Scenario 1: Social Learning Theory through Role Models 

Background

A popular TV show, "City Heroes," is a drama series that follows the lives of a diverse group of characters working together to tackle various social issues in their community. The show focuses on themes of empathy, community service, and conflict resolution. 


Simulated Scenario

Sarah, a 16-year-old high school student, watches "City Heroes" regularly. She is particularly inspired by one of the characters, Emma, a social worker who volunteers at a local shelter and helps resolve conflicts among community members. Emma’s character is portrayed as compassionate, resourceful, and deeply committed to making a difference. 

After several episodes, Sarah begins to notice that her friends are discussing how Emma’s actions have motivated them to be more involved in their community. Intrigued and motivated, Sarah decides to learn more about volunteering opportunities in her area. 

Sarah discovers a community center that needs volunteers to help with after-school programs for underprivileged children. She signs up and starts volunteering, excited to make a positive impact. Through her involvement, Sarah feels a deeper connection to her community and begins to mentor younger students, drawing inspiration from Emma’s character. 

In this scenario, the media strategy of Social Learning Theory is at play. By observing a positive role model on the TV show, Sarah learns about and adopts prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering and mentoring, thereby contributing positively to her community. 




Scenario 2: Emotional Contagion through Positive Media Content 

Background

A social media campaign, #KindnessRevolution, is launched to promote acts of kindness and generosity. The campaign features heartwarming videos and stories of individuals performing random acts of kindness, such as helping strangers, supporting local charities, and organizing community events. Each video ends with a call to action for viewers to perform and share their own acts of kindness. 


Simulated Scenario

John, a 30-year-old office worker, comes across the #KindnessRevolution campaign while scrolling through his social media feed. He watches several videos of people paying for someone’s groceries, giving out free coffee to homeless individuals, and organizing neighborhood clean-up events. The stories evoke strong feelings of empathy and warmth in John, who begins to feel motivated and inspired. 

Feeling moved by the campaign, John decides to participate in the #KindnessRevolution challenge. He uses his weekend to organize a small neighborhood barbecue and invites his neighbors, including some elderly residents who rarely get social visits. During the event, John notices how happy and grateful the attendees are, and this further fuels his desire to contribute positively. 

John’s participation doesn’t stop at the barbecue. He becomes an active supporter of local community efforts, regularly contributing to food drives and organizing events to help others. His positive actions are also shared on social media, creating a ripple effect as his friends and followers are inspired by his example. 

In this scenario, Emotional Contagion is at work. The positive and uplifting content from the #KindnessRevolution campaign evokes empathy and positive emotions in John, which in turn leads him to engage in and spread acts of kindness within his own community. The emotional impact of the media content drives John to participate in and contribute to prosocial behavior. 



Both scenarios illustrate how media-related strategies can influence and promote prosocial behavior through psychological mechanisms such as observational learning and emotional contagion. 


Last modified: Monday, 30 September 2024, 2:05 PM