Course content

The field of media psychology focusses on how individuals and groups of people interact with, and are affected by, mediated communication. This course shall therefore provide students with an insight into how people’s emotions, cognition and perceptions interact with media, both as recipients and as active users. With the key themes of regular and irregular use of mediated communication and its influence, this course shall focus on the understanding of the processes and effects of media usage, in relation to a person’s identity, attention, development and choices for exposure. Another central aspect of the course is that of understanding mass communication in light of audience research's roots in cognitive and social psychological theories. This discipline pays close attention to the research of social media and contemporary media technologies, alongside the most important theories that have been central to the historical development of audience research.

Learning outcome

Knowledge objectives:

• The student has an insight into, and a knowledge of, the core areas within the field of media psychology.
• The student is familiar with the way in which media technology forms our views and ideas about the world.
• The student has a knowledge of how to explain people’s use of media psychologically.
• The student has a knowledge of how media technology forms cognitive and social-psychological processes.
• The student has an insight into how the relationship between people and the media has developed over time.

Skills objectives:

• The student can discuss people’s use of media, based on the key concepts from media psychology and audience research.
• The student can reflect on current issues within the field of media psychology
• The student has an understanding of media phenomenons, through a psychological perspective

General competence:

The student can apply the insight they have gained on the course to contemporary situations regarding people’s use of media, including theories from media psychology and audience research, current issues in the field, and scientific findings.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, twice a week

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Required previous knowledge

None.

Credit reductions