Psychology of Media & Technology

From the biological response to grooming behaviors and ASMR response to three-minutes or less narrative arcs with the most charming participants, watching sheep shearing on TikTok is like a NatGeo Zen experience with Mr. Rogers.  If you don't love Katie McRose after watching how lovingly she treats her sheep, something's seriously wrong.  And what a treat to focus on a happy story!  #positivemedia #mediapsychology #sheepshearing #TikTok

As part of Canvas8's Expert Outlook 2020 Report, I explain the cultural and behavioral drivers impacting media in the year ahead. Canvas8's yearly Expert Outlook brings together 42 expert viewpoints across 14 sectors. This year’s theme? HEAR ME!  Read the full report here: http://bit.ly/expertoutlookslideshare #expertoutlook2020 #mediapsychology

My parenting tip this holiday season: use Ferdinand the Bull as a hidden holiday gift to plant some new seeds in your kids (or your own) brain. The movie's overt messages “you can’t judge a book by its cover” and “be true to yourself” imply that you have a right to be who you are.  A subtler, and equally important, message is that Ferdinand’s success at doing so comes from discovering and using his strengths. Ferdinand isn’t a fighter but he has tremendous strengths of courage, creativity, resilience, loyalty and altruism that will enable him to succeed as a lover. Talk about what’s unseen or uncelebrated that allowed Ferdinand to achieve his end goal--and might get your kid to his or hers. #positivepsychology #mediaforgood #medialiteracy 

The response to this TikTok video are not about the couch guy.  The video is like a Rorschach test of the viewers' self-esteem, perspective, experiences and fears.   A parasocial relationship is where someone feels they know a someone in the media because of the investment in time the person spends watching, commenting, interacting about the parasocial object.  People form parasocial attachments to celebrities they see often and fictional characters in stories and programs they love.  It is experienced by the viewer as a relationship with emotional attachment, even though it is one-sided.  

It's more a parasocial relationship with the "event" than with couch guy.  However, people are definitely activated by the video and making their own interpretation as if they more information that a few seconds of video.  While all parasocial relationships are about meaning making, the cough guy commenters are invested in their own interpretations of what they think they see in ways that reaffirms their worldview or worries and lets them  increases their self-image by “sharing their wisdom.”  For those who are getting some satisfaction or self-aggrandizement out of sharing their negative interpretation and "advice",  it's just trolling.  #parasocial #couchguy #TikTok #trolls #truecrime #mediapsychology

Blaming technology for our troubles takes the onus off learning to act responsibly.  Technology is a tool.  And just like any other tool, we can choose how we use it, positively or negatively.  It's a question of intention and attention.  The more we cultivate a mindfulness approach to our technology use (and all behaviors), the more likely we are to use them in support of our goals, rather than in ways that detract from our wellbeing.