Media Research Paper

This assignment provides an opportunity to apply psychological theory in the exploration of a book or film. Students choose a film or book of special interest. The book or film should have content that can be meaningfully explored through application of psychological theory and research. Students can look at some of the later chapters in the text that deal with emotion, motivation, personality, the development of the individual over the life span, health and stress, and psychological disorders and treatment, so that they have a more complete idea of different concepts that might apply. Students might pick a movie or book in which the main character suffers from a psychological disorder or is merely trying to cope with the everyday stress of life. Students might discuss defense mechanisms or refer to developmental stages in the person's life that might have been important, or consider the effects of abuse, alcoholism and addiction, etc. Students can approach the subject matter from different perspectives—psychoanalytical, biological, behavioral, cognitive, and/or sociocultural. They can discuss the role emotion, memory, or motivation plays in the character's development, or the importance of the environment, and influences such as racism and sexism. This is a research-based paper, and the film or book provides only the backdrop for research on a psychological topic. You should use at least one psychological, peer-reviewed reference in addition to the textbook. The paper should be 1,200 to 1,500 words, about 5 double-spaced pages.