A Mediated World: a Study on the Media Equation Theory
A Mediated World: A Study on the Media Equation Theory
John Nolan Pelosi
University of Kentucky
A Mediated World: A Study on the Media Equation Theory We’ve all done it. Whether it is aggressively screaming at the sports team you are watching on television, or frantically warning the victim of a horror movie not to open the door, everybody responds to mediated communication systems. However, the majority of mass media viewers are unaware of just how often they are actively responding. Although there has been a relatively small amount of research done linking interpersonal and mass communication researchers, are constantly aiming to bridge the gap between the sub disciplines of communication.
Throughout this research I will be exploring the Media Equation Theory through the mediums of televisions and computers. I will explain what the media equation is, and describe the impact of the two communication mediums. With previous research in mind, I will be discussing how humans have become obsessed with media, and provide historical context as to why. A mass majority of this research focuses on the link between psychology and communication regarding to the positive correlation between the two. More specifically, psychological politeness reports between ‘human to human’ interactions are compared to research reports between ‘human to media’ interactions to prove that life is media, and media is life.
Theoretical Background The Media Equation is a general communication theory developed by Byron Reeves and Clifford Nass while working at Stanford University in 1986. The two professors began collaborating on a research project they named “Social Responses to Communication Technologies” with the basic premise that media and real life are similar (Reeves & Nass, 1996). With this theory in mind, the two hypothesized that an understanding of how people interact with other people would help enhance the knowledge of how people interact with media. Taking this
John Nolan Pelosi
University of Kentucky
A Mediated World: A Study on the Media Equation Theory We’ve all done it. Whether it is aggressively screaming at the sports team you are watching on television, or frantically warning the victim of a horror movie not to open the door, everybody responds to mediated communication systems. However, the majority of mass media viewers are unaware of just how often they are actively responding. Although there has been a relatively small amount of research done linking interpersonal and mass communication researchers, are constantly aiming to bridge the gap between the sub disciplines of communication.
Throughout this research I will be exploring the Media Equation Theory through the mediums of televisions and computers. I will explain what the media equation is, and describe the impact of the two communication mediums. With previous research in mind, I will be discussing how humans have become obsessed with media, and provide historical context as to why. A mass majority of this research focuses on the link between psychology and communication regarding to the positive correlation between the two. More specifically, psychological politeness reports between ‘human to human’ interactions are compared to research reports between ‘human to media’ interactions to prove that life is media, and media is life.
Theoretical Background The Media Equation is a general communication theory developed by Byron Reeves and Clifford Nass while working at Stanford University in 1986. The two professors began collaborating on a research project they named “Social Responses to Communication Technologies” with the basic premise that media and real life are similar (Reeves & Nass, 1996). With this theory in mind, the two hypothesized that an understanding of how people interact with other people would help enhance the knowledge of how people interact with media. Taking this
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