Trump’s secret weapon
Donald Trump’s surprise run through the Republican parties primary is something that not even Nate Silver would have foreseen. I remember last September joking about the “Trump Train” in my AP Government, never thinking that his presidency would ever come to fruition. After all, who would ever think that a man claiming to build a wall along the southern border of our country (not to mention having our neighbor pay for it) would ever become a serious contender for one of the most important jobs on the planet?
The thing that fascinated me most about this election cycle is the methods that Trump used to walk into the White House. Coming into the race as an unorthodox candidate, Trump shocked everyone by throwing out one shocking statement after another. Week after week, the media would report on the next wild Trump statement. Ranging from his 5th avenue statement to his Muslim ban, we were always treated to a new wild headline. Did all of this attention brought to Trump bring light to some of his radical views, or did it act as a promotion tool?
Social learning theory is the concept that an individual in society learns how to behave and act based on the actions of others. This typically applies to young children, as they are the most susceptible to persuasion and instruction. However, in the case of the 2016 election cycle, the theory applied to news networks. As coverage of Trump picked up, he gained more and more attention, resulting in a larger following and support group. These additional views led the media to the conclusion that Trump gained views, and as views gain money, more television time was allotted to Trump. CNN admits that they gave Trump too much airtime, as this gave him an edge on other Republican candidates. This extra time on air allowed unsure voters to learn more about the future president.
While social learning theory certainty cannot be blamed for the election of number 45, it did play a role. This theory has been pulling strings behind the scenes of different executive boards for years. As the digital age thrives, companies are constantly having to adapt to compete with their rivals. Aside from having pinpoint accuracy and expedited reporting, becoming witty and upbeat have become essentials to success in today’s market. The big news broadcasting companies in today’s media sphere (CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS) have adapted based on the failures of others. Social learning theory has shaped the face of the media in years past, and will most likely continue to impact the media in following years.
