Comm 118 Exam 2 Practice Test

The question asks why Picture B (actor dressed as a zombie) would be more frightening to John. The correct answer explains that the more similar a stimulus is to a real-life situation, the more it will influence us. In this case, the actor dressed as a zombie closely resembles a real-life situation of encountering a zombie, making it more frightening to John compared to the cartoon zombie in Picture A, which is less similar to a real-life situation.

Joe's difficulty in distinguishing between fantasy and reality suggests that he is in the preoperational stage of cognitive development. In this stage, children typically have limited logical thinking abilities and struggle with understanding abstract concepts. They often rely on their imagination and have difficulty understanding that things on TV or electronic devices are not real. This stage is characterized by egocentrism and a lack of conservation skills.

The given answer suggests that Mark enjoyed the film because he found it fun, while Alex appreciated the film because he believed it had inner beauty, courage, and a lesson. This implies that both Mark and Alex had positive experiences with the movie, but in different ways. Therefore, the statement "Mark enjoyed the film and Alex appreciated the film" is most likely true.

Affective Disposition Theory suggests that people form emotional attachments to fictional characters, and these attachments can influence their emotions and reactions towards the characters' experiences. In this scenario, Kelly's emotional response to Michael Scoffield being beaten demonstrates her emotional attachment to him as her favorite character. Her concern for his well-being and desire for him to do well align with the principles of Affective Disposition Theory.

The correct answer is FCC. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the government agency responsible for regulating and censoring content on TV. They enforce rules and guidelines to ensure that the content broadcasted on television adheres to certain standards, such as obscenity, indecency, and profanity. The FCC also handles other aspects of communication, including radio, internet, and telephone services.

This scenario exemplifies the Affective Disposition Theory, which suggests that individuals can develop emotional connections and attachments to fictional characters. In this case, the person watching "The Walking Dead" is experiencing fear and concern for the character Rick as he is being attacked by zombies. This emotional response is a result of the viewer's affective disposition towards Rick, indicating the influence of the Affective Disposition Theory.

The given scenario describes a research method where a large group of people are asked detailed, specific, in-depth questions about their media consumption on a daily basis. This method is known as a survey. Surveys are commonly used to gather data from a large sample size and obtain information about people's opinions, behaviors, or characteristics. In this case, the survey is being used to collect data on the type of media consumed by individuals.

Excitation transfer occurs when the arousal from one stimulus is transferred and added to the arousal from another stimulus, intensifying the emotional response. In this scenario, the heightened emotions from watching the scary movie, specifically the shock of the babysitter being shot, are transferred and added to the arousal caused by hearing the front door open. This intensifies their fear and makes them even more scared than they would be on a normal night.

Bob should now be undergoing positive heightened arousal because his team, the Giants, scored a touchdown and made the extra point for a victory in the last few seconds of the game. This would likely cause Bob to feel excited, elated, and energized, leading to a state of positive heightened arousal.

The correct answer is "third person effect." The third person effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals believe that media influences others more than it influences themselves. In this case, Roger believes that violent video games may make other people more violent, but not himself. This demonstrates the third person effect as he perceives a differential impact of the games on others compared to himself.

The relationship between the man wearing sunglasses and eating an ice cream cone is a correlation. This means that there is a statistical relationship or association between these two variables. It does not imply causation, where one variable directly causes the other. In this case, the correlation suggests that there may be a tendency for people to wear sunglasses while eating ice cream on hot summer days, but it does not indicate that one action causes the other.

Parasocial relationships refer to one-sided relationships where an individual forms an emotional connection with a media character, such as Blaire Waldorf from Gossip Girl. This connection is often driven by a sense of familiarity and identification, where the viewer sees similarities between themselves and the character. In this case, the person watching Gossip Girl may feel a strong connection to Blaire and perceive her as a best friend due to shared experiences or personality traits. This phenomenon is common and can provide a sense of companionship and comfort, even though it is not a real relationship.

