Date

4-29-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Bethany Mims

Keywords

Media, violence against women, racial bias, submission, justice

Disciplines

Film and Media Studies | Psychology

Abstract

The media can influence cultural values using narrative storytelling. Common tropes in narrative storytelling may reinforce cultural norms that vilify women and reinforce racial stereotypes. Frequent exposure to these negative tropes in the media condition audiences to accept gender and racial biases rather than society taking responsibility for gender and racially motivated violence and social mistreatment. These gender and racial biases can be further reinforced by church doctrines that support cultural norms that vilify women and reinforce racial stereotypes. This study exposed audiences to biblically-based media using the faith-based film, Then Sings My Soul, to determine the types of images that will influence the culture towards godly values. The results of this study indicated that audiences would accept messages presented in narrative media as part of cultural values. However, the effect of media was mitigated by the existing beliefs of an individual. Survey data revealed a correlation between demographic categories of age, ethnicity, gender, and religious affiliation and the average scores on the newly created Then Sings My Soul Questionnaire (TSMSQ). The implication of this research is that biblically based media can influence societal values towards godliness when audiences perceive the biblical values as being taught correctly.

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