Barbara J Wilson
Biographic Data
| ID | 81220 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Barbara J Wilson |
| GIVEN NAMES | Barbara J |
| FAMILY NAME | Wilson |
| SIGNATURE | WILSON B J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5533-1603 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 84 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1987 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
The Cancer Prevention Project of Philadelphia: Preliminary findings examining diversity among the African diaspora
Objective: Cancer mortality inequity among persons of African Ancestry is remarkable. Yet, Black inclusion in cancer biology research is sorely lacking and warrants urgent attention. Epidemiologic research linking African Ancestry and the African Diaspora to disease susceptibility and outcomes is critical for understanding the significant and troubling health disparities among Blacks. Therefore, in a cohort of diverse Blacks, this study examined …
From Love at First Sight to Soul Mate: The Influence of Romantic Ideals in Popular Films on Young People's Beliefs about Relationships
Despite their popularity, few studies have systematically investigated the content of romantic comedy movies or the effects they may have on viewers. We conducted two studies to address this gap. The first study was a content analysis of the romantic ideals embedded in the top 52 highest grossing romantic comedies from the last 10 years. Results demonstrated that romantic ideals and challenges are prevalent in these films. The second study was a …
Mean on the Screen: Social Aggression in Programs Popular With Children
A content analysis was conducted to examine the portrayal of social aggression in the 50 most popular television programs among 2- to 11-year-old children. Results revealed that 92% of the programs in the sample contained some social aggression. On average, there were 14 different incidents of social aggression per hour in these shows, or one every 4 minutes. Compared to the portrayals of physical aggression, social aggression was more likely to …
Mean on the Screen: Social Aggression in Programs Popular With Children
Social Aggression on Television and Its Relationship to Children's Aggression in the Classroom
Journal Article Social Aggression on Television and Its Relationship to Children's Aggression in the Classroom Get access Nicole Martins, Nicole Martins 1Department of Telecommunication, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA 1Corresponding author: Nicole Martins; Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 2Department of Communication, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL…
Parental Communication About Kidnapping Stories in the US News
We conducted a random telephone survey of 182 parents to assess how they communicate with their children about kidnapping stories featured in the news. Three different strategies emerged. Some parents warned their children, signaling to them that kidnappings are likely to occur. Other parents reassured their children, suggesting that such threats rarely take place. Several parents cautioned their children, offering specific strategies to encourag…
The Role of Graphic and Sanitized Violence in the Enjoyment of Television Dramas
This experiment explores the relationship between television violence and viewer enjoyment. Over 400 participants were randomly assigned to one of 15 conditions that were created by editing five TV programs into three versions each: A graphically violent version, a sanitized violent version, and a nonviolent version. After viewing, participants reported their enjoyment of the content and emotional reactions to the content. Once we controlled for …
Children's and Parents' Fright Reactions to Kidnapping Stories in the News
We conducted a random telephone survey of 182 parents to assess their reactions as well as their children's reactions to child kidnapping stories in the news. Children below age 13 experienced more fright-related feelings and more concern for their personal safety than adolescents did. Children who were heavy viewers of TV news also were more frightened. Parents rated themselves as more upset by the stories than their children were. Parents' frig…
Violence in Children's Television Programming: Assessing the Risks
This study investigates the nature and extent of violence contained in television programming that targets children aged 12 and younger. The measures employed in this content analysis are grounded in previous experimental research that bas identified contextual features that either diminish or enhance the risk of harmful effects associated with viewing violent portrayals. This report uses the database from the National Television Violence Study (…
Prime-Time Television: Assessing Violence During the Most Popular Viewing Hours
This Study was designed to assess the prevalence and context of violence in prime-time television programming using a random, representative sample of 23 broadcast, independent, and cable channels. Results showed that, regardless of the times of day, viewers are likely to encounter violence in roughly 2 out of 3 programs when they view television. Using social cognitive theory to frame our analysis, we also identified specific channel types and g…
Engaging in Violence on American Television: A Comparison of Child, Teen, and Adult Perpetrators
