Media Selectivity Research in Light of Self-Defeating Tendencies: Towards a Novel Understanding of Media Effects on Well-Being
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: A critical gap persists in media uses and effects research: while existing work has predominantly focused on self-serving motivations for media selection, an expanding body of evidence suggests that individuals—including those with psychological vulnerabilities—may seek out online content that aggravates, rather than alleviates, distress. Drawing on scholarship on self-defeating tendencies in offline contexts, we argue that the same process may unfold in mediated environments, especially on social media: when negative self-concepts are salient, users may gravitate toward content that validates these self-views, even at the expense of their well-being. We focus on mental health content as an illustrative case in which these dynamics become particularly visible and harmful, while arguing that similar processes apply to other domains. To guide this line of inquiry and offer a more comprehensive account of media selection processes and their implications for well-being, we extend the established Selective Exposure Self- and Affect-Management (SESAM) model by incorporating self-defeating motivations and outline a research agenda.
Language: English
Topic: Media Influence and Health
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4414819043
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: