Assignment Code: BPCG-174 / Asst /TMA /2021-22

Course Code: BPCG-174

Assignment Name: Psychology and Media

Year: 2021-2022

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

NOTE: All questions are compulsory.

Assignment One

Answer the following questions in about 500 words each. Each question carries 20 marks.

                                                                                                                        2 x 20 = 40

Q1. Explain the concept of media. Discuss stereotypes in media representation.

Ans) “The principal means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the internet) evaluated collectively,” says the Oxford Dictionary. The term “media” is the plural version of “medium,” which is defined as a means of sharing. But can you picture how it began? Let us look back to acquire a better understanding.

These media depictions shape our perceptions of ourselves and our environment. Content analysis is a key method for analysing media representations. Patterns can be found by thoroughly examining the content. The process requires analysing thousands of print pages and going deep into radio, television, and other media archives. Using advanced computer technologies, we can now analyse media representations in greater detail.

Content analysis demonstrates the media is full of stereotypical portrayals of women, ethnic groups, older folks, disabled persons, and many other groups. Their dimensionality varies. The first pertains to quantity (under/overrepresentation), while the second relates to quality (positive/negative). These aspects are influenced by cultural, social, economic, and political forces that fluctuate in time and geography. Historically, certain groups like homosexuals were underrepresented in the media, and when they were, their depictions were unfavourable. Their media representation has expanded, and they are now portrayed in a more favourable light.

Stereotypes In Media

Every day we hear several media messages that convey what it means to be a member of a social group such as belonging to a gender, caste race etc. Research using tools such as content analysis shows that the media is filled with stereotypic images of women, ethnic groups, older adults, people with disability and many other groups.

1. Gender Stereotypes

The patriarchal nature of Indian society is well-known. Women are at the bottom of the social hierarchy, with men wielding major power. Men's stereotypes are represented by an "agentic cluster," which includes characteristics such as independence, strength, and self-confidence. While the majority of the media portrays women in terms of stereotypes, the media also tells us about women who are strong, independent, possess leadership characteristics, and defy preconceptions.

2. Caste and Ethnic Stereotypes

The diversity of India is reflected in its numerous languages, religions, castes and ethnic cultures. However, this diversity is often not reflected in the Indian media.

3. Stereotypes of Elderly

The elderly are also misrepresented in the media. India is a collectivist society where generations live together in joint families. Respect and care for the elderly is an important Indian cultural trait. India is also diverse in terms of cultural, social, economic, political, and other variables that affect the old. Due of this variability, some seniors may be able to speak their opinions and be present in the media, while others may be excluded. Nonetheless, the media contributes to the spread of negative preconceptions about older people.

4. Stereotypes of People with Mental Health Disorders

Because of their mental condition, this group is viewed in an unfavourable light. In the media, characters with mental illnesses are usually depicted as significantly more violent than their real-life counterparts. They're often portrayed as weak, feeble, or otherwise incapable of managing their own lives. As a result, the general public believes that people with psychiatric problems are unpredictable and dangerous, and that they should be feared and avoided.

Q2. Elucidate media’s role in body image issues and eating behaviour.

Ans) People are often portrayed in the media in similar ways. Women are often fair-skinned, straight-haired, slim, and feminine, while men are tall, well-built, and masculine. This is mostly true, but is it true in the real world? Isn't the world we live in increasingly diverse? The ‘ideal' notion of beauty is widely advertised in print and visual media. In order to show or deny the media's alleged severe impact on body image issues and eating disorders, scholarly research is required.

Body Image Issues

Body image is the way you see and feel about your body. It's the totality of your thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions of your own body. And that perception isn't always correct. Body image encompasses weight, form, features, and complexion. Unhappiness with one's appearance might lead to undesirable behaviours. Body image is influenced by both internal and external variables such as personality and peer pressure.

Body images are similar. People are constantly bombarded with images, blogs, and news articles about how to get the „perfect physique. But the truth is different. Professionals alter most of the photographs seen by the public. Many people, especially females, gaze at photographs that aren't real.

Aesthetics are subjective, stated Pluto. The phrase argues that beauty is subjective and that no concept of beauty is superior to another. Sadly, most individuals do not believe this. Stereotypical beauty ideals exist. A female's slim body or a male's muscular body is sometimes the main criterion for beauty.

