Glorifying the Simple Life Analyses of Socio-Psychological Construct
The analysis identifies the four socio-psychological constructs identification with a media character, schadenfreude, social comparison, and vicarious embarrassment, as important responses in the context of reality TV. Besides numerous determinants, these
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Glorifying the Simple Life Analyses of Socio-Psychological Constructs in the Context of Reality TV
Glorifying the Simple Life
Eva Katharina Hammes
Glorifying the Simple Life Analyses of Socio-Psychological Constructs in the Context of Reality TV
Eva Katharina Hammes Jena, Deutschland Dissertation Universität Koblenz-Landau, 2015
ISBN 978-3-658-14363-3 ISBN 978-3-658-14364-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-658-14364-0 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016940882 Springer Gabler © Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer Gabler imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH
Abstract
Reality TV is a rather new television genre whose fast dissemination attracted attention in the last decades. Comprising numerous subgenres that revolve around ordinary people, it differs from traditional television genres, and thus is assumed to elicit also different responses in viewers. Despite its excellent viewing figures, to date no research has examined the reasons why so many people watch reality TV. Therefore, this work explores reality TV viewing motivations, concentrating on social motives. This thesis is based on the uses and gratifications approach that concentrates on audience members’ needs and gratifications to explain why people use certain media. However, the approach had to face some criticism as prior research on mass media motivations did not thoroughly investigate the reasons behind viewers’ motivations. By examining the relationship between media gratifications and their social and psychological origins on the one hand and consequences on the other hand, this work approaches these weaknesses of the uses and gratifications approach. To answer the question why people watch reality TV, different methods were applied. A qualitative study was carried out to find out more about viewers’ social motives by content-analyzing qualitative interviews and onlin
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