COMM 4220 - Psychology of Entertainment Media

(SBA-AG)

Fall, Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: introductory psychology or COMM 1101 or COMM 2200.

M. Shapiro, Staff.

Every media format uses entertainment, including video games, advertising, television, movies, sports, and news. This course examines the psychology (conscious and unconscious) of entertainment, including why people like entertainment, what makes a story entertaining, how people mentally process entertainment, what makes things frightening or funny, and whether or not entertainment can persuade.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to explain why people are motivated to engage in a variety of entertainment media affordances including fiction, movies, games, augmented and virtual reality and social media.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to describe key reflexive and thoughtful psychological principles associated with audience engagement

Outcome 3: Students will be able to apply these principles to develop new entertainment affordances.