The human mind is easily influenced. Perceptions can be warped by anything. By nature, humans are very malleable.
Media is one of the many things that influences people. Media has been used in this way for over a century. Of course it’s influencing the way you think.
Perception changes with the media as well. This phenomenon is called the Cultivation Theory, which according to Simply Psychology, in “Cultivation Theory in Media” by Ayesh Perera, is “A theory that implies that those exposed to media interpret social realities according to how such realities are portrayed in the media”. This phenomenon is summarized as consuming so much media it affects your worldview.
This phenomenon is often damaging, leaving harmful effects on a person’s mind. Oftentimes people with such a pessimistic outlook fall into depressive states because of their mindset.
People can consume too much positive media and believe the world is only positive, resulting in an equally damaging mindset. When one views everything as positive to the point they refuse the negative, they get trapped in a cycle of close-mindedness. This can cause someone to have a toxic positivity mindset, which may result in states of mania or dissociation.
Another way that the Cultivation Theory affects someone is a bit odd. This is when a person consumes a certain fictional media. Suddenly, it’s like their brain chemistry changes and they try to embody their favorite character. This often causes them to act like a performer to an uncanny extent, as they are trying to be something they are not.
This phenomenon can also happen with music. For example, if someone listens to melancholic music they may begin to feel hopeless and sad, because the music is influencing them in such a way.
“Looking at how I think now with more subtle, less violent games, I take a look back at when I used to play a lot of first-person shooters. I would become angry, competitive, and often more stressed,” said Jay Sevigny.
Sevigny found himself feeling more angry when consuming more violent media. This has been documented as a phenomenon often, though under the argumentative wording of whether or not violent games cause violence. For some, yes, for others, no, all thanks to Cultivation Theory and the human mind.
“I find myself positively affected by the media that I consume. This was not always the case. I felt like social media was very negative and that is why I have gotten totally away from it. What I still consume is positive things about subjects I enjoy… The things that we consume eventually begin to consume our lives because of this cycle. The more of something we watch, the more we are shown similar things. It is a major positive feedback loop,” said biology teacher Austin Kimber.
It can be difficult to create a perfect space for yourself without negative repercussions, but in the end it’s best for your mental health.
