Dr. Brian Cutler was a Special Guest on the True Crime Podcast Cleveland County Valentine

2024-11-25T10:19:27-08:00

Cleveland County Valentine: True Advocate explores the 24-year-old disappearance of Asha Degree. In the latest episode, "Memory & Mystery," Marilyn Ward, executive director of Houston-based National Missing Children's Center, said, "The longer a child is missing, the greater the chances are that false rumors will get started. This can torment family members and frustrate law enforcement." Fielding's Program Director of the Media Psychology program, psychologist Dr. Brian Cutler, discussed the psychology of eyewitness memory, factors that affect the accuracy of eyewitness memory, and how these factors apply in missing children investigations. Access the Podcast on Apple Access the Podcast on [...]

Dr. Brian Cutler was a Special Guest on the True Crime Podcast Cleveland County Valentine2024-11-25T10:19:27-08:00

Reap the Benefits of Rewatching Your Favorite Movies

2024-11-24T15:46:14-08:00

Rewatching and sharing favorites improves mood and strengthens connections. Key points Anticipation of familiar scenes triggers dopamine, making rewatching more rewarding. Rewatching holiday movies fosters tradition and enhances feelings of connection across generations. Revisiting favorites lowers cognitive load, increases ease of processing, and reduces stress levels. Familiarity strengthens parasocial connections with media characters, increasing meaning and belonging. Ever found yourself reaching for your favorite old movie or TV show despite knowing every line and plot twist? You're not alone. Rewatching old favorites is a popular activity for many, especially during the holidays, when seasonal classics like It's a Wonderful Life, Love [...]

Reap the Benefits of Rewatching Your Favorite Movies2024-11-24T15:46:14-08:00

Surviving Election Night: 7 Tips to Manage Your Emotions

2024-11-08T07:49:01-08:00

Election results can elevate our stress and make us vulnerable to manipulation. Key points To alleviate stress, avoid hyper-focusing on election coverage, and take breaks to reduce negative emotions. Seek out balanced media sources to avoid misinformation and reduce anxiety. If the election results are disappointing, acknowledge your emotions but don't let them immobilize you. Accept the election results as part of democracy, and stay involved for positive future change. Election night can create a roller coaster of emotional stress as results come in. Pundits will debate, and if the last few weeks are any indication, misinformation and conspiracy theories [...]

Surviving Election Night: 7 Tips to Manage Your Emotions2024-11-08T07:49:01-08:00

Qualitative and Quantitative Investigations of Office Fans’ Connections With Fictional and Celebrity Couples

2024-10-11T09:21:25-07:00

Perry Reed, Ph.D. Media Psychology faculty publish in the peer-reviewed journal, Psychology of Popular Media, with the paper "Qualitative and Quantitative Investigations of Office Fans’ Connections With Fictional and Celebrity Couples: Identification, Parasocial Relationships, and Beyond." Perry Reed, Associate Faculty at Fielding, is the first author of the paper about identification and parasocial relationships with fictional and celebrity couples. Dr. Reed collaborated with fellow authors Drs. Karen Shackleford, J. David Cohen, and M.J. Robbins.  Abstract Though fans commonly view and follow fictional and celebrity couples, there is a dearth of research on audience involvement with media couples. Using a [...]

Qualitative and Quantitative Investigations of Office Fans’ Connections With Fictional and Celebrity Couples2024-10-11T09:21:25-07:00

Ph.D. Candidate Sarah Barker Selected as Panelist at this year’s International NZ Web Fest

2024-10-09T13:22:22-07:00

Media Psychology Ph.D. candidate Sarah Barker has been selected as a panelist for this year's international NZ Web Fest in the Online Creator Conversation' where her work has been officially selected in the non-fiction documentary podcast category. This selection is for her project "VR: A Path to Mental Wellness," exploring how virtual reality can be a powerfully effective tool for working with chronic pain, PTSD symptoms, depression, and other human ailments. The show is practicum work for a Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in media and technology at Fielding Graduate University. The NZ Web Fest was created by Keith [...]

