemplification.

This collection represents a systematic exploration of media entertainment from an academic perspective. Editors Zillmann and Vorderer have assembled scholars from psychology, sociology, and communication to provide a broad examination of the primary function of media entertainment--the attainment of gratification. Chapters included here address vital aspects of media entertainment and summarize pertinent findings, providing an overview of what is presently known about the appeal and function of the essential forms of media entertainment, and offering some degree of integration. Written in a clear, non-technical style, this volume provides a lively and entertaining study of media entertainment for academic study and coursework.

This collection represents a systematic exploration of media entertainment from an academic perspective. Editors Zillmann and Vorderer have assembled scholars from psychology, sociology, and communication to provide a broad examination of the primary function of media entertainment--the attainment of gratification. Chapters included here address vital aspects of media entertainment and summarize pertinent findings, providing an overview of what is presently known about the appeal and function of the essential forms of media entertainment, and offering some degree of integration. Written in a clear, non-technical style, this volume provides a lively and entertaining study of media entertainment for academic study and coursework.