Responding To the Screen Reception and Reaction Processes

This volume takes the next step in the evolution of mass communication research tradition from effects to processes -- a more detailed and microanalytical analysis of the psychological processes involved in receiving and reacting to electronic media messages. This domain includes investigations into those psychological processes that occur between the process of selecting media messages for consumption and assessments of whatever processes mediate the long-term impact such message consumption may have on consumers' subsequent behavior. The editors strive to further understanding of some of the basic processes underlying the ways we gain entertainment and information.

Contents: Part I:Reception and Reaction Processes. D.R. Anderson, J. Burns, Paying Attention to Television. E.L. Palmer, M. MacNeil, Children's Comprehension Processes: From Piaget to Public Policy. D.M. Sanbonmatsu, R.H. Fazio, Construct Accessibility: Determinants, Consequences, and Implications for the Media. C. Hoffner, J. Cantor, Perceiving and Responding to Mass Media Characters. D. Zillmann, Television Viewing and Physiological Arousal. D. Zillmann, Empathy: Affect From Bearing Witness to the Emotions of Others. J. Cantor, Fright Responses to Mass Media Productions. D.R. Anderson, D.E. Field, Online and Offline Assessment of the Television Audience. J. Bryant, S.C. Rockwell, Evolving Cognitive Models in Mass Communication Reception Processes. Part II:Responding to Program Genres. B. Gunter, Responding to News and Public Affairs. D. Zillmann, J. Bryant, Responding to Comedy: The Sense and Nonsense of Humor. D. Zillmann, The Logic of Suspense and Mystery. R. Tamborini, Responding to Horror: Determinants of Exposure and Appeal. J. Weaver, Responding to Erotica: Perceptual Processes and Dispositional Implications. P.B. Crabb, J.H. Goldstein, The Social Psychology of Watching Sports: From Ilium to Living Room. B.L. Sherman, L.W. Etling, Perceiving and Processing Music Television.

Jennings Bryant, Dolf Zillmann