Johnny's lack of reaction to the bullying can be attributed to desensitization. By watching a television show with massive amounts of violence, Johnny may have become accustomed to seeing aggressive behavior, which in turn has reduced his emotional response to witnessing bullying. Desensitization can lead to a diminished sense of empathy and concern for others, making it less likely for Johnny to be bothered by the bullying or feel the need to report it to the teacher.

The preoperational stage of cognitive development, according to Piaget's theory, is characterized by egocentrism and a lack of understanding of conservation and reversibility. Children in this stage have difficulty understanding abstract concepts and may struggle with transformations, such as character transformations in the media. Therefore, a child (age three) who has difficulty understanding character transformations in the media is best described by the preoperational stage of cognitive development.

During the Preoperational stage of development, children do not fully develop empathy. This stage, according to Piaget's theory, occurs between the ages of 2 and 7. During this stage, children are egocentric, meaning they struggle to understand others' perspectives and often only see things from their own point of view. They also experience centration, which is the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation and ignore others. Additionally, they have difficulty understanding transformations, such as the concept of conservation. However, empathy, which involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, is not fully developed until later stages of development.

Stimulus Generalization is a possible explanation for Sam finding the movie about Pennsylvania scarier. This theory suggests that individuals can generalize their emotional responses from one stimulus to similar stimuli. In this case, Sam may have associated the burglaries and kidnappings in the movie with real-life crime and danger, making it more frightening for him. The concept of stimulus generalization implies that past experiences and associations can influence our emotional reactions to similar situations.

Based on the given information, Jake is currently in the Concrete Operational stage of cognitive development. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11, which aligns with Jake's age of ten. In this stage, children demonstrate logical and concrete reasoning abilities, as well as a decrease in egocentrism and an increased awareness of external events. Therefore, the Concrete Operational stage is the most appropriate stage for Jake's current cognitive development.

The correct answer is Suspension of Disbelief. Suspension of disbelief is a theory that explains how individuals are able to temporarily set aside their skepticism and accept fictional or fantastical elements in a story or entertainment medium. In this case, Lisa's acceptance of the far-fetched idea of a society like the one portrayed in the Hunger Games movies demonstrates her ability to suspend her disbelief and immerse herself in the story.

Classic conditioning is a component of desensitization because it involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a stimulus that elicits a response. Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes associated with the response, causing the response to occur even in the absence of the original stimulus. In the context of desensitization, classic conditioning is used to gradually expose individuals to a feared or anxiety-provoking stimulus in a controlled and safe manner, with the goal of reducing their fear or anxiety response.

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A survey is a research method used to collect data from a specific group of people in order to gather detailed information and insights on a particular topic. It often involves a larger sample size and includes a wide range of questions to explore the subject matter thoroughly. On the other hand, a poll is a simpler and more concise method that typically involves asking a smaller group of people a limited number of questions to gauge their opinions or preferences on a specific issue. Therefore, the answer stating that a survey is more in-depth and detailed than a poll is correct.

The correct answer is social cognitive development. This refers to the cognitive processes that individuals use to understand and interpret social situations and behaviors. In this case, younger children may be more afraid of the sea monsters because they have not yet fully developed their cognitive abilities to differentiate between fantasy and reality. They may have difficulty understanding that getting caught in a tornado is a more realistic threat compared to a fantasy sea monster.

The third group can be identified as the control group. In an experiment, the control group is a group that is not exposed to the independent variable (in this case, butter or margarine) and is used as a baseline for comparison. By not feeding the third group anything, Harry can compare the effects of butter and margarine on the other two groups to the natural state of the rats in the control group. This helps to determine if any observed effects are due to the independent variable or other factors.

Consumption of media over time can alter perceptions of reality because George Gerbner believed that exposure to media content shapes our understanding of the world. He argued that repeated exposure to certain messages, themes, and portrayals in media can influence our beliefs, values, and attitudes. This concept is known as cultivation theory, which suggests that heavy media consumption can lead to a distorted view of reality, as individuals may start to perceive the world in line with the dominant narratives and representations depicted in media.

