The vividness effect explains how vivid or highly graphic and dramatic events affect an individual 's perception of a situation . This phenomenon has been amplified by the media in recent decades . With the use of media technology , graphic images can be used to portray an event . While this makes the process of receiving news easier and more enjoyable , it can also blow a situation out of proportion . One year after the Columbine High School massacre , about 60 percent of the people who responded to a survey by '' USA Weekend '' said that they felt a shooting was likely at their own school . The reality was much different ; in fact , the likelihood of a school shooting is negligible across America
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
Informational listening