COMM 160MP: MEDIA PSYCH

University of California, Santa Barbara

There is little doubt that media have a substantial influence on individual s’ lives. American adults spent on average more than 13 hours per day with media. Most of this time is devoted to entertainment, news, and to connecti ng to other individuals via social media. In this class students will becom e familiar with past and contemporary theorizing and research in media psyc hology. Specifically, the class intertwines latest research on the uses and effects of media with research in the cognitive sciences. Topics include a n overview of media psychological theories and their historical development , the psychology of narratives and the moral mind, the psychology of video games, and the psychology of smartphones and social media.