Zillmann is the correct answer because he is the scholar who is responsible for the excitation transfer process. The excitation transfer process refers to the transfer of arousal from one stimulus to another, which can influence emotional responses and behavior. Zillmann's research and theories have greatly contributed to our understanding of this process and its effects on individuals.

Kelly's method of numerically describing the content of American Horror Story to examine its effects on viewers is an example of content analysis. Content analysis involves systematically analyzing and quantifying the content of media, such as television shows, to gain insights into its characteristics, themes, or effects. In this case, Kelly is specifically interested in examining the violence in the show and its impact on viewers, which aligns with the purpose of content analysis.

This ad is an example of gender-based stereotypes because it portrays the female celebrity as being obsessed with shopping, which reinforces the stereotype that women are materialistic and overly concerned with their appearance.

The acronym PENS stands for Player Experience of Need Satisfaction. This suggests that it refers to the overall satisfaction and fulfillment of needs experienced by a player. It implies that the player's needs are being met in a satisfactory manner, leading to a positive experience.

The film Silver Linings Playbook exhibits both enjoyment and appreciation. It was a box office success due to its comedic elements and positive message of perseverance, which made it enjoyable for audiences. Additionally, the film received awards for its superior acting, production, and screenplay, indicating that it was also appreciated by critics and industry professionals.

The characteristic of mood is that it is long-lasting, usually determined by valence (positive or negative), and does not have an identifiable target.

The correct answer is the General Affective Aggression Model (GAAM). This model was created by Anderson and Bushman to explain people's reactions to violent media. The GAAM suggests that exposure to violent media increases aggressive thoughts, emotions, and physiological arousal, which in turn increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior. It also takes into account individual differences and situational factors that may influence the relationship between media violence and aggression.

Janey was experiencing physiological reactions. The symptoms mentioned, such as a fast heart rate, looking all over her bedroom spastically, and having the chills, are all physical responses to fear or anxiety. These reactions are commonly associated with the body's fight-or-flight response, which is triggered in stressful or threatening situations. In this case, Janey's body was reacting to the scary movie and the fear it induced, causing these physiological responses.

In order to help my brother cope with his issues with horror and violence in media, we had to go through the process of counter conditioning. This involves exposing him gradually to these types of content in a controlled and safe environment, while pairing it with positive experiences or relaxation techniques. The goal is to change his negative emotional response to these stimuli and replace it with a more positive or neutral one. Through repeated exposure and conditioning, he can become desensitized to the fear or distress that these media portray.

The teachers and professionals are displaying moral panic. This is evident from their belief that video games are making children more violent and their concern about the impact of video games on society. Moral panic refers to a widespread fear or concern that emerges in a society over a perceived threat to its social order or values. In this case, the teachers and professionals are reacting to the perceived threat of video games causing violence in children, which is a characteristic of moral panic.

David exhibited the theory of Excitement Transfer. This theory suggests that the excitement or arousal felt in one situation can transfer or carry over to another situation. In this case, David's excitement from his favorite team winning the game transferred to his night out with friends, making it one of the best nights of his life.

The stage of cognitive development described in the question is the formal operational stage. This stage is characterized by the ability to use deductive reasoning and think abstractly. Individuals in this stage can consider multiple potential solutions to problems and think more scientifically about the world.

The given scenario demonstrates the Affective Disposition Theory. This theory suggests that an individual's pre-existing feelings or attitudes towards a particular stimulus, such as a sports team, can influence their emotional response to events related to that stimulus. In this case, Ryan's negative disposition towards the Yankees leads to his bad mood when they win the baseball game.

