User:Hector.Kings/Mood management theory

Lead
Mood management theory posits that the consumption of messages, particularly entertaining messages, is capable of altering prevailing mood states, and that the selection of specific messages for consumption often serves the regulation of mood states (Zillmann, 1988a). Mood management theory is now belongs to a larger group of theoretical approaches which speak on media content and hw it plays a role in mood management. Mood optimization is a current affective sate of media mood management.

Empirical evidence[edit]
Although its principles relate to the broader realm of mood optimization, mood management theory has largely been applied to entertainment choices. Focusing on viewers' selection of television entertainment, for example, an experimental study by Bryant and Zillmann (1984) reveals that individuals can overcome boredom or stress through selective exposure to exciting or relaxing television programming respectively. In the context of music exposure, Knobloch and Zillmann (2002) demonstrate that individuals could improve negative moods by electing to listen to highly energetic-joyful music. Also, Wakshlag et al. (1983) reported that participants with increased fear levels preferred films with low victimization scores and with high justice scores. This demonstrates that individuals aim to minimize stimuli which are associated with the source of a negative mood. Bryant and Zillman put on an investigation on how to overcome boredom and stress which examined individuals with boredom or stress by having them complete intellectual exam task with a time limit which caused pressure. This was only part one of the examination, the second part involved the participants watching 1 of the 6 TV programs provided. The six programs consisted of 3 soothing programs and three simulating programs. The evidenced showed that stressed people spent about the same amount of time on both program types while the people who were bored watched tv that was not relaxing but instead watched excited stimulating TV. Bryant and Zillman state this to be supporting for the mood management hypothesis, on their arousal regulation via media consumption.

Challenges
The theoretical proposition of mood management theory has been faced with challenges, especially when studying (1) the role that negative moods and burdening feelings play within the entertainment experience; (2) the diversity of individual users, social and cultural situations, and media products on offer, and (3) the new, so-called interactive media and how entertainment can best be conceptualized within them (Vorderer, 2003). Media exposure has recently been one of the options for stimulus arrangements. Four challenges we go through that are mood-altering are Excitatory potential, Absorption potential, Semantic affinity and Hedonic Valence.