Presentation given at the 2012 Popular Culture Association conference in Boston, MA.

1. From UrbanDictionary.com
“A pattern of irrational
behaviors and reactions
to everyday problems.”

4. MEAN GIRLS & RELATIONAL AGGRESSION
• “The norm is mean and the deviant is violent” (Ringrose, 2006)
• Replacing the ‘vulnerable girl’ of the past
• Psychological Bullying – manipulation of social standing
Humiliation
Exclusion
Coercion
GOSSIP
• Verbal & Physical Aggression

5. • Histrio = Roman actor
• Emotional management
• Histrionic self-presentation
• Need for external validation
• “Performative identity
vernacular” (Sedgwick, 2003)
Histrionic Personality Disorder
• Rapidly shifting and shallow expressions
• Physical appearance draws attention
• Inappropriate seductive behavior
• Exaggerated expression of emotion
(theatricality)
• Perceives relationships more intimately
• Easily influenced
HISTRIONOMY

6. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
• Meanings created through interactions (Herbert Blumer, 1937)
• Meaning = behavioral, ≠ cognitive
Goffman’s Dramaturgy
Everyday acting
Impression management
Roles
Regions

7. DRAMATIZATION
Symbol formation (Freud, 1916)
Education
• Knowledge permanency
Mass Communication
• “Mass media interaction” (Altheide, 2003)
• TV viewing ~44 hours per week (Nielsen, 2010)
• Reality TV – Sensationalizing, conflict imposing
• LEARNING!

9. DOCUMENTING DRAMA
Theoretical Setting
• Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1962)
• Cultivation Theory (Gerbner, 1969)
Methods
• Focus Groups (3)
• Viewing Jersey Shore, The Real World: New Orleans, The Real Housewives of
Atlanta

10. THEMES
Acceptance
Modeling
Gender Divide
Shame
Business Model
Humor
Awareness

11. CONCLUSIONS
• RTV ➔ high levels of identification
• High ID ➔ more tendency to model and accept
• 3rd person effect: Common in peers, not in self (rare)
• Women’s behavior seen as more problematic than men’s
• Lasting effects positive or negative?
Histrionic Interaction is present in this generation of young
adults