This study examines the perpetrators of violence on American television in terms of their chronological age. In particular, the content analysis compares the amount and nature of violence committed by child and teen characters to that committed by adult characters. The results suggest that younger perpetrators are depicted in several ways that pose risks for the child viewer. Compared to adult perpetrators, child perpetrators are more often portr…
Violence in Children's Television Programming: Assessing the Risks
This study investigates the nature and extent of violence contained in television programming that targets children aged 12 and younger. The measures employed in this content analysis are grounded in previous experimental research that bas identified contextual features that either diminish or enhance the risk of harmful effects associated with viewing violent portrayals. This report uses the database from the National Television Violence Study (…
Counteracting the Effects of Female Stereotypes on Television via Active Mediation
This article reports results of an experiment with 83 kindergarten through 6th-grade children conducted to determine the effectiveness of a theoretically based active mediation strategy for reducing the harmful effects of gender-stereotyped television. The researchers found that a mediation strategy derived from gender-schema theory led to less favorable evaluations of stereotyped television characters. It also led to (a) less positive evaluation…
Children's Cognitive and Emotional Responses to the Portrayal of Negative Emotions in Family-Formatted Situation Comedies
Journal Article Children's Cognitive and Emotional Responses to the Portrayal of Negative Emotions in Family-Formatted Situation Comedies Get access Audrey J. Weiss, Audrey J. Weiss 1Audrey J. Weiss (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1994) is a biostatistician at McGhan Medical Corporation in Santa Barbara, California Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 2Barbar…
Prior Exposure to Creatures From a Horror Film: Live Versus Photographic Representations
This experiment assesses the impact of two exposure strategies on children's emotional and cognitive reactions to a frightening movie scene. Children from two grade levels (kindergarten and first vs. second through fourth) received a desensitization treatment in which modeled exposure to a live earthworm was factorially varied with exposure to graphic photographs of worms taken from a horror film. Children then viewed a frightening scene involvin…
Sexual Violence in the Mass Media: Legal Solutions, Warnings, and Mitigation Through Education
Depictions of sexual violence in the media can promote antisocial attitudes and behavior. Three approaches to the problem of sexual violence in the media are explored: (a) legal restrictions, (b) informational labeling, and (c) formal education. It is premature to advocate legal restrictions since existing research leaves too many questions unanswered. Informational labeling is not a viable solution because of problems inherent in the most widely…
The Impact of Social Issue Television Programming on Attitudes Toward Rape
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of a television movie about acquaintance rape on subsequent attitudes about rape. To maximize external validity, a nationally representative sample of 1,038 male and female adults from three age groups was selected to participate in the study. These participants were then randomly assigned to view or not view the movie over a closed-circuit channel, prior to the network broadcast of the film…
The effects of two reality explanations on children's reactions to a frightening movie scene
This experiment assesses the effectiveness of two reality explanations on children's reactions to a frightening program. Children from two age groups (5—6 vs. 7—9 years) were assigned to one of three conditions before watching a frightening movie scene: special tricks explanation, real life explanation, or no explanation. Results revealed that neither of the reality instructions influenced younger children's emotional or cognitive reactions to th…
Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation
(1987). Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 10, Communication Yearbook 10, pp. 553-573
Reducing Children's Emotional Reactions to Mass Media Through Rehearsed Explanationand Exposure to a Replica of a Fear Object
Journal Article Reducing Children's Emotional Reactions to Mass Media Through Rehearsed Explanation and Exposure to a Replica of a Fear Object Get access Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 1Barbara J. Wilson (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1985) is assistant professor in the Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. This research was supported by a grant from the College of Arts and Sciences, Universit…
From Love at First Sight to Soul Mate: The Influence of Romantic Ideals in Popular Films on Young People's Beliefs about Relationships
Despite their popularity, few studies have systematically investigated the content of romantic comedy movies or the effects they may have on viewers. We conducted two studies to address this gap. The first study was a content analysis of the romantic ideals embedded in the top 52 highest grossing romantic comedies from the last 10 years. Results demonstrated that romantic ideals and challenges are prevalent in these films. The second study was a …
