Media psychology in 2020: new context of problems and areas of research

Zhizhina Maria Victorovna

The article outlines the current tasks and research directions of media psychology, analyzes the negative and positive effects of mass media in the context of the crisis situation in 2020 related to the pandemic. In connection with the spread of infodemia and the complexity of the media space, the practical significance of media education is emphasized, the main strategic goal of which is to form the media competence of the individual responsible for the psychological security of a person in the media world. In the current environment, the contradictory role of mass media is more evident than ever before. the data available in scientific research indicate a complex relationship between the risks, negative effects and benefits, and positive effects of human use of mass media. The author has identified psychological patterns that cause greater vulnerability to risks and negative consequences of some users, and greater susceptibility of other users to get a positive effect from the use of media, which remains the most important task of media psychology.

Keywords:media psychology, media psychotherapy, personality, mass media effects, psychological education, psychological assistance.