PSY 355-01 Psychology & Media in the Digital Age Schedule & Assignments

This page was last modified January 22, 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	Trends in Media Use: Historical, National, International: 1800-2022 (pdf version, 8 pp.) ••• Group Presentation Choices due today •••	Pew Internet, Science & Technology website including • PEW Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet (April 7, 2021) • PEW Social Media Fact Sheet  (April 7, 2021)
Wed, Jan 28, Class 07	Complete Class 06 Discussion of Social and Other Media Use by class
Fri, Jan 30, Class 08	Human Psychology & Culture from the Media Ecology Perspective I What is Media Ecology? The Overall Perspective • Oral & Written Culture (Outline)	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)
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
Wed, Feb 18	Wellness Break • No Class
Fri, Feb 20, Class 16	Neuropsychology of Contemporary Media II: The Automobile as a Digital Device
	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 •••