Hope for the Mind

The True Cost of Media

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In this episode of Hope for the Mind, we’re stripping away the “it’s just entertainment” excuse and looking directly at how social media, movies, and music are actively reshaping the way you think. Not just what you feel in a moment—but what you believe is normal, acceptable, and true.

We walk through how algorithms study your behavior, how repetition turns lies into “truth,” and how entertainment quietly shifts your definition of right and wrong. You’ll hear about concepts like the illusory truth effect, cultivation theory, echo chambers, and the continued influence effect—all backed by real psychological and media research, not just opinion.

You’ll learn:

  • How repeated messages change what your brain accepts as true
  • How long-term media exposure can rewrite your sense of reality
  • How social media echo chambers and confirmation bias lock you into one way of thinking
  • Why misinformation and distorted values still influence you even after you “know better”
  • Practical, biblical steps to guard what gets into your mind and protect your worldview

    • If you’ve ever felt like your thoughts, standards, or convictions have quietly shifted over time, this episode will help you see why—and how to start taking your mind back.

    Research & Resources Mentioned:

    • Illusory truth effect (repetition increasing perceived truth of statements and headlines) — articles and studies summarized on PubMed Central (PMC), ScienceDirect, and The Decision Lab.
    • Cultivation Theory and long-term media exposure shaping perceptions of reality and social norms — overviews from Simply Psychology and Verywell Mind, plus empirical work discussed via PMC and Montgomery College Pressbooks.
    • Echo chambers and confirmation bias in social media — discussions and studies accessible through EBSCO, PubMed Central (PMC), and Wikipedia entries on echo chambers and confirmation bias.
    • Continued influence effect and persistence of misinformation even after correction — research summarized in articles from Nature and the American Psychological Association (APA), with additional details available via PMC.

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      Hope for the MindBy Kristin Ontiveros