Explores the potential role of mental imagery for media effects in emotional responses to frightening mass media, and in the effects of the media on beliefs in UFOs. Finds that individual differences in vividness of mental imagery may play a crucial role in moderating both types of media impact. (SR)

Assesses individuals' fear and enjoyment reactions to horror films, applying theories of cognition and affect that predict emotional responses to a stimulus on the basis of prior affect toward specific cues included in that stimulus. (MM)

Tests whether the effects of forewarning about a suspenseful film are dependent upon one's preferred way of coping with stressful events (assessed with the Miller Behavioral Style Scale). Discusses the individual difference variable in terms of behavioral dispositions located in the activation-arousal system. (SR)

Parents of preschool, first- and fourth-grade children were surveyed regarding media presentations that caused fear in their children. Results demonstrate that theories of cognitive development may provide an explanatory and predictive framework for understanding children's fears. (PD)

Reports on a survey of college students, indicating that the experience of intense, enduring fright after media exposure is common. Finds that individuals who experience this fright are likely to receive high scores on Mehrabian's Stimulus Screening Scale and Miller's Behavioral Style Scale. (MS)

Investigates the relationship between individual differences in "arousability" and the tendency for college students to report enduring negative reactions from exposure to frightening media. Finds that arousability was related to both enduring and immediate fright reactions. Notes that physiological indicators were associated with arousability for…

Reports on two studies summarizing recent advances in the study of behavioral dispositions by detailing the activation-arousal framework. Uses the Miller Behavioral Style Scale to measure individual differences in activation/arousal while viewing a negative emotional film segment and media coverage of the explosion of the space shuttle…

Assesses the validity of a 20-item scale that purportedly measures long term memory records--in this case, frightening mass media. Evidence for validity emerged in that subjects' scale scores were related to negative emotion, negative cognitions, and skin conductance during film clips of scary movies. (NKA)

Discusses analyses of "Time" and "Newsweek" photographs of males and females, including photographs of the candidates in the 1984 presidential campaigns, indicating that occupation is related to facial prominence. Indicates that males are usually portrayed as powerful, dominant, rational, persistent, and intelligent, while…

Comparing two measures of television exposure (time spent viewing, and the number of violent acts viewed per hour) as predictors of television-influenced fear of criminal victimization, a study conducted probability surveys in two midwestern cities with dissimilar crime rates. A preliminary study of 142 undergraduates in a mass communication class…

This explication of the role of cognitive processes in fright reactions to mass media stimuli focuses on past experiences as a possible--and important--component in the fear response. Research is reported on development of a measure of the nature of these past experiences. Implications for use are discussed. (MBR)