Film media is a primary driver of American fear of Muslims

Evidence

The film clip shows many elements that are stereotypically associated with Muslims, such as the burqa clothing, Arabic language, and discussion of sunset prayer (Gottschalk & Greenberg, 2008). Film media was chosen as the stimulus presentation method because it is the primary source for many Americans’ fear of Muslims (Gottschalk & Greenberg, 2008; Scheufele, Nisbet, & Ostman, 2005). This method is ecologically valid, and it is also a powerful way for eliciting emotion (Rottenberg, Ray, & Gross, 2007). — Sherman A. Lee, Chelsea A. Reid, Stephen D. Short, Jeffrey A. Gibbons, Ruth Yeh, and Matthew L. Campbell, Fear of Muslims, 119

Categorization

• SEED: An essay angle on how screen portrayals — not direct encounter — manufacture out-group fear, pairing media-effects research with the author’s own stimulus design.