Ph.D. Candidate Sarah Barker Selected as Panelist at this year’s International NZ Web Fest2024-10-09T13:22:22-07:00

How Morning Phone Habits Shape Productivity and Well-Being

2024-10-07T08:28:58-07:00

Small hacks to avoid "first-thing" phone use can improve your mood all day. Key points Checking our phones before we’re out of bed can drain our mental energy and leave us unprepared for the day. Starting the day with negative content can lower our mood, creativity, productivity, and confidence. Social media can be a positive experience when its use aligns with our goals. Do you look at your phone before you’re even out of bed? It’s easy to do. Our phones are portals to a world of information, people, and conveniences. They may also be our alarm, weather forecaster, sleep [...]

How Morning Phone Habits Shape Productivity and Well-Being2024-10-07T08:28:58-07:00

Fielding’s Peer Support Thrives Through Student Socials

2024-09-19T09:43:03-07:00

Fielding University’s Media Psychology students are fostering connections beyond the classroom, with a flourishing series of Student Social events. From virtual gatherings to in-person Coffee Hours and online forums, these grassroots initiatives offer myriad opportunities for students at all levels— from new enrollees to alumni— to engage without any cost. Often! Virtual and In-Person Networking Opportunities Abound Media Psychology doctoral students at Coffee Hour/Hollywood: Stacy Griffin, Holly Beavon, Angel Burns, Perry Reed Fielding’s social opportunities to network are proliferating in three ways: virtual Socials, in-person meetups by locale, and an online social platform, all hosted by fellow students. [...]

Fielding’s Peer Support Thrives Through Student Socials2024-09-19T09:43:03-07:00

Are Our Kids Anxious or Just Unprepared?

2024-09-16T13:26:47-07:00

Technology strategies that don't teach media literacy will likely fail our kids. Key points Social media amplifies existing challenges like bullying, peer pressure, and FOMO; it does not create them. Less than half of U.S. states have media literacy legislation, leaving many students unprepared. Kids' social development makes them vulnerable to online influence, requiring targeted education. Media literacy is finally getting some long-overdue attention. Whether it’s the rising awareness of political disinformation, the threat of AI, Russian hackers, or cellphones in the classroom, discussions about media literacy are on the uptick. In September, the APA Monitor joined the fray arguing for equipping [...]

Are Our Kids Anxious or Just Unprepared?2024-09-16T13:26:47-07:00

Why Warning Labels on Social Media Won’t Teach Kids to Make Smarter Choices

2024-07-01T12:22:22-07:00

Digital literacy, not fear-based restrictions, is needed to help kids build safe and healthy relationships with technology. KEY POINTS Social media is here to stay; let’s prepare kids to handle the digital world, not shield them from it. Kids need guidance, skills, and a chance to practice so they can develop healthy relationships with technology. Hyperfocusing on social media diverts resources needed to address the scarcity of mental health professionals needed to help teens struggling now. Surgeon General Murthy's call for warning labels on social media has ignited heated discussions all over the Internet. In the face of all this [...]

Why Warning Labels on Social Media Won’t Teach Kids to Make Smarter Choices2024-07-01T12:22:22-07:00

How to Protect Your Brain from Election Stress

2024-06-05T07:09:58-07:00

Eight strategies to build resilience and keep your cool during the elections. KEY POINTS Political conflict keeps stress hormones high with adverse psychological and physical consequences. Social media encourages partisanship and undermines the motivation to discern fact from fiction. Fear of social rejection can increase political group compliance and support for misinformation. Limiting exposure and seeking balanced information sources can reduce stress during election season. Political polarization has worsened to the point where 40 percent of Americans describe politics as a chronic stressor, blaming it for increased depression and anxiety, loss of sleep, greater impulsivity, such as posting social media comments they later regret, and damage to [...]

How to Protect Your Brain from Election Stress2024-06-05T07:09:58-07:00

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