Media Psychology refers to the study on the interaction among human behavior and media and technology. Considered as a special branch of psychology, media psychology is not limited to mass media or media contents only. Rather it includes all forms of mediated communication as well as media technology-related behaviors (e.g. the use, design, impact and sharing behaviors).

Studying the media and investigations on the impact of media on human behavior is not new. Yet, the concept of media psychology is relatively a new field of study in this regard. It is because media psychology widely focuses on the impending impacts of media over human psyche considering the affects created in regard to the advancements in technology.

Media psychology generally includes activities like consulting, design, and production in various media like television, video games, films, and news broadcasting. It is to understand that the Media Psychologists are not counselors-psychotherapists, or clinicians; rather, they are people who carry out research, or works in this field, or contribute to the field in similar other ways.

Many researchers and theoreticians from diverse fields have contributed to media psychology over time. Major ones include: Marshall McLuhan ('The medium is the message', and 'Technological Determinism'); Dolf Zillmann ('Two-factor Model of Emotion', and 'Excitation Transfer'); Elihu Katz, Jay G. Blumler and Michael Gurevitch ('Uses and Gratifications Theory'); Bernard Luskin (writings and studies in media literature and program development); David Giles (Media Psychology: 2003); and Pamela Rutledge (application of media psychology as to marketing and brand strategy, transmedia storytelling and audience engagement).

References:

Giles, David (2003). Media Psychology. Mahwah, N.J.: Routledge.
Katz, Elihu; Blumer, Jay; Gurevitch, Michael (1973). Uses and Gratifications Research (4th ed.).
Media Psychology: 1st Edition (e-Book). Routledge. Routledge.com.
Rutledge, P. (2016). 'Media Psychologists'. In R. J. Sternberg (ed.), Career Paths in Psychology: Where Your Degree Can Take You. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
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