Preexisting stereotypes influence entertainment selection

Study abstract: Preexisting stereotypes and selection of counter-stereotypical genius representations in entertainment media. Entertainment media has increasingly featured diverse representations that have the potential to combat harmful social stereotypes, but a new University of Michigan study raises questions about how effective they can be in the current media landscape. The study, which appears in the Journal of Media Psychology, found that entertainment media selection was predicted by preexisting beliefs in a survey of nearly 300 people. Specifically, greater endorsement of gender-related stereotypes about intelligence was associated with a decreased tendency to choose TV shows that featured a brilliant woman (the counter-stereotypical representations) over shows that featured a brilliant man. "Findings indicate that those who could benefit most from these representations are less likely to be exposed to them, undermining the utility of mass media in the widespread reduction of harmful stereotypes,” said study lead author Matea Mustafaj , a graduate student in the U-M Department of Communication & Media. Across four genres (science fiction, crime fiction, drama, comedy), Mustafaj and colleagues created several TV show descriptions-half featuring an exceptionally intelligent (or "brilliant”) character, the other half featuring a character that was not exceptionally intelligent. Sets of four show descriptions, all belonging to the same genre, were presented to participants.