The Effects of Narrative Media on Self-perceptions: The Role of Identification and Narrative Engagement
Open Access
- Author:
- Woolley, Julia K
- Graduate Program:
- Mass Communications
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- June 12, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Mary Beth Oliver, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
S. Shyam Sundar, Committee Member
Matthew Paul Mcallister, Committee Member
Karen Gasper, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Media
Media Effects
Narrative
Narrative Engagement
Identification
Self-Concept
Self-Narrative - Abstract:
- Recent media effects research has investigated how experiences of engagement with media narratives can impact beliefs and attitudes on a wide variety of topics (e.g. Slater, 2002; Strange, 2002). One additional, important area of application for this research is in the role of media narratives in constructing views of the self and one’s own life experiences. While this area of application has gained increasing attention over recent years (e.g. Appel, Richter, & Calio, 2011; Djikic, Oatley, Zoeterman, & Peterson, 2009; Gabriel & Young, 2011; Sestir & Green, 2010), many questions about the influence of media narratives on self-perceptions remain unanswered, including the nature and mechanisms of such effects, and the characteristics of media texts which lead to these outcomes. The current study uses an experimental method to test the importance of media exposure in general, as well as the importance of media structure (narrative versus non-narrative), in leading to shifts in self-concept and self-narrative themes. The mechanisms through which narrative (as opposed to non-narrative) media may be particularly influential in this regard, namely via experiences of narrative engagement and identification, are also explored. Results indicate that in general, media structure does not predict self-perception outcomes. However, the results do lend partial support for the hypothesized direct effect of media exposure on self-narrative outcomes. Specifically, they suggest that media exposure may lead viewers to incorporate some aspects of media content and themes in forming prospective self-narratives. However, these results do not suggest that these effects are contingent upon narrative media structure or experiences of narrative engagement. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and potential future directions are also discussed.