Reinforcing Spirals Model

Abstract

The reinforcing spirals model (RSM) conceptualizes selective exposure to media and other communication content, and the effects of such content, as part of a larger dynamic process embedded in the social context of the place, the time, and the individual. This model has particular utility for theorizing about the role of media in the development and maintenance of social identities, including religious, political, and lifestyle identities, and of the attitudes and behaviors associated with those identities, in the era of the Internet and social media. A systems theory perspective is used to describe factors that lead to system equilibrium or to increases in polarization and identity extremity. Social cognitive mechanisms for these effects are also proposed in the RSM.

Different interactions with appearance-focused social media content and adolescents’ body dissatisfaction: A within-person perspective

“…As outlined above, different interactions with appearance-focused social media use likely affect adolescents' body dissatisfaction, yet these variables may also be reciprocally related. Drawing on the reinforcing spirals model (Slater, 2017), and the media selection paradigm (Knobloch-Westerwick, 2015a), social media use can be shaped by personal factors, such as feelings of body dissatisfaction. On the one hand, adolescents who feel dissatisfied with their body might try to channel these feelings and engage with others' appearance-focused social media content because it can motivate them to improve their body's appearance (Jarman et al, 2021a;Rousseau & Eggermont, 2018).…”

Preprint - Exposure to the Positivity Bias and Adolescents’ Differential Longitudinal Links with Inspiration and Envy Depending on Social Media Literacy

“…Second, reciprocal relations between the variables of interest will be estimated to check for the common assumption of reciprocity in media effects research (e.g., Valkenburg et al, 2016) and to explore the reinforcing spirals model that links media usage and cognitions in a reoccurring chain of events (Slater, 2017). As too little is currently known on reciprocal within-person relations between our study variables, this is purely exploratory.…”

Stable Attitudes and Behaviors as Boundary Conditions of Reinforcing Spirals Models

“…A minimum of three consecutive measurements per person is necessary to establish the complete process as proposed in Slater's (2007Slater's ( , 2015Slater's ( , 2017 conceptual work. The data is most commonly analyzed with cross-lagged panel models (CLPM; see, e.g., Figure 1 in Slater, 2007) or variants of parallel latent growth-curve models (PLGCM; e.g., Moeller & de Vreese, 2015;Schemer, 2012;Slater & Hayes, 2010).…”