The Role of Entertainment Television and Its Interactions with Individual Values in Explaining Political Participation

Abstract

This article highlights the potential for considering the interaction between media use and human values in discussions about traditional political participation. A model is presented that suggests entertainment television exposure is associated with decreased participation for most value types but that this impact is greatest on those who rate highest the progressive values of “self-transcendence” and “openness to change.” These relationships provide a context for the argument that entertainment television use is driving down political participation in Western countries. Data for ten European Union countries in the European Social Survey were used in the analyses.