A Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication

Book excerpt: The eighth edition of this text remains an indispensable resource for mass communication psychology and media effects courses. This book gives readers an in-depth understanding of how media affect our attitudes, thinking, and behavior. Continuing its academically rigorous yet student-friendly approach to this subject, the new edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect our current media landscape. Updates include new research and examples for an increasingly global perspective, an increased focus on social media, additional graphics, special end-of-chapter application sections, and an expansion in the list of references to reflect the latest research discussed. The book continues to emphasize the power of media, including social media, in affecting our perceptions of reality. There is also a detailed discussion of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. Written in an engaging, readable style, the text is appropriate for graduate or undergraduate students in media psychology, mass communication psychology, and media effects courses. Accompanying online resources are also available for both students and instructors. For students: chapter outlines, additional review and discussion questions, useful links, and suggested further reading. For instructors: lecture slides, guidelines for in-class discussions, a sample syllabus, chapter summaries, useful links, and suggested further reading. Please visit www.routledge.com/9780367713553.