MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY

10th Annual Partner ConferenceMarch 9, 2017

WHAT IS IT? HOW DO YOU USE IT?

Dr. Pamela RutledgeDirector, Media Psychology Research Center

pamelarutledge@gmail.comTwitter: @pamelarutledgeLinkedin.com/in/pamelarutledgewww.pamelarutledge.com

DEFINITIONMedia psychology applies

psychological science to the

use, development, distribution and

research of mediated communication

and technology

IT WON’T TURN YOU INTO A ROCK STAR

BUT IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK AND HOW YOUHELP YOUR CLIENTS

TECHNOLOGY IS EVERWHERE

AND IT’S NOT GOING AWAY

BEHAVIORS ARE CHANGING

77% USE MULTIPLE SCREENS

75% USE YOUTUBE

43% WATCH TV ONLINE

OVER 2.5 MILLION APPS ON ITUNES

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3,000.

Jul '08 Jul '09 Jul '10 Jul '11 Jul '12 Jul '13 Jul '14 Jul '15 Jul '16

Apps Games

7.2B DOWNLOADS WORLDWIDE IN Q1/16

62% for social connection: WhatsAppMessengerFacebookPiano Tiles 2InstagramSnapChatCandy Crush Jelly Saga

IT’S EASY TO GET DISTRACTED BY ALL THE NEW TOYS

Goal for Today: One New Idea

HARNESS THE ENERGY OF CHANGE

Millennials are the first generation to be “born digital”

HERE COME THE MILLENNIALS

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Millennials

Gen Z

Greatest

BoomersSilent

They have overtaken the number of Boomer and are now the largest generation

THE CLIENT PIPELINE: DIGITAL NATIVES

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Everyone Older

70% OF PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE DITIGAL IMMIGRANTS

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Digital Natives Digital Immigrants

DIGITAL CULTURE: A NEW WORLDVIEW

24/7 CONNECTIVITYNO HIERARCHIES

PEER-TO-PEER CONNECTONS

CONTENT CURATEDNO FEEDBACK

INFORMATION FLOWS ONE WAY

FROM ONE-TO-MANY TO MANY-TO-MANY

LIFE AS LECTURE HALL

Quiet, anonymous

Speaker has authority

The audience doesn’t get to talk to each other or talk back to the speaker

The audience can’t leave until it’s over

LIFE AS COCTAIL PARTY

No hierarchy

People move around & talk to each other

People expect to participate, interact, respond, speak up

Light shines on everyone

You can interact where you want; leave when you want

MOBILEON-

DEMAND INFORMATION24/7

CONNECTIVITY

EXPECTATIONS SHIFT:WE LIVE IN A NEW NORMAL

>> Privacy>> Sharing>> The use of images>> Voice>> Feedback>> Response time>> Authenticity>> Transparency>> New language & symbols

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

The need to understand expereince in a world whereonline and offline are part of the same social reality

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY?

>> Less Empathy>> Depression>> FOMO>> Social isolation>> Addicted to social media>> Addicted to games>> Narcissists>> Low self-esteem>> Information overload

RESEARCH OR CONFIRMATION BIAS?

BIOLOGICAL IMPERATIVE FOR SURIVIVAL

ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF NEW STUFF

THE TROUBLE LIES IN THE BRAIN

MAKES DECISIONS BASED ON “INSTINCT”

Instinct (Reptilian brain)Emotion (Paleo-mammalian or limbic system)Rational (Neo-mammalian or neo-cortex)

THINK OF THE BRAIN IN THREE PARTS: TRIUNE BRAIN THEORY

THE REPTILIAN BRAIN HAS SIMPLE CRITERIA: PAIN OR GAIN?

IT WORKS FROM WHAT IT KNOWS

REPTILIAN BRAIN MAKES 95% OF ALL DECISIONS

STICK OR SNAKE?

AUTOMATIC VS. INTENTIONAL

Beliefs are• learned, a product of our experiences• form our assumptions about how the

world works• act as filters for new information

LIKE RIDING A BIKE, BELIEFS ARE SOMETHING WE JUST “KNOW”

STICK OR SNAKE?

SOCRATES: THE ORIGINAL TECHNOPHOBE

... this discovery of yours [writing] will create forgetfulness in the learners’ souls, because they will not use their memories...

LITTLE HAS CHANGED

LET’S TAKE A SELFIE

SHARED EXPERIENCEMULTI-SENSORY MEMORY TRIGGER

AUTHENTIC AND PERSONAL

INFORMATION RICHMESSAGING• Empowerment• Social connection• Identity exploration• Authenticity• Normalizing• Social validation• Personal• Presence - mirror

neurons

• Mindfulness• Gratitude• Humor

RESEARCH OR MORAL JUDGMENT?

VICTIMS OF OUR OWN BELIEFS

• Technology that exists when we are born is normal

• Anything invented before we turn 35 is exciting

• Anything that comes later is suspect and probably dangerous

WHAT’S LOST VS. WHAT’S GAINED

Applying positive psychology to media

WHERE DOES REALITY FALL SHORT?

• When we ask what’s missing, we miss the upside

• What if we we started with asking how technology meets fundamental human goals?• Social connection• Mastery• Competence

AUTONOMYMASTERY

RELATEDNESS

SELF-EFFICACY ENGAGEMENTCOMPETENCE

OPTIMISMRESILIENCEPURPOSE

AGENCY

THE UPWARD SPIRAL OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS

IS TECHNOLOGY ALWAYS GOOD?

• Like anything, it’s about balance and goals• Like any tool, technology can

be both good and bad

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100% 18-29

30-49

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65+

SOCIAL MEDIA USE: NORMAL NOT PATHOLOGICAL

MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY:TWO-PRONGED APPROACH

>> BIAS: WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY USE • Impacts your ability to empathize with clients• Distracts you from fundamental issues by focusing too much on tools• Allows you to evaluate benefits and liabilities of behavioral patterns

>> APPLICATION: HOW YOU CAN USE TECHNOLOGY• Ability to leverage power and reach• Enhance effectiveness of your organization and practice

NOT SURE WHAT TO DO?

Education and training materials – YouTube, blogs

Professional collaboration and development – Linked in

Leveraged access for care – Text & forums

Attract new clients – Blogs, websites

FAKE IT ’TIL YOU MAKE IT

WHAT’S THE NEXT WAVE? WILL YOU BE READY?

YOUR CLIENTS HAVE NEW EXPECTATIONSYOU CAN, TOO

THANK YOU

Dr. Pamela Rutledgewww.pamelarutledge.com

pamelarutledge@gmail.com@pamelarutledge linkedin.com/in/pamelarutledge