Content Analysis on Prime Time Television Using Cultivation Theory Research Paper

Content Analysis on Prime Time Television Using Cultivation Theory - Research Paper Example Cultivation Theory was developed by George Gerbner and Larry Gross based on their research in order to identify and understand the effects of television on its viewers. They focused more on the culture of violence that is evidently and explicitly embedded in television programs and on how this message is inculcated in its audience, thus affecting their social behavior and disposition. Gerbner and Gross also correlated that as the exposure to such programs increases or becomes a constant factor on the daily lives of people, they tend to develop and adopt the same notion of thinking that, indeed, the world is full of violence. Cultivation theory remains to be one of the most popular theories in mass communication phenomena and is an essential theory in understanding behavioral (Bryant, 2004). n the Saturday program, FOX aired two episodes of Cops and an episode of Bones. The plot of these TV shows clearly depicts a violation of criminal law and grave offenses against society. The former is an action-packed documentary and reality show that revolves around what transpires in the line of duty of law enforcement agencies from various areas and departments of United States, while the latter is a fictional series about a team of forensic investigators who solve crime mysteries by analyzing, examining human remains, and determining the cost of death of the victims. While these shows can be easily concluded, and rightly so as to having themes of heavy violence, they also portray other messages as well.