Medias Influence on Behavior

Media’s Influence on Behavior
By Carrie Rowland
Instructor: Steven Seiler
Sociology 1010

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ABSTRACT
For my paper I will be researching the influence of mass media on behavior. I find this topic important because of the similarities that have already been shown between people’s behavior and what the media portrays, and also the different severity of it between age groups. This not only will show clarification to the problem but also give insight to how age affects how impressionable people are and their willingness to conform. I plan to research through collecting data through journal articles on not only mass media, but also conformity and pattern changes in behavior throughout society’s history and the connection between this and increased media display. I believe that with my findings I will be able to conclude that media and society’s norms have a great deal of influence on behavior, not only in children and adolescents, but also in adults and even senior citizens.

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INTRODUCTION
Throughout history humanity has developed rules and regulations in order to bring normalcy to society. These rules, also known as norms and traditions, have created a society that falls under impression easily and have forgotten about their own desires, just to appease what the rest of civilization thinks is appropriate and acceptable.
In today’s day and age media and pop culture have become increasingly important in the lifestyles of people. It has started to affect every aspect of their lives including what clothes they wear, who they associate themselves with, the value of a dollar, and most importantly the choices they make in reference to actions and behavior. People have forgotten how to be themselves mainly because they have forgotten who they are and what in life truly makes them happy. Due to the increased popularity of media and the influence of it, society has become a collection of brainwashed people who conform, unconsciously, to the norms... [continues]

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