Week 1 forum post responses

In need of a 250 word response/discussion to each of the following forum posts. Agreement/disagreement/and/or continuing the discussion.

Original forum discussion/topic post is as follows:

This week we are learning about Media Psychology. Dr. Pamela Rutledge describes Media Psychology as “understanding the interaction of people and media technologies in the context of the current culture.”

In this forum, discuss the following:What is the value of media psychology in our society?What are three examples of how media psychology impacts our society?

Forum post #1

What is the value of media psychology in our society?

After reading Rutledge (2019) I am beginning to understand the concept of media psychology. I appreciated the author’s (Rutledge, 2019) explanation of a field that is rather inexplicable. I have chosen ‘Selfies/Positive Psychology’ for the first week’s paper topic because of the role online photographs play in modern society. Rutledge (2019) described how media psychology seeks to answer whether or not technology positively or negatively affects people, no matter what the person’s age. According to Rutledge (2019), media technology, and by association media psychology, have no beginning or end because both fields are in a constant state of flux.

I had read reports concerning people who took selfies of everything they did and posted most of them online. I always thought that behavior pattern seemed just a bit vain, and although some empirical studies seem to support that thinking, researching scholarly journals for the Selfies paper has shown a very different trend. This is where the value of media psychology is most pronounced. Disproving outdated research into the effects of technology on human function, behaviors, and thinking provides clarity for all people, not merely psychologists.

What are three examples of how media psychology impacts our society?

Media is a broad term encompassing multiple technologies (Rutledge, 2019). Psychology is a broad term encompassing multiple theoretical perspectives (Rutledge, 2019). Each of these impacts society in profound ways. Technology changes rapidly. Psychological theorizing does, as well. Media psychology combines these and creates a new field of study into the connections, implications, and effects of technology on society. Nuwer (2019) discovered that few places remain untouched by internet technology globally. She (Nuwer, 2019) believes that signals reach many of the most remote wilderness areas today. Technology has firmly claimed its place in nearly all of society. Helping technology users understand change, holding journalists accountable when using sensationalist writing, and assuring new technology users that much of what they read is often inaccurate or embellished are ways in which media psychology impacts society (Rutledge, 2019).

I am old school. I like hard-copy textbooks. It took a significant amount of time to adjust to courses with online only required reading materials. Sometimes I still feel inadequate without a book to hold for quick reference. Media psychology will help others like me make that adjustment, too.

Forum post #2 What is the value of media psychology in our society?

Media psychology deals with comprehending the interactions between individuals, groups, society and Technology in such way that they would make senses out of them. Media psychology refers to a psychology that focuses on media and human behavior as a whole. For example: nowadays scientists are building up technologies that are really magically exciting to use. The new Computing system and the new technology have been taking over practical works and this is something outstanding. Media and human behavior is Interactive; either that it could relate relatively to each other because human builds technology and human uses technology. What are three examples of how media psychology impacts our society?

Media psychology impacts the psychology of emotion, expression and attention. The psychology of emotion could be affected because if a person is emotionally disturbed, they would not be able to interact in a media system. The media requires people being able to act normally rather than being psychologically Disturbed. In the media system, actors should be able to express feelings when required and when shoting movies. It is also important to be able to pay attention and know when someone supposed to act out as required.

Forum post #3

We live in an era where the media and technology influence nearly aspect of our lives. We have the world at our finger tips and the ability to learn or do anything almost instantly through the use of technology. As our society has an increased expectations of peoples ability to do things and learn things (because “everyone can watch a YouTube video on How To”). This expectation for people has already increased with the use of media. We see it all the time in the stories of “average Janes saves 30 orphans from burning building, and goes back to get 12 kittens”. These are expectations people learn to compare themselves to because that is was society and the media is showing them. One example I will give about the influence of media and it’s effect on people and psychology has to do with working with children in the foster care system. As a Guardian Ad Litem (Court Appointed Special Advocate) I learn about the most gruesome details of child abuse and neglect cases that lands them in the system. Unfortunately, many of these cases end up in the news. However, the cases that the news reports, never seem to quite match up with the factual case file I have in front of me. The media skews the story to attract more viewers and pull at the emotional heart strings of people. These cases end up entirely misrepresented because media took one fact and ran with it, making up the rest. While my example of the media may seem quite cynical and negative, I do believe that there is some value to the media. There are times when using psychology in media can help tailor advertising to find the right audience. Ultimately this can be a good thing because it helps show new products and things to people who might like them. I think having media psychology does bring value to society. When we are able to study the media and bring the perspective of a psychologist to the table it can help find a balance between a social science and the media. Being able to understand the psychology of people and the reasoning they choose can influence the way that the media goes about their publications. Sometimes people aren’t even aware of the insight they are using with the media. For example, when someone wants to evoke certain emotions in an advertisement, they might use certain colors, and show particular examples, even public figures that are popular at the time. By doing this people are able to more effectively influence others.

My question to my classmates this week is: What are ways that you think media psychology might be influencing you and your family? How might this be different in another culture?

I look forward to reading everyone’s post this week and getting started on another great semester!