II Semester- Open Elective paper (2021-22)

Media Psychology
45 hours

Course Objective

● To introduce the students to basic concepts, developments and issues of Media Psychology.

● To help students understand the psychological effects and influence of media.

Learning outcome

The student will be able to understand the psychological effects of media during childhood and

adolescence.

The student will be able to critically analyze the representation of different social groups in

media.

Unit I - Introduction 13 hours

Introduction to Psychology. Nature and Scope. Psychology and Media Relationship. Media

Psychology- Definition; Brief history; Need for Media Psychology. Theoretical issues - Early

approaches to media, Postmodernism, Effect tradition, Cultivation research, Use and

Gratification research and the Active audience.

Unit II– Developmental Issues in Media 10 hours

Media and adolescents - media use in adolescence, the role of media figures during adolescence,

cultural functions of media use, media influences on adolescent body image

Unit III – Social Groups and Media 10 Hours

Representations of social groups in media - gender, minority groups, disability, mental illness;

Gender representation in media – male, female and transgender; Implications of media

representation of social groups; The psychology of the media audience - “The Audience” in

media research, parasocial interaction, fans and fandom.

Unit IV – Psychological Effects and Influences of Media 12 hours

Prosocial Effects of Media. Effects of Media violence-Characteristics of the Users of Violent

Media ;Cognitive Factors in Media Violence. Advertising-The Role of Psychology in

Advertising; Cognitive , Behavioral and Rhetorical Effects of Advertising ;Covid 19 and Media;

Future in Media.

Books for Reference

Giles. D, (2003). Media Psychology, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates & Publishers: London.