Essay

The role of media coverage and other variables in shaping prejudicial attitudes towards Muslims

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Module
Research Methods (2002PY)

Institution
Coventry University (West Midlands) (CU)

An example of a quantitative design report from 2002PY Psychology module. The report looked a the role the media has on influencing people's opinions on the Muslim population.

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Uploaded on June 8, 2021
Number of pages 10
Written in 2018/2019
Type Essay
Professor(s) Unknown
Grade A

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2002PY CW1

The role of media coverage and other variables in shaping prejudicial attitudes towards

Muslims

Abstract:

The study tested news and media effects on portraying Muslims as terrorists on

support for public policies damaging Muslims natively and internationally. Muslims have

often been portrayed as aggressive, violent and terrorists as shown in past research from

public opinion surveys (Sides & Gross, 2013; Pew Research Center, 2013). These surveys

and studies found that the public/non-Muslims are willing to support harsher civil restrictions

and regulations (The Brookings Institution, 2011). Past research shows that

counterstereotypic portrayals and representations of minorities reduce negative attitudes

compared with stereotypic portrayals (Mastro & Tukachinsky, 2012). The study performed

tested the effects of stereotypic, neutral, and counterstereotypic Muslim news portrayals. The

news videos were predicted to prime the schemas about Muslims, and thus temporarily effect

perceptions of Muslims as terrorists and violent. Participants were shown 1 of the 3

levels/primers before attempting the survey. A no-video condition was contained within the

study as a control measure. The results proposed that negative media bias does have an effect

on people’s opinions and attitudes towards Muslims. The issue occurs when the public is so

heavily influenced by what the media shows and represents Muslims as, thus promoting

negative attitudes towards Muslims and encouraging stricter and harmful policies against

them.

, Introduction:

Muslims and people generally from the Middle East are hugely misrepresented and

stereotyped through mass media outlets as aggressive violent terrorists (Dixon & Williams,

2015; Shaheen, 2009). Experience viewing these depictions is harmful to Muslims as it

creates negative attitudes and schemas towards them. These negative attitudes could then lead

to more extreme views causing Islamophobia (Bleich, 2012). The current study looks at the

degree in which media stereotypes of Muslims as aggressive, violent terrorists, effects

backing and support for public policies and civil restrictions that are damaging and harmful to

Muslims. This study aims to develop past research about the effects the media has

stereotyping Muslims as terrorists to a greater extent. The observation that the media has

represented Muslims this way has been documented on many accounts, (Nacos & Torres-

Reyna, 2007; Shaheen, 2009). The media’s effect on feelings and attitudes toward Muslims

can be justified and explained with social-cognitive theories explaining the function and

effect of priming (Anderson & Bushman, 2002). The theory proposes that our thoughts,

emotions, memories and thus our actions derive from our own experiences and encounters

throughout our lives. People’s experiences can be developed over time thereby making

connections in the brain stronger thus solidifying concepts in the brain. For example,

concepts that are often and frequently triggered over time create a stronger and more

convincing schema. Schemas essentially influence how people conceptualise and devise

concepts of things after repeated actions. They can affect perceptions, behaviours and

interpretations. In terms of media stereotypes, the portrayal of Muslims can be damaging and

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