Identification refers to the psychological process through which an individual relates to and empathizes with a fictional character, often projecting their own experiences, emotions, and qualities onto that character. In this case, the girl watching Frozen connects with the main character Anna, feeling that she shares similar traits and qualities with her. This identification allows the girl to emotionally engage with the character and feel a sense of connection and relatability.

The child starts to become more aware of external events and demonstrates logical and concrete reasoning during the concrete operational stage of cognitive development. This stage typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11. During this stage, children are able to think logically and understand cause and effect relationships. They can also perform mental operations and solve problems using concrete objects or events. They are no longer limited to thinking in purely concrete terms, but they have not yet reached the stage of formal operational thinking, which involves abstract reasoning.

The dimensional approach to understanding emotions focuses on two factors: arousal and valence. Arousal refers to the intensity or activation level of an emotion, while valence refers to the positive or negative nature of the emotion. This approach suggests that emotions can be categorized based on these two dimensions, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of emotional experiences.

The characteristics of moods consist of no identifiable target, long lasting, and usually determined by valence. These characteristics are represented by options A, B, and D. Option C, which states that moods are usually higher arousal, is incorrect as moods can vary in arousal levels.

Flow refers to a state of complete immersion and focus in an activity where one experiences a sense of energized focus, enjoyment, and fulfillment. In this scenario, Ally's deep engagement and ability to stay on the console playing for hours suggest that she is experiencing flow while playing the video game. She is fully absorbed in the challenges presented to her and has just enough skill to meet them, leading to a heightened sense of satisfaction and enjoyment.

Egocentrism is the correct answer because it refers to the tendency of young children to only see the world from their own perspective and struggle to understand the viewpoints of others. In this scenario, Jill is enjoying the comedy because of the laughter, but she is not able to comprehend the perspectives of the characters who are losing their jobs because she has yet to experience that herself. This inability to understand the experiences and perspectives of others is a characteristic of egocentrism in the preoperational stage of cognitive development.

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Mood Management Theory suggests that individuals engage in certain activities, such as watching puppy videos, to regulate and improve their mood. In this case, Susie is using the puppy videos as a way to counter her negative emotions and stress from her hard day at work. By watching these videos, she hopes to elevate her mood and feel better. This aligns with the concept of Mood Management Theory, making it the correct answer.

The theory of catharsis proposed that viewing violent media would help people release or purge their aggressive impulses, thereby reducing the likelihood of committing violent acts. However, this theory has been debunked because research has shown that instead of reducing aggression, exposure to violent media actually increases aggressive behavior in individuals. Therefore, catharsis is not an effective method for managing or reducing violent tendencies.

Long term exposure to media can shape our perceptions of reality. This is in line with the theory of Cultivation, which suggests that prolonged exposure to media content can gradually influence our beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions about the world. This theory argues that the more we are exposed to certain messages and representations in the media, the more likely we are to accept them as accurate reflections of reality. Over time, this can lead to a cultivation effect, where our perceptions align more closely with the media content we consume.

Catharsis theory has faced the hardest criticism among the given options. This theory suggests that engaging in violent or aggressive behavior can release built-up tension and reduce the likelihood of further aggression. However, critics argue that there is insufficient evidence to support this theory and that it may even have harmful effects by normalizing violence. Additionally, some studies have shown that exposure to violent media can actually increase aggressive behavior rather than reducing it. Therefore, the criticism against catharsis theory is strong, making it the most heavily criticized theory among the options provided.

The given answer, "Subjective feeling state," is the correct choice because it accurately describes Bob's statement as an expression of his personal emotions. Emotions are subjective experiences that individuals feel internally, and Bob's statement reflects his own subjective feeling of happiness. This characteristic of emotions relates to the internal and personal nature of emotional experiences.

If you find the relationships you formed in the game important, you are on the "Relatedness" part of the PENS scale. This scale measures the satisfaction of psychological needs in a game, and "Relatedness" refers to the need for social connection and a sense of belonging. It indicates that you value the relationships you have formed within the game and find them significant for your overall player experience.