Citation

Atwood LE. Int. J. Mass Emerg. Disasters 1993; 11(3): 365-378.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, International Sociological Association, International Research Committee on Disasters)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper explores perceived effects of the mass media called the "third-person" effect. This position argues that while the mass media do not have strong and important effects on "you" or "me," they do have important, and probably direct, effects on "them," most other people. The prediction of a Richter 6.0+ earthquake for the New Madrid Fault on or about December 3, 1990, provided an opportunity to study public opinion, information sources, and perceptions of media effects about a natural disaster. Belief in the earthquake prediction, perceived importance of and thinking about the problem were negatively related to the third-person effect. Attribution of media effects on others was also negatively related to the use of newspapers and radio, but television was an important source; those who attributed third-person effects also thought there was too much news about prediction, and "most others" were thought to believe the prediction.

Language: en