Why is the hypodermic needle theory now considered outdated?

Category: news and politics political issues
4.2/5 (739 Views . 29 Votes)
One of the main reasons that this theory was believed to be outdated was due to the fact that the reactions were based on human assumptions, giving no real basis to the theory. People were assumed to be “uniformly controlled by their biologically based 'instincts'.



Moreover, what is the hypodermic needle theory of media effects?

The Hypodermic needle theory is a linear communication theory that suggests that media messages are injected directly into the brains of passive audiences. In this theory the media is seen as powerful and able to 'inject' ideas into an audience who are seen as weak and passive and could be influenced by a message.

Beside above, who Theorised the hypodermic needle theory? Harold Lasswell

Also know, what is the hypodermic syringe theory?

The Hypodermic Needle Theory is a linear communication theory which suggests that media messages are injected directly into the brains of a passive audience. It suggests that we're all the same and we all respond to media messages in the same way.

What is the magic bullet theory of media effects?

The "Magic Bullet" theory graphically assumes that the media's message is a bullet fired from the "media gun" into the viewer's "head". Similarly, the "Hypodermic Needle Model" uses the same idea of the "shooting" paradigm. It suggests that the media injects its messages straight into the passive audience.

22 Related Question Answers Found

What is gatekeeping theory?

Gatekeeping theory is the nexus between two inarguable facts: events occur everywhere all of the time and the news media cannot cover all of them. And so, when an event occurs, someone has to decide whether and how to pass the information to another person, such as a friend, an official, or even a journalist.

What are media effects theories?

Media effects include theories that explain how the mass media influence the attitudes and perceptions of audience members. Media effects represent one of the core ideas of communication research (Neuman & Guggenheim, 2011).

What does a hypodermic needle do?

A hypodermic (hypo – under, dermic – the skin) needle is a hollow needle commonly used with a syringe to inject substances into the body or extract fluids from it. They may also be used to take liquid samples from the body, for example taking blood from a vein in venipuncture.

What does active audience mean?

Active audience theory argues that media audiences do not just receive information passively but are actively involved, often unconsciously, in making sense of the message within their personal and social contexts.

Why is it called a hypodermic needle?


Charles Hunter, a London surgeon, is credited with the coining of the term "hypodermic" to describe subcutaneous injection in 1858. The name originates from two Greek words: hypo, "under", and derma, "skin".

What is Agenda Setting in media?

Agenda-setting theory describes the "ability (of the news media) to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda". Agenda-setting theory was formally developed by Max McCombs and Donald Shaw in a study on the 1968 American presidential election.

What is propaganda theory?

The propaganda model is a conceptual model in political economy advanced by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky to explain how propaganda and systemic biases function in corporate mass media. The theory postulates five general classes of "filters" that determine the type of news that is presented in news media.

What is the Spiral of Silence Theory of Communication?

The spiral of silence theory is a political science and mass communication theory proposed by the German political scientist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. It states that a social group or society might isolate or exclude members due to the members' opinions. This stipulates that individuals have a fear of isolation.

What is direct effects model?

Abstract. The direct effect of one event on another can be defined and measured by holding constant all intermediate variables between the two. Indirect effects present conceptual and prac- tical difficulties (in nonlinear models), be- cause they cannot be isolated by holding cer- tain variables constant.

What is minimal effect model?


In political science, the minimal effects hypothesis states that political campaigns only marginally persuade and convert voters. The hypothesis was formulated during early research into voting behavior between the 1940s and the 1960s, and this period formed the initial "minimum effects" era in the United States.

What is reception analysis?

Reception analysis is a form of audience research which explores the meanings and experiences people produce as a result of their contextualized encounters with media products conceptualized as verbal and visual texts, or discourses.

What was the people's choice study?

Lazarsfeld's study of the 1940 presidential election was published as The People's Choice (1944). During the research revealed information about the psychological and social processes that influence voting decisions.

How do you use a hypodermic needle?

Filling the Syringe With Medicine
  1. Hold the syringe in your hand like a pencil, with the needle pointed up.
  2. With the cap still on, pull back the plunger to the line on your syringe for your dose.
  3. Insert the needle into the rubber top.
  4. Push the air into the vial.
  5. Turn the vial upside down and hold it up in the air.

What is a magic bullet theory?

The single-bullet theory (or the magic-bullet theory, as it is commonly called by its critics) was introduced by the Warren Commission in its investigation of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy to explain what happened to the bullet that struck Kennedy in the back and exited through his throat.

What is mass media communications?

Mass media refers to a diverse array of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit information electronically via media such as films, radio, recorded music, or television. Digital media comprises both Internet and mobile mass communication.

What time did JFK arrive in Dallas?

November 22: Arrival in Dallas. On Friday, November 22, 1963, at 11:38 a.m. CST, Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline, and the rest of the presidential entourage arrived at Love Field in northwest Dallas aboard Air Force One after a very short flight from nearby Carswell Air Force Base, west of Fort Worth.