MEDIAPSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH: GERMAN EXPERIENCE

The topic of this article is relevant to Ukrainian journalism because, due to historical reasons, media psychology as a scientific discipline did not develop in Ukraine. Today, in an era of globalization, Ukrainian citizens experience various psychological effects of mass communication. Ukrainian journalists are increasingly compelled to adopt the advancements of media psychology in their work. Germany, in contrast, has achieved significant progress in this field. As one of the pioneers in psychology and psychiatry in the late 19th century, Germany developed these disciplines alongside advanced radio broadcasting, cinema, and television technologies. A particularly notable phenomenon was the transformation of “social myths” under the influence of television. It was initially assumed that with the advent of video recording, such forms of verbal influence would disappear. However, modern digital technologies have demonstrated that video materials do not always reflect reality. Today, social myths are re-emerging, combining linguistic forms with video content that, despite appearing authentic, is often edited and does not represent reality. The development of psychology and the widespread dissemination of mass media in Germany fostered a new integration: the ability to influence large audiences through mass communication while simultaneously studying these effects using modern psychological methodologies. This gave rise to a new interdisciplinary scientific field-media psychology. Researchers began using media psychology to conduct experiments on the psychological effects of radio broadcasts, films, and television programs on mass audiences. Modern media psychology is a social-psychological science that examines the effects of information, communicative practices, and information technologies on human psychology and behavior, as well as their targeted use. Over time, the use of media for public information has expanded to include other functions such as entertainment and advertising. These functions, particularly significant for business and political stakeholders, are directly tied to the impact on audiences. Media psychology focuses on the specific characteristics of media influence. Research in this field addresses both the techniques, methods, and technologies employed by media producers and the psychological, cognitive, and behavioral responses of media consumers. The most dynamic period of media psychology development in Germany was between the 1970s and 1990s. This period saw the establishment of numerous research institutes and scientific publications dedicated to media psychology, solidifying its status as a crucial interdisciplinary field.