Definition
Cultivation theory in its most basic form, then, suggests that exposure to television, over time, subtly "cultivates" viewers' perceptions of reality. Gerbner and Gross say "television is a medium of the socialization of most people into standardized roles and behaviors. Its function is in a word, enculturation" (p. 175). Gerbner draws attention in his work to three entities—institutions, messages, and publics—which he seeks to analyze. Additionally, Gerbner was less concerned about the effect of cultivation on aggressive behavior, and “more concerned that it affects viewers’ beliefs about the world around them and the feelings connected to those beliefs.” "
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