Mean World Syndrome

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Mean World Syndrome is described as the distinguishing characteristic of Media Induced Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (MIPTSD). Media Induced Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is a manifestation of some PTSD Post-traumatic stress disorder type symptoms specifically due to exposure to entertainment media that focuses excessively on violence. Two significant differences between this disorder and PTSD are that exposure to real trauma is not necessary and that symptoms include an overwhelming desire to seek out violent images (PTSD victims avoid trauma exposure). Symptoms similar to PTSD include a numbing of general responsiveness (detachment, decreased interest in significant activities) and ongoing increased arousal (problems sleeping and concentrating, irritability, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response).

[edit] See also

• Missing white woman syndrome
• Media hype
• Yellow journalism
• Mass hysteria
• Sensationalism
• Mass media
• Social control
• Crowd psychology
• Culture of fear
• Groupthink
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Moral panic

[edit] External links

• Gerbner: "Reclaiming Our Cultural Mythology: Television's global marketing strategy creates a damaging and alienated window on the world."
• Daniel Chandler's Cultivation Theory.