The Impact of Social Issue Television Programming on Attitudes Toward Rape
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of a television movie about acquaintance rape on subsequent attitudes about rape. To maximize external validity, a nationally representative sample of 1,038 male and female adults from three age groups was selected to participate in the study. These participants were then randomly assigned to view or not view the movie over a closed-circuit channel, prior to the network broadcast of the film…
The Role of Graphic and Sanitized Violence in the Enjoyment of Television Dramas
This experiment explores the relationship between television violence and viewer enjoyment. Over 400 participants were randomly assigned to one of 15 conditions that were created by editing five TV programs into three versions each: A graphically violent version, a sanitized violent version, and a nonviolent version. After viewing, participants reported their enjoyment of the content and emotional reactions to the content. Once we controlled for …
Children's and Parents' Fright Reactions to Kidnapping Stories in the News
We conducted a random telephone survey of 182 parents to assess their reactions as well as their children's reactions to child kidnapping stories in the news. Children below age 13 experienced more fright-related feelings and more concern for their personal safety than adolescents did. Children who were heavy viewers of TV news also were more frightened. Parents rated themselves as more upset by the stories than their children were. Parents' frig…
Social Aggression on Television and Its Relationship to Children's Aggression in the Classroom
Journal Article Social Aggression on Television and Its Relationship to Children's Aggression in the Classroom Get access Nicole Martins, Nicole Martins 1Department of Telecommunication, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA 1Corresponding author: Nicole Martins; Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 2Department of Communication, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL…
The effects of two reality explanations on children's reactions to a frightening movie scene
This experiment assesses the effectiveness of two reality explanations on children's reactions to a frightening program. Children from two age groups (5—6 vs. 7—9 years) were assigned to one of three conditions before watching a frightening movie scene: special tricks explanation, real life explanation, or no explanation. Results revealed that neither of the reality instructions influenced younger children's emotional or cognitive reactions to th…
Reducing Children's Emotional Reactions to Mass Media Through Rehearsed Explanationand Exposure to a Replica of a Fear Object
Journal Article Reducing Children's Emotional Reactions to Mass Media Through Rehearsed Explanation and Exposure to a Replica of a Fear Object Get access Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 1Barbara J. Wilson (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1985) is assistant professor in the Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. This research was supported by a grant from the College of Arts and Sciences, Universit…
Prior Exposure to Creatures From a Horror Film: Live Versus Photographic Representations
This experiment assesses the impact of two exposure strategies on children's emotional and cognitive reactions to a frightening movie scene. Children from two grade levels (kindergarten and first vs. second through fourth) received a desensitization treatment in which modeled exposure to a live earthworm was factorially varied with exposure to graphic photographs of worms taken from a horror film. Children then viewed a frightening scene involvin…
The Cancer Prevention Project of Philadelphia: Preliminary findings examining diversity among the African diaspora
Objective: Cancer mortality inequity among persons of African Ancestry is remarkable. Yet, Black inclusion in cancer biology research is sorely lacking and warrants urgent attention. Epidemiologic research linking African Ancestry and the African Diaspora to disease susceptibility and outcomes is critical for understanding the significant and troubling health disparities among Blacks. Therefore, in a cohort of diverse Blacks, this study examined …
Children's Cognitive and Emotional Responses to the Portrayal of Negative Emotions in Family-Formatted Situation Comedies
Journal Article Children's Cognitive and Emotional Responses to the Portrayal of Negative Emotions in Family-Formatted Situation Comedies Get access Audrey J. Weiss, Audrey J. Weiss 1Audrey J. Weiss (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1994) is a biostatistician at McGhan Medical Corporation in Santa Barbara, California Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 2Barbar…
Sexual Violence in the Mass Media: Legal Solutions, Warnings, and Mitigation Through Education
Depictions of sexual violence in the media can promote antisocial attitudes and behavior. Three approaches to the problem of sexual violence in the media are explored: (a) legal restrictions, (b) informational labeling, and (c) formal education. It is premature to advocate legal restrictions since existing research leaves too many questions unanswered. Informational labeling is not a viable solution because of problems inherent in the most widely…
Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation
(1987). Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 10, Communication Yearbook 10, pp. 553-573
Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation
(1987). Reducing Fear Reactions to Mass Media: Effects of Visual Exposure and Verbal Explanation. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 10, Communication Yearbook 10, pp. 553-573
Reducing Children's Emotional Reactions to Mass Media Through Rehearsed Explanationand Exposure to a Replica of a Fear Object
Journal Article Reducing Children's Emotional Reactions to Mass Media Through Rehearsed Explanation and Exposure to a Replica of a Fear Object Get access Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 1Barbara J. Wilson (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1985) is assistant professor in the Department of Communication, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. This research was supported by a grant from the College of Arts and Sciences, Universit…
The effects of two reality explanations on children's reactions to a frightening movie scene
This experiment assesses the effectiveness of two reality explanations on children's reactions to a frightening program. Children from two age groups (5—6 vs. 7—9 years) were assigned to one of three conditions before watching a frightening movie scene: special tricks explanation, real life explanation, or no explanation. Results revealed that neither of the reality instructions influenced younger children's emotional or cognitive reactions to th…
Sexual Violence in the Mass Media: Legal Solutions, Warnings, and Mitigation Through Education
Depictions of sexual violence in the media can promote antisocial attitudes and behavior. Three approaches to the problem of sexual violence in the media are explored: (a) legal restrictions, (b) informational labeling, and (c) formal education. It is premature to advocate legal restrictions since existing research leaves too many questions unanswered. Informational labeling is not a viable solution because of problems inherent in the most widely…
The Impact of Social Issue Television Programming on Attitudes Toward Rape
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of a television movie about acquaintance rape on subsequent attitudes about rape. To maximize external validity, a nationally representative sample of 1,038 male and female adults from three age groups was selected to participate in the study. These participants were then randomly assigned to view or not view the movie over a closed-circuit channel, prior to the network broadcast of the film…
Prior Exposure to Creatures From a Horror Film: Live Versus Photographic Representations
This experiment assesses the impact of two exposure strategies on children's emotional and cognitive reactions to a frightening movie scene. Children from two grade levels (kindergarten and first vs. second through fourth) received a desensitization treatment in which modeled exposure to a live earthworm was factorially varied with exposure to graphic photographs of worms taken from a horror film. Children then viewed a frightening scene involvin…
Children's Cognitive and Emotional Responses to the Portrayal of Negative Emotions in Family-Formatted Situation Comedies
Journal Article Children's Cognitive and Emotional Responses to the Portrayal of Negative Emotions in Family-Formatted Situation Comedies Get access Audrey J. Weiss, Audrey J. Weiss 1Audrey J. Weiss (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1994) is a biostatistician at McGhan Medical Corporation in Santa Barbara, California Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 2Barbar…
Violence in Children's Television Programming: Assessing the Risks
This study investigates the nature and extent of violence contained in television programming that targets children aged 12 and younger. The measures employed in this content analysis are grounded in previous experimental research that bas identified contextual features that either diminish or enhance the risk of harmful effects associated with viewing violent portrayals. This report uses the database from the National Television Violence Study (…
Prime-Time Television: Assessing Violence During the Most Popular Viewing Hours
This Study was designed to assess the prevalence and context of violence in prime-time television programming using a random, representative sample of 23 broadcast, independent, and cable channels. Results showed that, regardless of the times of day, viewers are likely to encounter violence in roughly 2 out of 3 programs when they view television. Using social cognitive theory to frame our analysis, we also identified specific channel types and g…
Engaging in Violence on American Television: A Comparison of Child, Teen, and Adult Perpetrators
This study examines the perpetrators of violence on American television in terms of their chronological age. In particular, the content analysis compares the amount and nature of violence committed by child and teen characters to that committed by adult characters. The results suggest that younger perpetrators are depicted in several ways that pose risks for the child viewer. Compared to adult perpetrators, child perpetrators are more often portr…
