Includes index.

Ch. 1. Shaping the American Mass Media: A Brief Overview --
Ch. 2. Introduction to the Origins, Nature and Uses of Theories --
Ch. 3. The Scientific Method and the Social Construction of Reality --
Ch. 4. Public Opinion as Shaped by the Press: The Contribution of Political Science --
Ch. 5. Cognitive Processing: The Contributions of Psychology to Mass Communication Theory --
Ch. 6. The Concept of Mass Society as a Contributions of Sociology to Media Studies --
Ch. 7. James Bryce's 19th Century Theory of Public Opinion and the Press --
Ch. 8. Walter Lippmann's 1920s Theory of Unintentional --
Ch. 9. The "Magic Bullet" Theory of Uniform Effects --
Ch. 10. A selective and Limited Influences Theory --
Ch. 11. Gatekeeping Theory --
Ch. 12. Agenda-Setting Theory --
Ch. 13. The Two-Steps Flow of Communication Theory --
Ch. 14. Uses for Gratifications Theory --
Ch. 15. Media Information Utility Theory --
Ch. 16. Modeling Theory --
Ch. 17. Social Expectations Theory --
Ch. 18. Media-Influenced Diffusion of Innovation Theory --
Ch. 19. A Theory of Audience and Media Dependency on Popular Culture --
Ch. 20. The Creeping Cycle of Desensitization Theory --
Ch. 21. Critical Cultural Perspectives: Interpretations of Media Influences on Individuals and society --
Ch. 22. Cultural Imperialism Theory --
Ch. 23. Collateral Media Instruction Theory --
Ch. 24. Other Formulations and Concepts.

Mass Communication Theories: Explaining Origins, Processes, and Effects explores mass communication theories within the social and cultural context that influenced their origins. An intimate examination of the lives and times of prominent mass communication theorists both past and present bring the subject to life for the reader.