Exposure to and Effects of International Entertainment on Streaming Platforms: A Review and Agenda for Future Media Psychology Research

Abstract

The chapter draws from relevant literature in media psychology on the selection, use, and effects of entertainment media to inform an agenda for future research into international content on streaming services. Viewers may be less likely to select foreign over domestic narratives, yet a variety of motivational factors, message factors, and situational factors can contribute to interest in international entertainment. Next, the entertainment experience entails information processing, including character, narrative, and emotional engagement. We examine available evidence and theory about how international entertainment is processed by viewers. After processing, these narratives can yield affective, behavioral, and cognitive media effects. The chapter examines potential effects of streaming international entertainment, as well as the potential for dynamic effects over time.