Defining Identification: A Theoretical Look at the Identification of Audiences With Media Characters

@article{Cohen2001DefiningIA,
  title={Defining Identification: A Theoretical Look at the Identification of Audiences With Media Characters},
  author={Jonathan Cohen},
  journal={Mass Communication and Society},
  year={2001},
  volume={4},
  pages={245 - 264}
}
  • Jonathan Cohen
  • Published 1 August 2001
  • Business
  • Mass Communication and Society
In this article I argue that although the notion of identification with media characters is widely discussed in media research, it has not been carefully conceptualized or rigorously tested in empirical audience studies. This study presents a theoretical discussion of identification, including a definition of identification and a discussion of the consequences of identification with media characters for the development of identity and socialization processes. It is suggested that a useful… 
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