Eating disorders associated with body image disturbance

Body shame is a result of being exposed to sexually objectifying media, and it is also a cause of disordered eating in women. The media reinforces slim ideal internalisation, which is linked to eating disorders including bulimia, anorexia, and a desire for thinness, as well as general body dissatisfaction. It's crucial to remember that eating disorders affect both men and women as a result of unrealistic media depictions of ideal body shapes.

While we can see a glimmer of diversity in the mainstream media, there is still a lot for the media to catch up on. Our dissatisfaction with our bodies is becoming the norm, which is unhealthy. Individuals are not only to blame for their displeasure with the media. They blame their biological characteristics and genetic makeup, and perhaps more importantly, they blame themselves!

It's also crucial to remember that, while the media plays a part in shaping people's perceptions of their own bodies, it's only one element. Apart from quality (critical or uncritical) media consumption and quantity of media consumption, other major elements include family and peer influences (time spent on media). In magazine/movies/TV series/social media content, peers discuss fashion, attractiveness, dieting, and ultra-thin celebrities.

With this new era of media dependence, particularly since the advent of the internet, organisations that control various media platforms must recognise their power and be held accountable for the harmful impact they have on people. In the next section, we'll look at how things have changed dramatically since the internet's inception, and how internet addiction is becoming a reality for many people.

Assignment Two

Answer the following questions in about 250 words each. Each question carries 10 marks.

3 x 10 = 30

Q3. Discuss the functions and significance of media.

Ans) Now that we know the history of media, we can see how important it has been in people's lives. It made things easier to communicate, spread knowledge, and learn about one other's worlds. It enables media and mass communication, which has certain roles. According to American sociologist Robert K. Merton, mass communication functions might be visible or hidden. The former is more noticeable, whilst the latter's effects are difficult to discern.

Harold Lasswell and Charles Wright classified media functions as follows:

Surveillance of the environment: Media's role is to bring current events to the attention of the general audience. It provides many viewpoints on challenges that the world, a country, or a region may be experiencing, so contributing to the reduction of ambiguity. Important news and information are also made more widely known to the public through the media.

The Correlation Function: For a long time, before the internet and social media, only the news and information channels had the ability to choose what news or information to broadcast and how journalists and experts interpreted it. This media function demonstrates how specific news stories are picked to be broadcast and how it affects individual people's lives.

Cultural Transmission and Influencing Societal Norms: In contrast to the first two goals, this one investigates how media can be used to reinforce cultural and societal ideas. As standards evolve, so does the way media and information are depicted.

Education and Entertainment: This feature was later added by Wright. Media performs this job to educate and entertain people by allowing them to participate in activities that they would not otherwise be able to accomplish.

Q4. Explain ethical issues in media psychology research.

Ans) Every research achievement has been due to their strict adherence to the research ethics. It is necessary to follow a structure when performing research. Without adherence to ethical standards, research loses credibility and results are unreliable. This is especially true in human-centered fields like Media Psychology.

Some of the main ethical issues in media research are:

1. Informed consent: Any research participation is voluntary. No one can be forced to participate in a media psychology study. Participants should have given their prior consent to provide data and information. Participants are informed about the research's nature, dangers, and that participation is optional, and they can withdraw at any moment.

2. Anonymity and Confidentiality: It is difficult for media researchers to maintain participant anonymity in the increasingly networked and searchable “data” environment, especially when data is collected online. Participants in sensitive research must be protected from future stigmatisation or bullying by retaining their secrecy.

3. Privacy: Everyone has the right to privacy and regulate who has access to their information. But keeping privacy in this highly networked culture is difficult. Media psychologists can protect participants' privacy by keeping them anonymous and discreet, and asking sensitive personal questions with care. The question of privacy is raised when participants are video recorded, which is typical in media psychology study.

4. Reporting of research findings and publication ethics: Scientific and societal interpretations and communication of research findings are also governed by ethical judgments. An accurate and fair report of the outcomes of data analysis is required.

It is required to thank everyone who helped with the research. The report should be free of plagiarism and data manipulation.

Research is not only supposed to be published in scholarly publications. The public would benefit from knowing the results of media psychology studies. Like how gaming affects their child's growth.

Q5. Elucidate the new formats of modern-day advertising.

Ans) Some modern day advertising formats are:

1. Social media advertising: Social media advertising targets social media users. In this case, ads are put on several social media networks. We all see ads on our Facebook or Instagram walls. This is social media advertising. It is more participatory, engaging, and targeted to certain populations.

