The Effects of Extraneous Mass Mediated Stimuli on Power Relations: Some Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Five specific directional hypotheses are advanced concerning the effects of extraneous mass mediated stimuli on dyadic power relations as behaviorally defined. The hypotheses generally derive from a simple notion of stimulus confusion and the effects of this confusion both on learning and response probabilities. While only two of the hypotheses show strong statistical significance, all of the hypotheses are directionally correct; an event that would occur only 1/32 of the time under the null hypothesis. The authors conclude that, given their small sample size, the underlying theory may be relatively satisfactory and that it is possible for mass mediated stimuli of an extraneous nature to effect the development of power structures in groups exposed to the media presentations.