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Two related though differing research streams growing out of cognitive psychology offer insight into `priming effects,' the process by which activated mental constructs can influence how individuals evaluate other concepts [...]

A study of perceived media effects on self and others and their relationship to pro-censorship attitudes across three different media topics validates the existence of the third-person effect in mass communication. The findings reveal that pro-censorship attitudes are positively linked to an increase in the gap between perceived first and third-person effects. The study also suggests that the third-person effect gap in pornography is closely linked to the extent of willingness to censor such activity.

Most studies of political advertising have failed to consider that advertising effects may build up across multiple election seasons or extend past Election Day. This study investigates the short-term and long-term effects of both same-cycle and multi-cycle exposure to campaign advertising on political and social trust and modes of political talk. Using survey data and campaign advertising data, we test the effects of ad volume and ad negativity. We find effects of both same-cycle and cumulative exposure to advertising. Some are fleeting effects, but the majority of them are sustained or sleeper effects, emerging long after the campaign has ended. These results suggest that scholars should extend their focus beyond same-cycle effects measured during or just after a single campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]