In this fifth edition of A Cognitive Psychology of Mass Communication, author Richard Jackson Harris continues his examination of how our experiences with media affect the way we acquire knowledge about the world, and how this knowledge infl uences our attitudes and behavior.

Presenting theories from psychology and communication along with reviews of the corresponding research, this text covers a wide variety of media and media issues, ranging from the commonly discussed topics—sex, violence, advertising—to lesser-studied topics, such as values, sports, and entertainment education.

In this fifth and fully updated edition, this book offers:

• Highly accessible and engaging writing
• Contemporary references to all types of media familiar to students
• Substantial discussion of theories and research, including interpretations of original research studies
• A balanced approach to covering the breadth and depth of the subject
• Discussion of work from both psychology and media disciplines

The text is appropriate for Media Effects, Media & Society, and Psychology of Mass Media coursework, as it examines the effects of mass media on human cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors through empirical social science research, teaches students how to examine and evaluate mediated messages, and includes mass communication research, theory, and analysis.

The Author

Richard Jackson Harris is Professor of Psychology at Kansas State University. His research examines issues involving language and cognition, primarily in the areas of psycholinguistics and mass communication. In addition to empirical research, Dr. Harris is the author of two textbooks in multiple editions and the editor of several books of readings. He also leads occasional community workshops on critical viewing, media literacy, and managing television in the home.