Examines the attitudinal components of humor in terms of Heider's cognitive balance model and suggests that self-directed humor is an apparent exception to such an interpretation. (MH)

Summarizes the literature examining the association between acceptance of rape myths and exposure to pornography. States that nonexperimental methodology shows that exposure to pornography does not increase rape myth acceptance, while experimental studies show that exposure to pornography increases rape myth acceptance. Concludes that experimental…

Reviews research on television and human behavior. Evidence indicates that television affects both the beliefs and behaviors of young people. (MH)

Suggests that television's effects on children are mediated by age-related differences in comprehension and evaluation. (MH)

Suggests that "mass effect" arises when one's channels of communication are inadequate for the number of people one must deal with. Defines current "masses" as intricate systems of group-sets evolving from an effort to avoid "mass effect". (MH)

Outlines the development of human communication skills and discusses possible influences of media technology on such development in the future. (MH)

Explores and summarizes Scandinavian research on the relevance of identification theory to childrens mass communication experiences. (MH)

Traces various behavioral problems in young children to sensory overkill from repetitious auditory and visual television experiences. (MH)

Investigates verbal and nonverbal communication patterns that help speakers and listeners define conversational relationships. (MH)

Reviews research to date dealing with attempts to conceptualize a framework for analysis of communication skills acquired in early childhood years. (MH)

An analysis of the film viewing habits of Belgian television viewers reveals that movies with advisories regarding sex and violence are watched more than the movies without them. However, movies with qualifications tend to be judged less interesting than movies without qualifications. (JMF)

Presents a study demonstrating that aid-giving by children is predicated by nonverbal displays of submission emitted by the child under attack, and that although the children observing the episodes respond to the displays, the aggressor ignores them. (JMF)

Suggests that violent activities occur not because of reduced self-control, but because cognitive skills and self-control are used through moral justifications and self-exonerative devices in the service of destructive causes. Threats to human welfare are generally brought about by deliberate acts of principle rather than by unrestrained acts of…

Describes a study of sexual intimacy, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use on prime time and Saturday morning television in general. Presents a separate analysis of this content, in shows heavily viewed by children, in terms of their potential for social learning in these areas. (JMF)