Gendered Communication and Societal Stereotypes in Shaping Public Perception: The Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard Trial

Binder Luca (2025) Gendered Communication and Societal Stereotypes in Shaping Public Perception: The Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard Trial. Külkereskedelmi Kar.

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Absztrakt (kivonat)

This thesis explores the intersection of psychological manipulation, gendered communication patterns, and media representation in shaping public perception, using the high-profile defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard as a case study. Through a multi-method approach combining qualitative analysis of courtroom footage and transcripts with a quantitative survey involving 222 respondents, the research investigates how traditional masculine and feminine communication styles influence perceived credibility, especially in legal and media contexts. The study is grounded in communication theories by Deborah Tannen and Albert Mehrabian, and conceptual frameworks around persuasion, manipulation, and societal stereotypes. It examines how Depp’s emotionally restrained, ironic, and composed communication aligned with masculine-coded "report talk," was widely perceived as more credible and authentic. In contrast, Heard’s emotionally expressive, narrative-driven "rapport talk," typically coded as feminine, was frequently judged as manipulative or untrustworthy. These perceptions were reinforced by media narratives and social media dynamics, which played a decisive role in framing public opinion and, potentially, the trial outcome. Survey data supports the hypothesis that traditional masculine traits such as humor, directness, and emotional control are more favorably received in public discourse, while feminine traits like emotional vulnerability and expressiveness are often met with skepticism. Respondents overwhelmingly associated Depp’s humor and composure with trustworthiness, while Heard’s emotional expressions were viewed as performative or manipulative. Furthermore, the data indicates that celebrity status, parasocial relationships, and the media’s historical tendency toward sensationalism (a legacy of yellow journalism) created a biased information environment that advantaged Depp in the court of public opinion. The analysis also contextualizes the American legal system’s reliance on jury verdicts, where communication style can significantly influence laypeople's perceptions. Given the emotionally charged nature of domestic violence claims and the media's framing of such narratives, the study argues that gendered expectations can profoundly impact perceptions of guilt, credibility, and justice. Ultimately, the thesis concludes that communication is not judged in a vacuum but through the lens of deep-rooted gender norms and media influence. It calls for more awareness in both legal and journalistic practices of how framing, tone, and non-verbal cues shape credibility assessments, often reinforcing existing biases. The findings offer broader implications for media ethics, gender equality in legal discourse, and the role of communication strategy in shaping truth in the digital age.

Intézmény

Budapesti Gazdasági Egyetem

Kar

Külkereskedelmi Kar

Tanszék

Kommunikáció Tanszék

Tudományterület/tudományág

NEM RÉSZLETEZETT

Szak

Kommunikáció és médiatudomány

Mű típusa:	diplomadolgozat (NEM RÉSZLETEZETT)
Kulcsszavak:	communication, gender, manipuláció, nemi diszkrimináció, pszichológia, society
SWORD Depositor:	User Archive
Felhasználói azonosító szám (ID):	User Archive
Rekord készítés dátuma:	2025. Szep. 23. 12:54
Utolsó módosítás:	2025. Szep. 23. 12:54

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