9781422271117

huge amounts of money on advertisements, or they may be small and lacking resources. In both cases, they benefit from media psychologists to provide the best message possible. Media psychologists can also study the influence of their science on other branches of psychology, such as industrial psychology, due to the influence of media on other industries, businesses, and mental health issues. Just as the media changes quickly, so too does media psychology, with its tasks and responsibilities growing each year. Unlike some other fields of psychology, it is not uncommon for a media psychologist to begin their career in an entirely different area, such as business or advertising, and then apply their experience toward a new profession as a psychologist. In fact, for some media psychologists, an established career with a track record of previous success may be more important than an educational background. However, all media psychologists do require formal university education, including all of the foundations of the science of psychology. First Steps: University Education All psychologists require education at a university or college, and media psychologists are no exception. A professional position as a media psychologist will require the completion of a four-year degree from an institution of higher education. A four-year degree in psychology provides the most direct pathway toward this career. At the undergraduate level, few universities offer a degree specifically in media psychology, instead offering a more general psychology degree. Despite the lack of a specific media psychology degree, most universities offer many classes on topics relevant to this profession. Typical media psychology courses that a student pursuing a psychology degree will study include topics in behavioral science, social psychology, mass communications, and statistics. Students

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Media Psychology