Media Representations of Race, Prototypicality, and Policy Reasoning: An Application of Self-Categorization Theory
Title:
Media Representations of Race, Prototypicality, and Policy Reasoning: An Application of Self-Categorization Theory
Author:
Mastro, Dana E. Kopacz, Maria A.
Appeared in:
Journal of broadcasting & electronic media
Paging:
Volume 50 (2006) nr. 2 pages 305-322
Year:
2006-06-01
Contents:
The present study tests the policy reasoning model presented by Tan, Fujioka, and Tan (2000), which identifies media use as the exogenous variable in a causal chain predicting race-based policy reasoning among Whites (including stereotypes as an endogenous variable). Whereas Tan et al. posit that positive-negative evaluations of minority TV portrayals predict real-world stereotypic responses, ultimately influencing policy decisions, it is proposed here that prototypicality is a better predictor of evaluative responses in this context. Consistent with these predictions, path analytic tests of both models reveal that the prototypicality-based model offers a better fit with the data.
Journal description