Screen size Changes the Meaning and Impact of Content

Continued from Is Entertainment a Waste of Time?

Consumption patterns–where you watch and what you watch it on–influence story meaning by creating a context that frames the content of any media experience.  Media psychology shows us how even the most robust and well-developed storyworlds with the most compelling and relatable characters are consumed across some type of technology which literally and psychologically frames the experience.  

Technology dictates much of the sensory experience—such as screen size, quality of sound, clarity of image, intensity of color—that moderate emotional experience and cognitive processing.  Social viewing, whether synchronous and in-person or digital and asynchronous provides a secondary context of social influence, attribution, and cognitive biases such as ‘mind reading,’ that can amplify or skew perceptions, needs and expectations.  Just like we share Facebook posts in anticipation of how that reflects back on our ‘social self,’ we also process and connect with stories and characters in the context of our social environment, salient social norms and cultural interpretations .

Our ability to control consumption through on-demand and streaming also means we can visit these stories anytime we want.  

In spite of all the contextual noise, a good story carries us off into a narrative, where we see the story from within.  This sense of presence transforms the viewer from observer into a participant.  Researchers found that no matter what form of delivery, the part of the brain that  is activated during storytelling is affected by our ability to imagine the character’s intentions, motivations, beliefs, emotions and actions –all of which contribute to the sense of “being there” (Yuan, Major-Girardin, & Brown, 2018). 

Identifying with characters is defined as experiencing a sense of rapport that increases empathy and creates an understanding of the character’s motives and goals (Cohen, Weimann-Saks, & Mazor-Tregerman, 2018).  It is the result of affective, cognitive and motivational components that create a bond and enhance the depth of emotional engagement.  While the similarity-identification hypothesis, which suggests that people are most likely to be drawn to ‘people like them’—makes intuitive sense as demographics are the most visible and obvious forms of similarity, but shared traits, allegiances and emotional experiences within the story’s context have also been shown to create a connection between audience and characters even when the overt characteristics don’t match up.  

Fandom and social influence can also increase character desirability. Whether you call it the ‘bandwagon effect’ or social warranting, the reinforcement of peers and admired others, or through shared fan experiences, can add additional levels of motivation to engage, meaning and enjoyment.  

Shared experiences also enable reminiscing and savoring—which strengthen bonds to the story and among the fans and, as a side benefit, increase perceptions of gratitude and other positive emotions.  Sharing creates an intimacy, sense of community and affiliation around a story that can expand the experience out of the theater or TV and into a fan’s life.  Social connection around media is a powerful way to forge friendships of shared interests and, for some fans whose families think they’re nuts, it normalizes the fan’s passion and increases the fan’s enjoyment.  My studies of Twilight fan forums showed exactly that with positive ‘real life’ consequences from new friends to new jobs.

Emotional experiences are amplified when shared.  Movies are funnier, chocolate tastes better and groups encourage a greater display of emotion.  People are much more likely to laugh in a theater with others than watching the same comedy at home alone. Laughter is contagious and emotional expression creates a collective awareness, building a public space.  

Continued on VRBO for the Brain: A Journey to Another World

References

Cohen, J., Weimann-Saks, D., & Mazor-Tregerman, M. (2018). Does Character Similarity Increase Identification and Persuasion? Media Psychology, 21 (3), 506-528.

Yuan, Y., Major-Girardin, J., & Brown, S. (2018). Storytelling Is Intrinsically Mentalistic: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Narrative Production across Modalities. Journal of cognitive neuroscience, 30 (9), 1298-1314.