Media consumption effects should be stronger for general support for capital punishment than for support for capital punishment with the LWOP option. General support for capital punishment is more likely to be influenced by simple media messages. The support for LWOP question involves more cognitive processing and is therefore more likely not to be influenced by simple media messages. It is also possible that media consumers may receive complex and contradictory messages about the death penalty, which could either increase or decrease support for capital punishment with the LWOP option.