   
   

2. Content marketing on social media: Social media advertising includes creating material for fans. A specific audience is reached through the creation, publication, and distribution of content. Sharing relevant articles, videos, podcasts, and other material helps build brand awareness and attract new or existing audiences. It is a method of retaining audience/customers.

3. Interactive advertising: It's called interactive because both the consumer and the advertiser are involved. The user can opt out of seeing the ad. Users can close ads by clicking the cross. Ads must be imaginative to attract the targeted audience.

4. Search engine optimization: It relies on knowing how search engines (like Google, Bing, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox) work, what keywords people use to search, and which search engines they prefer. After the search engine optimization, the advertiser's website will rank higher in the search engine results page, resulting in more traffic.

5. Contextual advertising: It targets context. This involves detecting keywords on a consumer's website and displaying advertising to them based on that. For example, if you use a search engine to find a course and go to a specific website. Later, advertisements for colleges or universities providing that subject will appear on your screen (pop-up ads).

6. Advertorials: These are editorial advertising that appear in periodicals, newspapers, and online. They're compensated and intended to look like magazine pieces.

Assignment Three

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. Each question carries 6 marks.

5 x 6 = 30

Q6. Media Psychology

Ans) A sub-discipline in psychology, media psychology uses the theories, conceptual frameworks and research methods of psychology to examine the impact of mass media on individuals, groups, societies and cultures.

Media psychology is the interface between media and technology, with human beings, their responses and behaviour. There is a reciprocal relationship between the two. As a sub-discipline in psychology, media psychology uses the theories, conceptual frameworks and research methods of psychology to examine the impact of mass media on individuals, groups, societies and cultures. Media Psychology helps individuals in understanding to what level it can influence or affect them. Once this knowledge is developed, the negative impacts of media can also be controlled.

Q7. Media Fandom

Ans) Media Fandom is a broad word for a subset of fandom that is primarily interested in TV shows and movies and fosters creative fan works. Media fandom is typically pitted against Science Fiction fandom, but there is much crossover.

Fandom exists without internet groups, but modern media has brought fans together globally. Annual events, congresses, etc (e.g., Comic-Con). These internet communities provide a new meaning to the phrase “community”. Belonging to a community requires a strong sense of self-identification as an informed fan. Belonging, camaraderie, support, and conscious identification all effect the communal element of being a fan. These internet platforms allow fans to communicate with vast audiences of supporters, spectators, and even competing fans.

Q8. Parasocial Relationship

Ans) One-sided parasocial contact with media people and celebrities. As the viewer's intimacy and connection with these people and identities grows, they begin to believe they are part of their network of friends.

PSR connections are one-sided, voluntary, and require customers to devote time, energy, and emotions. Like real-life relationships, these need to be maintained. PSRs are distinct from stalking, delusional, and other socially unacceptable and potentially hazardous behaviours. PSRs can be beneficial or harmful. Positive consequences include forming identity, functioning as a social glue, learning opportunities, rejection-free relationships, and adjusting to discriminatory behaviour. Aggression, body image concerns, and parasocial breakups are some of the unfavourable repercussions.

Q9. Online/Virtual Learning

Ans) Over the last two decades, online and virtual learning have become increasingly popular in the education sector. Higher education systems are recognising them as a cost-effective alternative to provide instruction and improve performance. Online learning necessitates the use of the internet and can include virtual face-to-face encounters (webinar, online lecture, virtual meeting).

Virtual learning uses the internet, software, or both to offer instruction.

It can be employed both inside and outside the educational institution's physical structure. To enhance the learning experience, uses a computer and an online programme or software. It can be utilised in a personalised self-paced style or for live web conferencing between students and teachers. Students can access information and teachers from anywhere in the world. Students can communicate with other students and professors via the internet.

Q10. Cybercrime

Ans) Cybercrime is defined as a crime committed using a computer and a network. It's possible that the computer was used to commit a crime or that it was the intended target. Cybercrime can jeopardise a person's security and financial well-being.

When confidential information is intercepted or disclosed, whether lawfully or illegally, there are numerous privacy concerns. Cybercrime is committed by both governmental and non-governmental entities on a global scale, including espionage, financial theft, and other cross-border crimes. Cyberwarfare is a term used to describe cybercrime that crosses international borders and involves the actions of at least one nation-state. Cybercrime, according to Warren Buffett, is the "number one problem with mankind" that "poses genuine hazards to humanity."