COMMS 101 Chapter 2
Affiliation
A person's desire to feel a sense of belonging or involvement in his or her social group. The Internet is the primary form of media to fulfill this function with sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others.
Expression
An individual's need to express his or her inner thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and opinions. The Internet has made the expression of thoughts and ideas easier than ever before. Individuals use blogs, comment pages, YouTube, and others, which all provide an avenue for the expression of individual ideas.
What are the four classification systems for uses and gratifications?
Cognition, diversion, social utility, affiliation, expression, withdrawal
Macroanalysis
Considers what functions the media provide for society as a whole.
Microanalysis
Considers what functions the media provide for the individual.
The Role of Mass Communication
Different media provide different primary uses. Macroanalysis considers what functions the media provide for society as a whole. Microanalysis considers what functions the media provide for the individual.
What is the role of mass communication in society?
Different media provide different primary uses. Macroanalysis considers what functions the media provide for society as a whole. Microanalysis considers what functions the media provide for the individual.
Cognition
The act of coming to know something—when a person uses the mass media to obtain information about something, he or she is using the media in a cognitive way.
Linkage Function
The joining of elements in society that are not directly or normally connected—also includes the joining of different geographically separated groups that share common interests.
Entertainment Function
The media are used to entertain us—movies and recordings are strictly used for entertainment, while newspapers, magazines, television, and radio provide a high percentage of entertainment programming.
Interpretation Function
The media provide us not only with facts, but also with information on the ultimate meaning and significance of events.
Surveillance Function
The news and information role of the media—how we find out what's going on in the world Two types: Beware and Instrumental
Instrumental Surveillance
The transmission of information that is useful in everyday life—weather reports, the sports scores, what movies are playing at the local theatre, where the sales are, what is in fashion, and so forth.
Critical/Cultural Approach
This approach examines underlying power relationships in media exposure and stresses the many meanings and interpretations that audience members find in media content.
What is the critical/cultural approach and how is it used to describe the functions of mass communication?
This approach examines underlying power relationships in media exposure and stresses the many meanings and interpretations that audience members find in media content. Texts- object of analysis. Meaning, ideology, hegemony. 60 minutes business crime, but capitalism still good (hegemony by businessmen). Comes from Marxism
Transmission of Values Function or Socialization Function
We learn how people are supposed to act and what values are important by watching, reading, and listening to the media.
Social Utility
When a person use the mass media to strengthen relationships with family and friends or to overcome loneliness, he or she is using the media as a social function.
Diversion
When a person uses the mass media for stimulation, relaxation, or emotional release, he or she is using the media as a diversion. Stimulation—The media can be used as a way to prevent boredom. Relaxation—When we are faced with sensory overload, we seek relief. The media can be used as a pleasant diversion from the frustrations and problems of everyday life. Emotional Release—Some use the media for comfort or excitement, allowing them to vent frustrations in their lives.
Withdraw
When people use the mass media to create a barrier between themselves and other people or activities, they are using the media to withdraw.
Beware Surveillance
When the media warn us about threats from terrorism, natural disasters, economic conditions, inflation, military attacks, and so forth.
Functional Analysis
Functional analysis emphasizes the way that audiences use mass communication and the benefits people receive from media consumption—a thing is best understood by examining how it is used.
What is the functional approach, and how is it used to describe the functions of mass communication?
Functional approach holds that something is best understood by examining how it is used. In mass communication this means examining the use that audiences make of their interactions with the media. Surveillance, interpretation, linkage, transmission of values, socialization, entertainment
How People Use the Mass Media
How People Use the Mass Media Uses and Gratifications Model This model holds that audience members have needs or drives that they satisfy by using the media. With this model, individuals are in charge of their media use, and they choose to go to the media, and make media selections—this way they control the amount of influence the media has on them and their lives. There are four classification systems for uses and gratifications. They are the following: Cognition—The act of coming to know something—when a person uses the mass media to obtain information about something, he or she is using the media in a cognitive way. Diversion—When a person uses the mass media for stimulation, relaxation, or emotional release, he or she is using the media as a diversion. Stimulation—The media can be used as a way to prevent boredom. Relaxation—When we are faced with sensory overload, we seek relief. The media can be used as a pleasant diversion from the frustrations and problems of everyday life. Emotional Release—Some use the media for comfort or excitement, allowing them to vent frustrations in their lives. Social Utility—When a person use the mass media to strengthen relationships with family and friends or to overcome loneliness, he or she is using the media as a social function. Affiliation—A person's desire to feel a sense of belonging or involvement in his or her social group. The Internet is the primary form of media to fulfill this function with sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others. Expression—An individual's need to express his or her inner thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and opinions. The Internet has made the expression of thoughts and ideas easier than ever before. Individuals use blogs, comment pages, YouTube, and others, which all provide an avenue for the expression of individual ideas. Withdraw—When people use the mass media to create a barrier between themselves and other people or activities, they are using the media to withdraw.
Functions of Mass Communication
Surveillance Function—The news and information role of the media—how we find out what's going on in the world Beware Surveillance—When the media warn us about threats from terrorism, natural disasters, economic conditions, inflation, military attacks, and so forth. Instrumental Surveillance—The transmission of information that is useful in everyday life—weather reports, the sports scores, what movies are playing at the local theatre, where the sales are, what is in fashion, and so forth. Interpretation Function—The media provide us not only with facts, but also with information on the ultimate meaning and significance of events. Linkage Function—The joining of elements in society that are not directly or normally connected—also includes the joining of different geographically separated groups that share common interests. Transmission of Values Function or Socialization Function—We learn how people are supposed to act and what values are important by watching, reading, and listening to the media. Entertainment Function—The media are used to entertain us—movies and recordings are strictly used for entertainment, while newspapers, magazines, television, and radio provide a high percentage of entertainment programming.
Uses and Gratification Model
This model holds that audience members have needs or drives that they satisfy by using the media. With this model, individuals are in charge of their media use, and they choose to go to the media, and make media selections—this way they control the amount of influence the media has on them and their lives. There are four classification systems for uses and gratifications. They are the following: Cognition—The act of coming to know something—when a person uses the mass media to obtain information about something, he or she is using the media in a cognitive way. Diversion—When a person uses the mass media for stimulation, relaxation, or emotional release, he or she is using the media as a diversion. Stimulation—The media can be used as a way to prevent boredom. Relaxation—When we are faced with sensory overload, we seek relief. The media can be used as a pleasant diversion from the frustrations and problems of everyday life. Emotional Release—Some use the media for comfort or excitement, allowing them to vent frustrations in their lives. Social Utility—When a person use the mass media to strengthen relationships with family and friends or to overcome loneliness, he or she is using the media as a social function. Affiliation—A person's desire to feel a sense of belonging or involvement in his or her social group. The Internet is the primary form of media to fulfill this function with sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others. Expression—An individual's need to express his or her inner thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and opinions. The Internet has made the expression of thoughts and ideas easier than ever before. Individuals use blogs, comment pages, YouTube, and others, which all provide an avenue for the expression of individual ideas. Withdraw—When people use the mass media to create a barrier between themselves and other people or activities, they are using the media to withdraw.
