In a constantly changing media landscape, A Psychology of Mass Communication is the go-to text for any course that examines mass communication from a psychological perspective.

Now in its ninth edition, the book continues its exploration of how our experiences with media affect the way we acquire and process knowledge about the world and how this knowledge influences our attitudes, thinking, and behavior. Reflecting changes in the world of mass communication, in this edition there is an added emphasis on the power of social media and AI in affecting our perceptions of reality as well as a detailed discussion of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news. While including real-world examples, the book also integrates psychology and communication theory along with reviews of the most up-to-date research, including more than 600 new references. There are also a number of new graphics to help illustrate key concepts. The text covers a diversity of media forms and issues, ranging from commonly discussed topics such as politics, sex, and violence to lesser-studied topics, such as emotions and prosocial media.

Readers will be challenged to become more sensitized and to think more deeply about their own media use as they explore research on behavior and media effects. Written in an engaging, readable style, the text is appropriate for graduate or undergraduate audiences.

Accompanying online resources are also available for both students and instructors. For students: chapter outlines, review questions, useful links, and suggested further reading. For instructors: lecture slides, guidelines for in-class discussions, a sample syllabus, chapter summaries, useful links, and suggested further reading. Please visit www.routledge.com/9781032868080.

Fred W. Sanborn is Professor of Psychology at North Carolina Wesleyan University, USA, where he has received numerous teaching awards. He is also the founding director of NCWU’s Teaching and Learning Center, Head of the Psychology Department, and Director of the Honors Program.