when-does-the-tendency-to-believe-what-we-see-come-from Media Effects Theory

Media Effects Theory

When Does the Tendency to Believe What We See Come From?

About this topic

'Believing what we see' refers to the tendency to trust visual information (photos, videos, images) more easily and prioritize it over words or text. This question asks when and how this tendency is formed, and from the perspective of media effects theory, examines the influence of visual media on human cognition and belief formation. In the modern era where people grow up with TV and smartphone screens from childhood, it clarifies when this tendency emerges and how it is strengthened.

Conceptual positions
01 Developmental Origins Theory

The view that the foundation is laid in early childhood visual experiences and strengthened with growth. Early screen exposure forms the tendency.

02 Evolutionary Basis Theory

The view that it is the result of the human brain evolving to prioritize vision, existing prior to cultural or educational influences.

03 Media Reinforcement Theory

The view that the flood of modern visual media has significantly strengthened this tendency. A phenomenon unique to the digital age.

Talk entry points

  1. Is there a photo or video you saw as a child that you still believe in? Why?

  2. What do you think is the difference between the moment you feel 'this is real' when seeing an image or video and the moment you doubt it?

  3. Have you ever thought 'is this real?' about an image news on SNS? What did you doubt at that time?

  4. Which do you tend to believe more, visual information or textual information? Please tell me the reason.

  5. In an era of increasing AI-generated images, how do you think the tendency to 'believe what we see' will change?

  6. When do you think visual media education should start?

Conceptual tensions
Instinct vsLearning
Is believing visuals a human instinct or something learned after birth?
Trust vsSkepticism
Is it more efficient to honestly believe visual information, or is it safer to always doubt it?
Individual vsSociety
The risk that individual visual cognitive bias creates mistaken perceptions in society as a whole.
Talk note

This theme is a space for dialogue to re-examine the unconscious premises of 'seeing' in our daily lives surrounded by visual media. While reflecting on our own experiences, let's cultivate visual literacy together.

Glossary
Visual Primacy
The cognitive tendency for humans to process and remember visual information preferentially over linguistic information.
Photographic Truth Bias
The unconscious assumption that photographs or videos objectively capture the truth.
Media Reality Construction Effect
The effect where media constructs 'reality' through visuals, shaping viewers' perception of the world.
Talk prompts
Ice breaker

What is the most memorable image or video you saw as a child? Do you still believe it now?

Deep dive

If you knew that all images and videos were made by AI, how would your act of 'seeing' change?

Bridge

When the other person is talking about image news, quietly ask: 'What is the reason you felt that image was real?'

Further questions
  • The impact of deepfakes on collapsing visual trust
  • The optimal timing for children's visual media education
  • Cultural differences in the 'truthfulness' that photos possess
  • Cognitive fatigue caused by visual information overload
  • Specific methods for improving visual literacy