On the stabilization of media effects after repeated exposure: consequences for media effects research.

Public concerns about media effects are oftentimes fueled by anecdotal evidence and popular press reports pointing towards strong media effects. Interestingly, however, these public concerns are in contrast to findings from empirical studies that point towards minimal media effects. In the past deca...

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Publicado en:Communication Theory (1050-3293) Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 59 - 72
Autor principal: Baumgartner, Susanne E
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA May2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: May2026
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        atl: On the stabilization of media effects after repeated exposure: consequences for media effects research.
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        au: Baumgartner, Susanne E
        affil: Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
      su:
        Media studies
        Mass media influence
        Empirical research
        Psychological techniques
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        subj:
          Media studies
          Mass media influence
          Empirical research
          Psychological techniques
      keyword:
        adaptation
        copyrightHolder:International Communication Association
        copyrightYear:2026
        habituation
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        longitudinal effects
        media effects
        publisher:Oxford University Press
        repeated exposure
        sameAs:https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtaf017
        adaptation
        copyrightHolder:International Communication Association
        copyrightYear:2026
        habituation
        inLanguage:en
        longitudinal effects
        media effects
        publisher:Oxford University Press
        repeated exposure
        sameAs:https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtaf017
      ab: Public concerns about media effects are oftentimes fueled by anecdotal evidence and popular press reports pointing towards strong media effects. Interestingly, however, these public concerns are in contrast to findings from empirical studies that point towards minimal media effects. In the past decades, scholars have proposed several explanations for these minimal effects. This article adds to this, by proposing that one reason is that media effects stabilize after repeated exposure. If media effects stabilize, media effects occur only during effect-sensitive periods and might therefore only be empirically observable during these periods. This article delineates how well-established psychological theories as well as communication science theories are crucial in understanding the effects of repeated media exposure and how the conceptualization of media effects as stabilizing after repeated exposure has strong consequences for our empirical endeavors. The article discusses how to move the field forward, both empirically as well as theoretically.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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