Discussion on media's impact on social perceptions (Part 2)

Mentioned you had a cameo. Who was the super smart daughter? Oh right, she's supposed to be like the nerdy one. Gosh, I can't remember. I think they were at a swimming pool and everybody's jumping around having fun and she's sitting by the pool reading Freakonomics. Oh my gosh, that's so cool, Steven. Yeah, we're in the top like 58 of nerd accoutrements in the history of nerd accoutrements. But your point was about Modern Family. Yeah. Imagine there's a real life Archie Bunker type and then they watch a TV show that is created and performed by these people who are really, really, really good at making everyone likable and interesting. So I'm watching all these different characters who are nothing like me in any way. These are people I would never intentionally want to socialize with, I would never invite them to my house, et cetera. But now, gosh, I really like them. That one's really funny, that one's really smart, that one's really sassy. Couldn't you imagine that sor parasocial ish relationship. And maybe it's not exactly what we're talking about, but don't you think that could serve a really useful function? Yes, I do. I think that's plausible. And I'm now looking at this article called the Development and Influence of parasocial Relationships with Television. A longitudinal experimental test of prejudice reduction through parasocial contact. So this is basically your idea. Yes, and it's by one Bradley Bond at University of San Diego. I love Bradley Bond. You love Bradley Bond. Bradley Bond loves you, Steven. I'm sure. But essentially this is a 10 week study and it involves a sample of heterosexual participants who watch a television series with fictional characters who are gay. And the question is, what happens to your attitudes as you watch over the course of two months? And the bottom line conclusion is, and I quote, that audiences can develop socio emotional bonds with out group television characters. Out group meaning not in the main. That can influence attitudes and behaviors much the same as direct interpersonal, intergroup contact. That's some empirical support for your intuition that maybe feeling like we are friends with people that don't actually know us, that could be used for good still to come on.