Which term describes media as a means to relieve stress and provide entertainment?

• A. Audience
• B. Format
• C. Social Integrative
• D. Tension Release

Answer: (D)

Media can serve as mood management by providing tension release—using entertainment to unwind and relieve stress. When people are stressed, they often seek amusing, exciting, or engaging content to escape momentarily, which lowers arousal and improves mood. This focus on emotional relief and diversion is what the term tension release captures. The other terms describe different ideas: audience is about who consumes media, format is how content is packaged or presented, and social integrative concerns the social bonds and shared experiences created by media. In short, tension release specifically targets relief from stress through entertainment.