Directory
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Louise Mares |
Expertise and Activities
Developmental media effects: children, aging, educational television, emotional responses.
In my research on children, I am particularly interested in the possibility that television and other media can be used for positive social change, including reducing prejudice. To that end, I have been examining children's comprehension and interpretations of prosocial and educational programs and ways to make such programming more effective.
In my research on adults, I have been interested in examining what it is about aging that might cause changes in media use and effects. I am currently studying how the emotional experiences we seek out via media use vary across the adult life span.
Selected Works
Articles
- 2008. "Age differences in adults’ emotional motivations for exposure to films.." Media Psychology, 11, 488-511..
- 2008. "Be kind to three-legged dogs: Children’s literal interpretations of TV’s moral lessons. ." Media Psychology, 11, 377-399.
- 2007. "Developmental changes in adult comprehension of a television program are modified by being a fan." Communication Monographs, 74, 55-77.
- 2006. "Repetition increases children's comprehension of television content -- Up to a point." Communication Monographs, 73(2), 216-241.
- 2006. "In search of the older audience." Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 50, 595 - 614.
- 2005. "Positive effects of television on children's social interactions: A meta-analysis." Media Psychology, 7, 301-322.
- 2003. "Autobiographical memories of exposure to sexual media content." Media Psychology, 5, 1-31.
- 1998. "Effects of talk shows on adolescents: Testing popular hypotheses." Journal of Communication, 48, 69-86.
- 1996. "The role of source confusions in television's cultivation of social reality judgments." Human Communication Research, 23, 278-279.
- 1992. "Elderly viewers' responses to televised portrayals of old age: Empathy and mood-management vs. social comparison." Communication Research, 19, 459-478.
Courses
- CA 361 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication Arts
- CA 565 - Communication & Interethnic Behavior
- CA 616 - Mass Media and Youth
