PSY 2120 The Impact of Media on Child and Adolescent Development
This course will explore the ways that media consumption can impact the psychological development of children and adolescents. Children and adolescents engage with media in many different forms, including more traditional media like television and movies, as well as social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. This course will explore the theories that guide media research in psychology, the ways that media communicate cultural ideals and norms, how media exposure can impact the way people feel about themselves and others, and the effects of media on cognition and learning. Specific topics will also include representation of race and sexual orientation in popular media, sexual objectification of women, body image, online safety, bullying, educational television, and portrayal of romantic relationships.
Course Types
Society
- Gain content knowledge in developmental psychology: We will learn about the central themes in developmental psychology and the research methods psychologists use to study development. We will also explore physical, cognitive, and social components of child and adolescent development that are influenced by media exposure.
- Strengthen media literacy: With the endless amount of information presented in the media each day, it is important to me that you leave this class with stronger media literacy. Throughout this course, we will analyze how media has the potential to shape peoples' thoughts, feelings, and behavior using psychological principles.
- Recognize the impact of context and diversity on development: Mainstream media communicate our society’s values, the good and the bad. Culture, historical events, social norms, physical and mental health, family structure, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and many other factors all influence who we are. To truly gain an understanding of how media shapes development, we must recognize the rich diversity of the human experience.