This thesis explores the complex link between Latino individuals' self-esteem and media depictions. This thesis was created with the intent to fill a current gap in communication research by providing original data and addressing the lack of quantitative research surrounding the Latino community. The Latino Perceptions of Realism in TV and Film Scale was created as a new tool to measure opinions about ethno-cultural portrayal. This thesis aims to clarify how Latino people's self-esteem is shaped by the perceived realism of media depictions, drawing on Social Identity Theory and Social Learning Theory. This thesis examines how Latinos are portrayed in movies to determine how media exposure affects how the Latino population views their self-esteem. This study uses empirical analysis to further our understanding of the relationship between media portrayal, social identity development, and self-esteem in the Latino community. The thesis offers original quantitative data using a survey-based approach. It introduces the Latino Perceptions of Realism in TV and Film Scale, a new survey tool for gauging perceptions of Latino interpretations of television and film Latino characters. Regression analysis was employed to investigate how media depictions affect the development of self-esteem in the Latino population. Key findings provide insight into the complex relationships between media portrayal and the way Latinos view their ethnic group in film and television. Demographic factors such as age and gender, the amount of media consumption, intellectual capacity, and work ethic were revealed as important determinants impacting the development of Latino self-esteem. This study contributes new data to the discipline of media effects research, extending the conversation on the stereotypical representation of Latinos in television and film. It also provides insight into how Latinos view their self-esteem based on character portrayals in film and television. / MACOM / This thesis examines the complex relationship between how Latino individuals identify and how the media portrays them. By providing new perspectives and addressing the lack of quantitative studies on the Latino population, this thesis aims to close a gap in communication research. The Latino Perceptions of Realism in TV and Film Scale is a new scale designed to gather feedback on how Latino culture is portrayed in media.
Based on psychological theories, specifically Social Identity Theory and Social Learning Theory, this thesis explores how media representations affect Latino self-esteem. Through an analysis of the representations of Latinos in television and film, the study investigates how exposure to these representations affects how Latino viewers feel about themselves. This study uses empirical analysis to expand on our knowledge of the relationship between media representation, social identity, and self-esteem in the Latino community. The results provide insight into the complex connections between how Latinos view their own ethnic group in the context of film and television and how they are portrayed in the media. This study reveals a nuanced association between media consumption patterns and the self-esteem of Latinos. Latinos' identity and self-esteem are shaped by various factors, including their views of reality, the quantity of media they consume, and demographic traits. This thesis broadens the discussion on stereotyped portrayals of Latinos in the media. It offers insights into how these representations affect Latino self-esteem by bringing fresh data to the field of media effects research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/118930 |
| Date | 08 May 2024 |
| Creators | Giron, Veronica Isabel |
| Contributors | Communication, Horning, Michael A., Mielczarek, Natalia, Duncan, Megan A. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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