The Mysteries (no longer mysteries) of the Cultivation Theory and an Unexpected Connection with BIRGing and CORFing

http://angelkissesmaternity.typepad.com/famousmommy/2009/11/tvwatching-guidelines.html

The CULTivation Theory (heh, get it?) is where, for heavy television viewers, exposure to televised messages will cultivate them to see the televised world as representative of the REAL world. So for you heavy Netflix watchers out there, what you see is what you actually think. A few things that you heavy viewers out there underestimate are:

1. Your likelihood of being a VICTIM of a crime (You are usually not the victim, let's be real)
2. The percentage of the population involved in law enforcement (yea, this isn't really obvious)
3. You trust less (that means people and things)

Like television, heavy exposure to video games can make you THINK that what is in the game is, in a way, real. For instance, many games portray other races in a bad light, and in some communities, children may group up where there are only white people.  Children will grow up having the ideas that other races are either scary, dangerous, or at least to be cautious around them if they are not accustomed to the races in real life.

The Cultivation Theory could also lead to an understanding of the WE vs. THEM idea.

Cialdini used two terms: BIRGing(Basking in Reflected Glory) and CORFing(Cutting Off Reflected Failure).

http://casanovapendrillblog.com/2012/07/cp-book-summary-influence-the-psychology-of-persuasion/

What are BIRGing and CORFing you may ask???  They are two ways that people use to speak about the "team" they favor, whether they win or lose makes the discourse changes from "We won!!!" (BIRGing) to "They lost..." (CORFing).  The individual, you, will take either side of the two in reflection of the ending results of your team.  If your team lost, there is no way you will have enough self-esteem left to admit they are your team, but if your team wins, hell yea! You scream it loud and proud and rub it in your face that you are so proud of your team and their victory.

These two theories are closely tied into Media Literacy, let's talk more about that and get out of theories for now.




Vorderer, P., & Bryant, J. (2006). Playing Video Games: Motives, Responses, and Consequences. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis Group.