Psychology of Entertainment, Narrative, and Nostalgia

Dear Colleagues,

As media and technology continue to proliferate in our world, psychologists have become increasingly aware of their influence on human functioning, behavior, and cognition—from shaping how we view outgroups to inducing aggressive behavior, the narratives and entertainment we consume can have a profound effect on how we view the world and interact with others. The main aim of this Special Issue is to synergize and advance our understanding of how media technology can shape our social interactions, sense of self, and perceptions of the world. Contributions to this Special Issue that examine how cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes are influenced by media content and emerging technology are most welcome.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the volitional reconsumption of TV shows, nostalgia induced by music, cognitive differences in video game players, attentional affordances of specific media platforms, training in virtual reality, and parasocial relationships with social media figures. Both individual-level and social-level analyses are encouraged, as is research that explores the spectrum of methodology in media psychology, including experimental data, cross-sectional analyses, and qualitative reports. We will also accept high-level theoretical papers, policy discussions, and review articles that seek to situate an advancement in our understanding of media and technological effects on human psychology.

We look forward to reviewing your contributions. Please reach out with any additional questions.

Dr. Andreas Miles-Novelo
Prof. Dr. Karen Dill-Shackleford
Guest Editors

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