Psychology
Cultivation Theory and Media's Shaping of Perceived Reality
Quick fact
Cultivation theory, developed by George Gerbner in the 1960s, posits that heavy television viewers disproportionately overestimate violence and danger in society, a phenomenon known as the 'mean world syndrome.'
Why this is interesting
You’ve probably seen more crime on TV in a week than most people experience in a lifetime—but does that change how you see the real world? Cultivation Theory says yes, and here’s how.