I passed this course with a 9.3!
This is a summary of all lectures and tutorials of the course Media Psychology.
The information is sumarized per week.
A summary of all the scientific articles is also online.
AFFECTIVE DISPOSITION THEORY (ADT)
- Characters are key: involvement necessary for engagement
- Disposition = inherent qualities found in person
Relation/opinion formed based on actions and motives
Personal and subjective: depends on moral and experiences
- Affective (empathy) and cognitive (moral judgement)
Judgement determines if we like or dislike a character
- Enjoyment: liked characters getting rewarded and/or disliked characters get punished
- Humour: harm to immoral and disliked character is funny
- Dispositions are needed for suspense
SUSPENSE
- Suspense = anticipation of outcome – conflict resolution focused
- Created by suggestion of negative outcomes
Or anticipation of good fortunes – but unlikely to happen
- Character you care about (disposition) in jeopardy (outcome uncertainty)
- Dispositions mediate moral judgement of character
Moral justification: convincing standards not apply in context
Dehumanization: victim viewed as sub-hum/object = moral disengagement cues
- Ambiguous characters = no clear disposition, more realistic
Reduced likability balanced out by perceived realism
HOW TO CREATE SUSPENSE
1. Liked character: gifted, skilled, surprising, underdogs, vulnerable
2. Strong opponent: reveal why and how mush is feared, ‘human’
3. Problem: put character or their relationships in danger
4. Keep stakes high: raise throughout story, make it personal
5. Add time constraints: work against clock
6. Apply pressure: make problem difficult to solve
7. Plot: give information, everything needs to be clear to viewer
8. Create conflicts: impossible challenges, inner conflicts
9. More promise, less action: promise that something will go wrong
10. Be unpredictable: break viewers expectations
WHY DO WE ENJOY SUSPENSE
- Escapism = desire to withdraw or escape
Suspense helps to seduce and distract viewer from own life
- Catharsis = purification, relief
Suspense helps to diminish negative emotions of real life
- Excitation transfer theory = arousal (excitement) resulting in euphoria (extreme happiness)
Suspense rises : happiness rises : enjoyment rises retains with viewer
, TUTORIAL
- Disposition = how you feel about a character
- Disparagement: the further away you stand from the victim, the funnier the joke
- Empathy = feeling for someone else
Needed to enjoy – need to feel with characters
Different levels/ability: I don’t give a fuck/ I care too much
- Humour: just a joke vs. drama: moral is important
- Suspense: affective dispositions and outcome uncertainty
Two people you empathize with, see a weapon, villain gets shot down
WEEK 2
LECTURE
MEDIA PSYCHOLLGY
- Media psychology = studies physical or mental human behaviour in environment/context
- Research areas since world war 2
Film/tv in education, advertising, violence, news, entertainment, digital media, social media
- Psychology = effects of media product/usage on individuals
Theories about perception, memory, emotion, etc.
- Sociology = effect of media on society experiments
- Process-focused approach: goal is understanding
- Why do people cry? Tension relieve and balance mental stress
Predict when Máxima was about to cry – people empathize
- Why talent shows? Can relate: ordinary people, escapism
MASS COMMUNICATION THEORIES
1. Hypodermic needle theory / magic bullet theory
Stimulus (message medium) response (reiver effect)
One step flow theory: no filtering
- Intended message is directly received and fully accepted
Rise of radio/tv: persuasion industries ads and propaganda
Gaps: people not isolated, social factors and mediation of selective information
2. Two step flow theory
Message medium opinion leader audience
Personal influence stronger than media: Trump, parents, celebs
3. Agenda setting theory
Media (re)shapes reality – connected to Framing Theory
- Amount of media coverage influences ‘importancy’
4. Reinforcement theory / limited effects theory
People seek out and absorb information that supports their beliefs/opinions
5. Used and gratifications theory
How people use media to satisfy needs – what people do
- Cognitive needs (informational), affective need (emotion), personal/social needs (models),
tension release needs (escapism)
Attention to individual user: user-based theory
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Daniquedhs. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.75. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
