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PSY 355-01 Psychology & Media in the Digital Age

Schedule & Assignments
This page was last modified February 15, 2026

 Note: Links to online journal articles will work if you are accessing the Internet from a Le Moyne College computer.
I. Introduction & Orientation: Basic Overview of Media Online & IRL
Mon Jan 12, Class 01
 		General Introduction & Themes about the Self 
Wed, Jan 14, Class 02
 		Defining What "Media" Means: General & Contemporary Meanings
Meyrowitz on "Multiple Media Literacies" (1998) [LMC]
Fri, Jan 15, Class 03 Complete "Defining What Media Means"
Mon Jan 19
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday • No Class
Wed, Jan 21, Class 04
 (a) Some Media Terms & Concepts (detailed notes: pdf) [outline]
(b) Behavioral Addictions & Media I  (Notes on Irresistible Prologue & Chs.1 2 & 3)  
Alter (2017) Irresistible: Prologue & Chs. 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 1-90)
Fri, Jan 23, Class 05 (c) Some 2025 Data on Internet Connections & Usage (pdf)

  •    Complete Class 4
Mon, Jan 26, Class 06

 Classes cancelled due to snow
including
Wed, Jan 28, Class 07
 Trends in Media Use: Historical, National, International: 1800-2026 (pdf version, 9 pp.)

• Discussion of Social and Other Media Use by class
Fri, Jan 30, Class 08
 Human Psychology & Culture from the Media Ecology Perspective I

••• Group Presentation Choices due today •••

 Strate (2004) [Selections] • Try at least to read the text that has been highlighted in yellow
Mon, Feb 02, Class 09
 Human Psychology & Culture from the Media Ecology Perspective II

   • Print & Techno-Digital Culture (Outline)
II. History and Themes: Media from the Ecological & (Neuro-)Psychological Perspective
Wed, Feb 04, Class 10 Evaluating Claims: Science & Moral Panics
Fri, Feb 06, Class 11 Complete Class 10
Group Presentation Planning (1)
Mon Feb 09, Class 12 Studying Psychology & Social Science (Research Methods) [Outline]
Wed, Feb 11, Class 13 Behavioral Addictions and Media II: Discussion of Irresistible, Chap. 4-9
••• Take Home Test distributed today •••
Fri, Feb 13, Class 14 Discussion of the Media Then and Now Project

••• The Media Then and Now: Report and Reflection due today •••
Mon, Feb 15, Class 15
 Neuropsychology of Contemporary Media I: Light • NOTES [Outline]
Wed, Feb 18
 Wellness Break • No Class
Fri, Feb 20, Class 16 Neuropsychology of Contemporary Media II: The Automobile as a Digital Device • NOTES [Outline]

III. Topics in Media Ecology and Psychology
Mon, Feb 23, Class 17 The Psychology of DISNEY I: Disney as a media corporation
Wed, Feb 25, Class 18 The Psychology of DISNEY II: Creating a national mythology? Princesses & Talking Animals
Fri, Feb 27, Class 19 Complete The Psychology of Disney
Group Presentation Planning (2)
••• Take Home Test due by 2 pm at my office, RH 222 •••
Mon, Mar 02, Class 20
 Social Media and Mental Health I
Wed, Mar 04, Class 21
 Social Media and Mental Health II
Fri, Mar 06, Class 22 TBA
Mon, Mar 09, Class 23 TBA
Wed, Mar 11, Class 24 Group Presentation Planning (3)
Fri, Mar 13, Class 25
 TBA

Mon-Wed-Fri • March 16-March 20 • Spring Break



Mon, Mar 23, Class 26
 Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Human Affairs (1)
Wed, Mar 25, Class 27
 Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Human Affairs (2)
Fri, Mar 27, Class 28
 The Extended Self and the Cognitive Psychology of Human Multitasking
Mon, Mar 30, Class 29
 Presentation by Michael Sgro (LMC '97) • Founder & Director of Michael Sgro Leadership Coaching

A former Psychology major at Le Moyne, Michael has had extensive experience with both digital media and higher education. In an interactive exchange, he will offer the class perspectives on the use of digital media for career advancement and strategies for entering into the adult work community.
Wed, Apr 01, Class 30
 TBA
Fri, Apr 03
 Good Friday • No Class
Mon, Apr 06
 Easter Monday • No Class
Wed, Apr 08, Class 31 Sexuality Online (1)
Fri, Apr 10,Class 32 Sexuality Online (2)
Mon, Apr 13, Class 33
 Group Presentation Planning (4)
Wed, Apr 15, Class 34
 TBA
Fri, Apr 17, Class 35
 Group 1: Celebrities, Fandoms, and Audiences: How We Relate to Media Personalities
Mon, Apr 20, Class 36
 Group 2: Disinhibtion Online: Cyberbullying, Trolling, and Self-Revelation
Wed, Apr 22, Class 37
 Group 3: Privacy & Surveillance: Is Technology Intruding in Our Lives Too Much?
Fri, Apr 24, Class 38
 Group 4: Ethnicity and Difference: How Media Shape Our Perceptions of One Another in a Diverse and Multiracial Society
Mon, Apr 27, Class 39
 Group 5: Violence in the Media: Traditional vs. Online Media
Wed, Apr 29, Class 40
 Group 6: Consumer Behavior: How Online Media Influences Buyers and Help Sell Products
Fri,  May 01, Class 41
 Group 7: Fake News? Propaganda, Politics, and Media Manipulation
Mon, May 04, Class 42
 Last Class: Notes & discussion of the experience of the 12-hours of digital abstinence & other topics in the course
••• 12-Hour Digital Media Abstinence Project report due today •••