Media Influence and Mental Migration

Abstract

This article examined the conceptual construct of media infl uence in migration decision-making. The term “mental migration” is used to refer to the intentions-behaviour relationship in migration decision-making (Gordon 1994). Migration denoted as any movement by humans from one locality to another, often over long distances in large groups. Pojman (1999), stressed that perception is the fi rst faculty of the mind exercised about ideas; it is the fi rst and simplest that refl ection, and is by some called thinking in general. Consequently, perception infl uences our decision-making and action to be taken everyday. The rational of infl uence can be said as media is built from our culture, and our perception as an integral and structural part of the rationalist. There is a positive use of media in framing the relationship in migration (Merican 2005). Individual undergoes mass communication process in gaining information and knowledge through mass media. Therefore, the understanding of communication process is essential in determining the way of media in infl uencing decision-making. The conceptual construct of media infl uence and metal migration in this article is discussed with considerations of political, economic, social and cultural factors.