In the context of cognitive psychology, what is a primary effect of journalism of affirmation on viewers?

• A. It reduces emotional responses to news stories by promoting objective analysis.
• B. It encourages viewers to seek out diverse perspectives and challenge their own opinions.
• C. It reinforces existing beliefs and attitudes, leading to increased confirmation bias.
• D. It improves critical thinking skills by exposing viewers to balanced reporting.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of 'journalism of affirmation' in cognitive psychology, which refers to media content that confirms and reinforces viewers' pre-existing beliefs and attitudes rather than challenging them.
2. Step 2: Recognize that this type of journalism tends to strengthen confirmation bias, a cognitive bias where individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence.
3. Step 3: Analyze how this reinforcement affects viewers by making them more confident in their current opinions and less open to alternative viewpoints.
4. Step 4: Contrast this effect with other possible outcomes, such as promoting objective analysis or encouraging diverse perspectives, which are less characteristic of journalism of affirmation.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the primary effect of journalism of affirmation is to reinforce existing beliefs and attitudes, thereby increasing confirmation bias among viewers.