Violence in Children's Television Programming: Assessing the Risks
This study investigates the nature and extent of violence contained in television programming that targets children aged 12 and younger. The measures employed in this content analysis are grounded in previous experimental research that bas identified contextual features that either diminish or enhance the risk of harmful effects associated with viewing violent portrayals. This report uses the database from the National Television Violence Study (…
Counteracting the Effects of Female Stereotypes on Television via Active Mediation
This article reports results of an experiment with 83 kindergarten through 6th-grade children conducted to determine the effectiveness of a theoretically based active mediation strategy for reducing the harmful effects of gender-stereotyped television. The researchers found that a mediation strategy derived from gender-schema theory led to less favorable evaluations of stereotyped television characters. It also led to (a) less positive evaluation…
Children's and Parents' Fright Reactions to Kidnapping Stories in the News
We conducted a random telephone survey of 182 parents to assess their reactions as well as their children's reactions to child kidnapping stories in the news. Children below age 13 experienced more fright-related feelings and more concern for their personal safety than adolescents did. Children who were heavy viewers of TV news also were more frightened. Parents rated themselves as more upset by the stories than their children were. Parents' frig…
The Role of Graphic and Sanitized Violence in the Enjoyment of Television Dramas
This experiment explores the relationship between television violence and viewer enjoyment. Over 400 participants were randomly assigned to one of 15 conditions that were created by editing five TV programs into three versions each: A graphically violent version, a sanitized violent version, and a nonviolent version. After viewing, participants reported their enjoyment of the content and emotional reactions to the content. Once we controlled for …
Parental Communication About Kidnapping Stories in the US News
We conducted a random telephone survey of 182 parents to assess how they communicate with their children about kidnapping stories featured in the news. Three different strategies emerged. Some parents warned their children, signaling to them that kidnappings are likely to occur. Other parents reassured their children, suggesting that such threats rarely take place. Several parents cautioned their children, offering specific strategies to encourag…
Mean on the Screen: Social Aggression in Programs Popular With Children
A content analysis was conducted to examine the portrayal of social aggression in the 50 most popular television programs among 2- to 11-year-old children. Results revealed that 92% of the programs in the sample contained some social aggression. On average, there were 14 different incidents of social aggression per hour in these shows, or one every 4 minutes. Compared to the portrayals of physical aggression, social aggression was more likely to …
Mean on the Screen: Social Aggression in Programs Popular With Children
Social Aggression on Television and Its Relationship to Children's Aggression in the Classroom
Journal Article Social Aggression on Television and Its Relationship to Children's Aggression in the Classroom Get access Nicole Martins, Nicole Martins 1Department of Telecommunication, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA 1Corresponding author: Nicole Martins; Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Barbara J. Wilson Barbara J. Wilson 2Department of Communication, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL…
From Love at First Sight to Soul Mate: The Influence of Romantic Ideals in Popular Films on Young People's Beliefs about Relationships
Despite their popularity, few studies have systematically investigated the content of romantic comedy movies or the effects they may have on viewers. We conducted two studies to address this gap. The first study was a content analysis of the romantic ideals embedded in the top 52 highest grossing romantic comedies from the last 10 years. Results demonstrated that romantic ideals and challenges are prevalent in these films. The second study was a …
The Cancer Prevention Project of Philadelphia: Preliminary findings examining diversity among the African diaspora
Objective: Cancer mortality inequity among persons of African Ancestry is remarkable. Yet, Black inclusion in cancer biology research is sorely lacking and warrants urgent attention. Epidemiologic research linking African Ancestry and the African Diaspora to disease susceptibility and outcomes is critical for understanding the significant and troubling health disparities among Blacks. Therefore, in a cohort of diverse Blacks, this study examined …
Psychology (19 works) · Social Psychology (16 works) · Media Influence and Health (12 works) · Social Psychology (9 works) · Child Development and Digital Technology (8 works) · Developmental psychology (7 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Aggression (6 works) · Gender, Feminism, and Media (6 works) · Advertising (5 works)