ZURn4102 Media Psychology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Marie Jaroň Bedrošová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Vojtěch Mýlek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Macháčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Macháčková, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Boris Rafailov, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA(MN)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course will provide an introduction to media psychology and selected topics explored within this field. Both media-related issues and psychological concepts that offer tools for understanding them will be discussed. The course will primarily focus on current issues related to digital media, while topics concerning traditional media will be covered to a lesser extent. Emphasis will be placed on current social contexts and an interdisciplinary approach to the subject.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Orientate in basic knowledge and theories of media psychology
- Orientate in basic knowledge of media studies and media effects studies
- Apply this knowledge to understand motives and effects of both traditional and new media usage
- Know recent trends of media psychology research
- Be able to critically read and evaluate popular media messages that present research from media psychology
Syllabus
  • Media psychology as a discipline
  • Media and cognitive abilities
  • Media and aggression
  • Media, minority groups, and cyberhate
  • Media, communication, and relationships
  • Media and sex
  • Media and identity
  • Media, children, and adolescents
  • Media, addictions, and health
  • Media and persuasion
Literature
  • SLATER, M. D. (2007). Reinforcing spirals: The mutual influence of media selectivity and media effects and their impact on individual behavior and social identity. Communication Theory, 17(3), 281-303.
  • VALKENBURG, P. M., & PETER, J. (2013). The differential susceptibility to media effects model. Journal of Communication, 63(2), 221-243.
  • PERSE, Elizabeth M. and Jennifer L. LAMBE. Media effects and society. Second edition. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017, x, 328. ISBN 9780415878197. info
  • The Oxford handbook of media psychology. Edited by Karen E. Dill. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, xviii, 558. ISBN 9780199394821. info
  • GILES, David. Psychologie médií. Translated by Helena Šolcová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Grada, 2012, 185 s. ISBN 9788024739212. info
  • Media effects : advances in theory and research. Edited by Jennings Bryant - Mary Beth Oliver. 3rd ed. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2009, xv, 640. ISBN 9780805864502. info
Teaching methods
lecture, reading
Assessment methods
essay, peer review, final exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2026/ZURn4102