Social Psychology: Media Matters
•Watch Jean Kilbourne: The Dangerous Ways Ads See Women (Jean Kilbourne, 2014), which examines the portrayal of women in advertising and the resulting effects on feminine identity, and Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity(ChallengingMedia, 2006), which examines the portrayal of men in the media and the resulting effects on masculine identity.
•Locate a scholarly article examining a relevant phenomenon in relation to media and gender (e.g., when considering women in advertising, self-esteem, objectification, body shame, or perceptions of attractiveness might be particularly relevant; when considering men in the media, aggression might be particularly relevant; for both, attitudes and gender roles are relevant themes). See the recommended articles for this week for some options.
•Focus on women or men for your discussion, depending on the relevant phenomenon you considered in your research above. (You will address the opposite in your replies.).
•Examine the implications of media portrayals of women or men, given the videos you watched and the article you read. In your discussion, include the following:
◦Explain how stereotypes, prejudice, and/or discrimination are impacted by media portrayals of women or men.
◦Interpret the implications:
◾For a woman (if you explored the portrayal of women) or for a man (if you explored the portrayal of men): how might the portrayal of women (men) impact the behavior and/or mental processes of women (men)? Support your interpretation with citations.
◾For a woman (if you explored the portrayal of men) or for a man (if you explored the portrayal of women): how does the portrayal of women (men) impact the behavior and/or mental processes of men (women)? Support your interpretation with citations.
◦Relate additional phenomena in American culture that that may be especially relevant to a discussion of social attitudes regarding gender.
◦Give an example of an advertisement or media program (other than one presented in the required videos) that you believe might impact attitudes. Explain the relevance and point out specific elements that illustrate.
•Remember to use your own academic voice and apply in-text citations appropriately throughout your post.
Personality: One of a Kind
Personality psychology explores individual differences: what characteristics make you different, unique, and… well, you?
•Complete the International Personality Item Pool Representation of the NEO PI-RTM (either the short or long version). ◦Explain the five domains of personality.
◦Interpret your score, noting aspects of the assessment that are interesting to you.
◦Illustrate each dimension of your personality with personal examples.
•Watch Bringing up Monkey and read “The interplay between culture and personality”. ◦Differentiate between malleable versus rigid elements of personality.
◦Relate elements of your own personality that may be particularly impacted by social and cultural contexts that you have experienced.
•Remember to use your own academic voice and apply in-text citations appropriately throughout your post.
