Question

How could the uses and gratifications theory and cultivation theory relate to your own life?

Answer 1

Uses and Gratification theory tells about how individual uses media for their own purpose like relaxation, entertainment, socializing. Mainly people seek three types of gratification from media such as emotional, wishful thinking and learning. Daily soaps usually are meant to provide first two such emotional needs, to watch somebody getting loved or loving, revenge, anger etc. And wishful thinking such as dreams getting true, everything getting positive. I mainly make use of media for the wishful thinking and learning. I like to watch informative channels, informative shows, quizzes, as far as serials are concerned there is wishful thinking associated such as how the brain functions so fast and so logically.

Cultivation theory examines long term effects of media on people. It states that the more time people spent on TV they more they start living into TV world. Such people who watch daily soap for long hours they tend to be extra emotional or kids who watch violence for hours tend to become so. I basically do not like watching TV, hence it hasn't made any extra impact in my life. I prefer real life more. But yes, they have filled up the space with negativity everywhere today.