Systematic review study based on psychological concepts and van dijk’s critical social model on epistemology of belief in media

Background: Media play a crucial role as one of the primary tools in shaping beliefs and representing dominant ideologies in society.Van Dijk's Critical Model analyzes media discourses and their role in reproducing power and influencing ideologies.Alongside this, psychological concepts related to social cognition illustrate how individuals shape and reproduce their beliefs through interaction with these discourses.However, interdisciplinary studies that simultaneously analyze psychological and critical dimensions are rarely conducted.Aims: The aim of this research was to analyze how beliefs are formed through media discourses using psychological concepts and Van Dijk's Critical Social Model.Methods: This study employed a systematic literature review approach.The study population included all scholarly and research sources related to the psychological concepts of Van Dijk's Critical Social Model and epistemology of belief in media.These sources included scientific articles, books, research reports, and critical analyses published in reputable scientific databases and international journals.The sampling method was non-random and purposive.Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. Results:The results indicate that media, through specific linguistic and discursive strategies, guide how audiences' process and select information, leading individuals to readily accept information that aligns with their pre-existing cognitive assumptions while information that contradicts these assumptions may face resistance.Additionally, personal experiences play a significant role in interpreting and internalizing media information, with changes in beliefs and attitudes typically occurring within the context of personal experiences and existing assumptions.Conclusion: This research demonstrates that media, through linguistic strategies, play a significant role in shaping public beliefs.Combining psychological and critical approaches in the analysis of epistemology of belief helps to achieve a deeper understanding of how media discourses influence audience cognition.