Priming Effects & Copycat Crimes

Activation

• Priming occurs when exposure to mediated communication activates related thoughts that have been stored in the mind of an audience member.
  

1. Repetition priming refers to the fact that it is easier (quicker) to recognize a face or word if you have recently seen that same face or word.
2. Semantic priming refers to the fact that it is easier (quicker) to recognize someone or word if you have just seen someone or a word closely associated.
   

Conceptual Roots

• Priming is based upon the concept of cognitive neoassociation.
• When audiences are presented with a certain stimulus that has a specific meaning, they are "primed" to related concepts.
• Ideas connected to emotions trigger associated feelings and responses.

Priming Effects are most enhanced when audience members:

1. Interpret the meaning of a film or communication in a particular way
2. Believe that the violent behavior they are seeing is justified for some reason.
3. Identify with the characters they see.
4. Believe they are seeing actual events rather than fiction.
5. See the portrayed violence and remember experiencing similar feelings and thoughts in the past.
   

Copycat Crimes

• Extreme example of priming. Very few people experience priming effects so completely that they actually model or imitate the viewed behavior.
• Priming effects usually cause mild reactions that diminish in time or may pass unnoticed.