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Which of the following concepts from social psychology would suggest that the constant media attention to violence has disproportionately increased fear of violence by encouraging people to think it is more common than it is:

A) Social comparison theory
B) Mean world syndrome
C) Social facilitation
D) Cognitive dissonance

User BMM
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Final answer:

Mean world syndrome from social psychology suggests that heavy consumption of media violence can cause people to perceive the world as more dangerous than it is and to overestimate their risk of victimization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept from social psychology that suggests the constant media attention to violence disproportionately increases fear of violence by encouraging people to think it is more common than it actually is, is B) Mean world syndrome. This idea originates from cultivation theory, which postulates that long-term exposure to media content shapes the viewer's perceptions of reality. Mean world syndrome refers to the phenomenon where people who consume a large amount of media violence are more likely to believe that the world is a dangerous place and overestimate their likelihood of becoming a victim.

Inaccurate public perception of crime may be heightened by popular crime series and extensive media coverage, leading viewers to estimate the crime rate as inaccurately high. Studies have shown that exposure to violent media is correlated with aggressive thoughts and behaviors, and increased fear of violence, while a definitive link between viewing violence and committing criminal violence has not been established.

User RockerFlower
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