studying media psychology at fielding - ma & phd programs - pamela rutledge phd

STUDYING MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY AT FIELDINGWHAT IS IT AND HOW IT WILL HELP YOU

PRUTLEDGE@FIELDING.EDUTwitter: @pamelarutledgeLinkedin.com/in/pamelarutledgewww.pamelarutledge.com

Dr. Pamela Rutledge

(USELESS) DEFINITIONMedia psychology applies

psychological science to the

use, development, distribution and

research of mediated communication

and technology

STUDYING MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY WON’T TURN YOU INTO A ROCK STAR

BUT IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

IT GIVES YOU THE TOOLS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

TECHNOLOGY IS EVERWHERE

IT’S POWERFUL

AND IT’S NOT GOING AWAY

HOW WILL YOU WRITE YOUR STORY?

Faculty, Fielding since 2008• PSY777 Positive Psychology & Media• PSY533 Foundations of Media Psychology• MSC566 Brand Psychology & Social Storytelling• MSC568 Audience Engagement• Lead Faculty Brand Psychology Certificate and Concentration• Lead Faculty Positive Psychology Concentration

Areas of expertise:• Positive psychology applied to media• The psychology of storytelling/narrative impact • Decoding consumer behavior

Other stuff: • Director, Media Psychology Research Center• Blogger Psychology Today• Consultant, Author, Speaker• MBA, Drucker School• Mom, wife, Eddie Izzard fanBest dog ever

MY STORY

• .

STUFF I DO

Goal for Today: One New Idea

MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY: GETS TO THE WHY

HARNESSES THE ENERGY OF CHANGE

BEHAVIORS ARE CHANGING

77% USE MULTIPLE SCREENS

75% USE YOUTUBE

43% WATCH TV ONLINE

DIGITAL NATIVES TAKE OVER

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2014 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Millennials

Everyone Older

DIGITAL CULTURE: A NEW WORLDVIEW

24/7 CONNECTIVITYNO HIERARCHIES

PEER-TO-PEER CONNECTONS

CONTENT CURATEDNO FEEDBACK

INFORMATION FLOWS ONE WAY

FROM ONE-TO-MANY TO MANY-TO-MANY

EXPECTATIONS SHIFT:WE LIVE IN A NEW NORMAL

>> Privacy>> Sharing>> The use of images>> Voice>> Feedback>> Response time>> Authenticity>> Transparency>> New language & symbols

MOBILEON-

DEMAND INFORMATION24/7

CONNECTIVITY

7.2B DOWNLOADS WORLDWIDE IN Q1/16

62% for social connection: WhatsAppMessengerFacebookPiano Tiles 2InstagramSnapChatCandy Crush Jelly Saga

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

Opportunities are everywhere when you show what media psychology can do

START WITH YOUR BIAS:HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY?

>> Less Empathy>> Depression>> FOMO>> Social isolation>> Addicted to social media>> Addicted to games>> Narcissists>> Low self-esteem>> Information overload

RESEARCH OR BIAS?

SOCRATES: THE ORIGINAL TECHNOPHOBE

... this discovery of yours [writing] will create forgetfulness in the learners’ souls, because they will not use their memories...

LITTLE HAS CHANGED

BIOLOGICAL IMPERATIVE FOR SURIVIVAL

ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF NEW STUFF

THE TROUBLE LIES IN THE BRAIN

MAKES DECISIONS BASED ON “INSTINCT”

LET’S TAKE A SELFIE

SHARED EXPERIENCEMULTI-SENSORY MEMORY TRIGGER

AUTHENTIC AND PERSONAL

SOCIAL DECAY OR

INFORMATION RICHMESSAGING• Empowerment• Social connection• Identity exploration• Authenticity• Normalizing• Social validation• Personal• Presence - mirror

neurons

• Mindfulness• Gratitude• Humor

Positive PsychologyLinking Research with Practice

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY: NURTURING WHAT IS BEST

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what goes right in life, from birth to death and at all stops in between

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AS A LENS

WHAT’S LOST VS. WHAT’S GAINED

Applying positive psychology to media

WHERE DOES REALITY FALL SHORT?

• Asking what’s missing misses the upside

• How can technology meet fundamental human goals?• Social connection• Mastery• Competence• Positive emotion• Meaning & purpose

AUTONOMYMASTERY

RELATEDNESS

SELF-EFFICACY ENGAGEMENTCOMPETENCE

OPTIMISMRESILIENCEPURPOSE

AGENCY

THE UPWARD SPIRAL OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS

EDU-ENTERTAINMENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

APPS FOR GRATITUDE

TECHNOLOGY FOR MOTIVATION AND SELF-EFFICACY

MY CURRENT PROJECTS:PSYCHOLOGY OF TRANSMEDIA

Tension

Release

Narrative Channel

Boredom

Anxiety

NARRATIVE EXIT POINTS

NARRATIVE CHANNEL

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY: PLATFORM/CONTENT ALIGNMENT

Dr. Pamela Rutledge PHD, MA AND CERTIFICATES IN MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY

prutledge@fielding.edu

THANK YOU