What is LC4MP?

The Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing (LC4MP), is a model that explains the relationship between mediated messages and how humans process this information. Mediated messages tend to be communication conducted through the use of technology, with a prime example being of course no other than TikTok videos. This model assumes that humans have a limited capacity to process information, thus we both consciously and unconsciously prioritize what we need to remember to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.

Another assumption is that LC4MP is nature-motivated, meaning the information that we gather from the world around us is integrated into our brains to help us survive, and there are biological, hormonal, and neural that serve as an indicator how one will behave response to a stimulus. For instance, neural communication from the stomach to brain tells the body that it's hungry, and the natural response will be to eat.

The next notion is that both neural and psychological processing occurs because of a stimulus, however, there is not an exact ratio between the two, and it is difficult to measure the occurrence of both without testing for other factors. Creating a controlled environment to isolate either of these processes from occurring is not possible since they work hand in hand and are both considered indicators of mental processing. Nonetheless, increasing psychological response may be possible when someone is viewing a mediated message that either appeals to or negatively affects their emotions, which is something that TikTok and its content creators have mastered.

The last assumption of LC4MP that all communication that generates this type of mental processing is through mediated messages such as television, text messaging, TikTok and other social media, and this blog post that you’re currently reading (Fisher & Weber, 2020).