Introduction to Psychology
Fields

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Media psychology

The study of how people interact with mediated communication, including psychologists' roles in media. Definitions vary and there is little agreement on scope.

Also called: psychology of media and technology

Interdisciplinary fieldWork and technology

Type of entry
Interdisciplinary fieldAn area that draws on psychology together with other disciplines. Types are editorial labels, not an official classification.
Cluster
Work, technology, and performanceOrganizations, design, markets, media, sport and the military.
Sources opened
4 of 40 read as a full page, 4 as selected text or an abstract, 0 not verified.
Independent review
Admitted after correctionsClaude Code reviewer agent, separate from the writer, 2026-10-21. 8 claims checked against 4 sources opened by the reviewer.

What it studies

In one author's definition, media psychology studies the interaction between human experience and mediated communication of any kind. APA Division 46 states an aim of advancing the science of psychology in the research, use and development of media and technology. Published definitions differ, and one author reports little consensus on what the area is and does.

History and people

The Association for Media Psychology was organized in 1982. A reference entry states that the American Psychological Association established Division 46 five years later, in 1987. One author, citing Fischoff (2005), describes media psychology as a separate field only after APA created a media psychology division in the 1980s. These are organizational events and do not show when research on media and behavior began.

People and documented roles

  • Pamela Rutledge. Author of 'The Evolving Definition of Media Psychology' (citation dated 2008; web posting dated 2014) and co-author of a 2008 survey of Division 46 members
    • Proposed a definition of media psychology in an article whose page cites 2008 and displays a November 10, 2014 posting date. [1]

The sources opened name an author of definitions but not the organizers of the Association for Media Psychology or of Division 46, so no founders are named.

Dated milestones

  • 1982Society or organization formed. Year.The Association for Media Psychology was organized, per a reference entry. [3]
  • 1987Society or organization formed. Year.APA established Division 46, a US organizational decision and not the start of research on media; the year is derived from the entry's wording 'five years' after 1982. [3][1]

Methods

A reference entry lists surveys of how people react to media presentations and analysis of how media depict psychological issues such as mental illness, and it discusses research on media and violence. Because published definitions differ, which methods count as media psychology depends on the definition a writer uses.

Training and applications

A reference entry lists public education and crisis communication, media consulting and broadcast appearances, social media research including cyberbullying prevention, and links to marketing, education and political psychology. The sources opened describe no credential specific to media psychology. Any titles or licenses are set by regulators, not by this guide.

Boundaries and limits

In a survey of Division 46 members, about 43 percent described a passive view and about 27 percent an interactive view, from a sample under 10 percent of members. A division is an interest group of one organization, not proof of an independent field. The area overlaps with cyberpsychology and consumer psychology.

Evidence behind the claims

  • In 'The Evolving Definition of Media Psychology', whose page cites the article as 2008 but displays a November 10, 2014 posting date, Pamela Rutledge defines media psychology as understanding the process and interaction between human experience and mediated communication of any kind.

    What it studiesDocumented in the sourceSource: [1]Where: Byline and posting date, Citation tab, and paragraph beginning 'I conceptualize media psychology'

  • Rutledge states that there is little consensus as to what media psychology is and does.

    What it studiesDocumented in the sourceSource: [1]Where: Introduction

  • In a survey of Division 46 members (86 responses), about 43 percent of answers described a passive view, in which psychologists use media to disseminate information, and about 27 percent an interactive view, in which psychology analyzes and develops media; the sample was under 10 percent of members.

    Boundaries and limitsDocumented in the sourceSource: [2]Where: Findings and limitations paragraphs

  • The Association for Media Psychology was organized in 1982.

    History and peopleDocumented in the sourceSource: [3]Where: History section, 1982 entry

  • A reference entry states that APA established Division 46 five years after the Association for Media Psychology was organized in 1982, that is, in 1987; Rutledge, citing Fischoff (2005), writes that media psychology materialized as a separate field only after APA created a media psychology division in the 1980s.

    History and peopleDocumented in the sourceSources: [3] [1]Where: s3 history section, entry following 1982; s1 origins paragraph

  • APA Division 46 states an aim to advance the science of psychology in the research, use and development of media and technology.

    What it studiesThe organization's own descriptionSource: [4]Where: Mission statement

  • A reference entry lists surveys of how people react to media presentations and analysis of how media depict psychological issues such as mental illness as research approaches in the area, and discusses research on media and violence.

    MethodsDocumented in the sourceSource: [3]Where: Methods section

  • The same entry lists public education and crisis communication, media consulting, social media research including cyberbullying prevention, and links to marketing, education and political psychology as applications.

    Training and applicationsDocumented in the sourceSource: [3]Where: Applications section

In the Psy101 course

This is course relevance only. It is not evidence for the historical or practice claims on this page.See the full course map.

Sources and inspection

4 of 4 sources were opened and read at the level shown. A source marked as not verified supports no claim on this page by itself.

  1. [1]
    The Evolving Definition of Media PsychologyMedia Psychology Review (Media Psychology Research Center), undated. Review article. Supports the definition of the area.Selected text readRead the article text as returned by the page, covering definitions, origins and limits; the citation line on the page gives 2008, Vol. 7, No. 2, while the web posting is dated 2014.
  2. [2]
    What is Media Psychology? A Qualitative AnalysisMedia Psychology Review, 2008. Original publication. Supports the definition of the area.Selected text readRead the study summary: survey of Division 46 members, response counts, coding approach and stated limitations; the page gives Vol. 1, No. 1 for the same year, so the site's volume data are inconsistent.
  3. [3]
    Media Psychology (EBSCO Research Starters)EBSCO, 2024. Reference work. Supports the history.Selected text readRead the entry text on definition, the 1982 organization, Division 46 established five years later, methods and applications; the page names Elizabeth D. Schafer as author with a 2024 date. The 1987 year is derived from 'five years later' and is not printed.
  4. [4]
    Society for Media Psychology and Technology (Division 46)APA Division 46, undated. Professional association. Supports the definition of the area.Selected text readRead the mission statement and scope text under the page title Society for Media Psychology and Technology (Division 46).

Independent source review: Claude Code reviewer agent, separate from the writer, 2026-10-21. Verdict: Admitted after corrections. Of 8 claims checked, 6 were supported as written, 2 were reworded and 0 were removed.