Ritter, Erin C.2020-10-022020-10-022006https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/27789This project analyzes, categorizes, and compares images of mentally ill individuals and mental illness in primetime entertainment television programs and commercial advertisements for prescription drugs used to treat mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia. In the tradition of cultivation research, it aims to determine those patterns that are most salient regarding the stigmatizing or normalizing of mental illness. The new information can then be used for further exploration of the potential cultivation effects of the stereotypes currently present within television, programming and commercial content. ☐ This research aims to contribute to and enhance the existing body of research on the representation of mental illness in the media, as well as beginning the exploration of the impact the current addition of drug advertisements have on the way mental illness is portrayed. The more information we have about the existing images, the more prepared we are for the possibility of negative social impacts. Identifying sources of stigmatizing information allows us to make recommendations for different and more accurate representations of mental illness in programming. The comparison with drug commercials allows us to identify areas of conflicting or contradictory information, as well as any changes that have occurred in mentally ill character portrayals as a result of sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies who promote the use of drug therapies to treat mental illnesses.Mental illness in mass mediaTelevision -- Psychological aspectsPopular culture -- Psychological aspectsPsychotropic drugsAdvertising -- DrugsAdvertising -- Psychological aspectsMental illness -- Public opinionTelevision -- InfluenceThesis82911375