Cultivating Perceptions: Examining the Role of Media in Shaping Attitudes and Mental Well-being through Cultivation Theory

Abstract

This paper reviewed the use of Cultivation Theory in two different studies: Żerebecki et al., (2021) to evaluate the extent and ways of reinforcing positive diverse attitudes through television and Iqbal et al., (2024) on the psychological effects of violent television news on students of higher learning institutions. As both studies identified the long-term crescendo of attitudinal and psychological changes that are brought about by media use, Cultivation Theory appeared pertinent. The prospective of this paper is firstly to outline major conclusions, secondly, to evaluate the approach of the theory applying, thirdly, to discuss other frameworks, and finally, to stress the need to introduce wider considerations to improve the understanding of how media influence society.