Psychosociology of Communication

Code:

CC038

Acronym:

PSICOM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Communication Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Communication and Information Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Communication Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CC	22	Study plan	2	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

- Examine how communication contributes to the maintenance or transformation of social structures, exploring issues of power, hegemony, representation, and inequality in the media.

- Analyze how perception, cognition, emotions, and identity influence the reception and interpretation of communicational messages.

- Investigate how social norms, group dynamics, and collective identity shape the construction and dissemination of information.

- Evaluate how different media formats affect attitudes, behaviors, and the formation of public opinion.

Learning outcomes and competences

Critical Understanding of the Relationships Between Communication and Society

  Ability to Analyze Cognitive and Emotional Processes in Communication

  Evaluation of the Effects of Media on Public Opinion and Social Behavior

Working method

Presencial

Program

 

1: Introduction to the Psychosociology of Media

Definition and scope of psychosociology in media studies.

The role of communication in the construction of social realities.

Overview of key theories in sociology and psychology.

2: The Sociology of Media Systems

Media as social institutions.

Ownership, control, and the political economy of media.

Media systems in capitalist and post-capitalist societies.

3: Social Construction of Reality Through Media

Berger and Luckmann’s Social Construction of Reality theory.

Theories of media framing and agenda-setting.

Case studies: Media narratives and the formation of public perception.

4: Media and Social Identity

The role of media in shaping and representing identity.

Stereotypes, prejudices, and media representations of race, gender, and social class.

Social Identity Theory in media consumption and interpretation.

5: Media, Power, and Hegemony

Antonio Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony.

Media as tools of social control and resistance.

Case study: The role of news media in maintaining or challenging power structures.

6: Media and Collective Behavior

How media influence group dynamics and collective action.

Social movements and media: Mobilization theories.

Examples: The Arab Spring, the #MeToo movement, and Black Lives Matter.

7: Digital Media and Networked Societies

Manuel Castells’ theory of the network society.

The impact of digital platforms on communication and social relationships.

Shifting power dynamics in the era of social networks.

8: Media and Cultural Norms

The role of media in establishing and disseminating cultural norms.

Media globalization and cultural imperialism.

Case study: Streaming platforms and their impact on global cultural consumption.

9: Media, Technology, and Public Discourse

The impact of digital algorithms on public opinion.

Polarization and the creation of informational bubbles on social networks.

Case study: The role of artificial intelligence in digital communication.

10: Media Effects on Behavior

Cultivation Theory and the long-term effects of media exposure.

Psychological effects of media violence, sensationalism, and the culture of fear.

Case study: The role of media in shaping attitudes during pandemics.

11: Disinformation and the Crisis of Truth

The sociology of disinformation and fake news.

The role of media literacy in combating disinformation.

Case study: Disinformation during election periods and its social impacts.

12: Ethics and Responsibility in Media

Ethical challenges in media production and consumption.

Privacy, surveillance, and the ethical implications of big data.

Case study: Whistleblowing and media responsibility.

13: The Future of Media and Society

Emerging trends in media technology (AI, AR/VR, etc.).

Challenges and opportunities for media in promoting a more just society.

Perspectives on the evolving sociological role of media

 

Mandatory literature

Perloff, R. M.; The dynamics of news: Journalism in the 21st-century media milieu, Routledge, 2020

Comments from the literature

Brienza, Casey and Matthias Revers. 2016. “The Field of American Media Sociology: Origins, Resurrection, and Consolidation.” Sociology Compass 10(7):539–552.

Perloff, R. M. (2020). The dynamics of news: Journalism in the 21st-century media milieu. Routledge

Shoemaker, P. J., & Reese, S. D. (2014). Mediating the message in the 21st century: A media sociology perspective (1st ed.). Routledge

Stever, G. S., Giles, D. C., Cohen, J. D., & Myers, M. E. (2021). Understanding media psychology (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003055648

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and Participatory Classes

Case Studies

keywords

Social sciences > Communication sciences > Media studies
Social sciences > Communication sciences > Journalism

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	60,00
Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	2,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	44,00

Eligibility for exams

No attendance registration.

Calculation formula of final grade

Weighted sum of the percentages indicated for the components.