DR. PAM | MEDIA PSYCHOLOGIST
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DIGITAL BEHAVIORS
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DR. PAM | MEDIA PSYCHOLOGIST
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • About Dr. Pamela Rutledge
    • Media Psychology
      • What Is A Media Psychologist?
      • 8 Reasons Why We Need Media Psychology
      • Careers in Media Psychology
      • Example Careers in Media Psychology
      • Media Psychology at Fielding Graduate University
      • Positive Media Psychology
    • MPRC
      • Media Psychology Research Center
    • Media Psychology Review
  • Consulting
    • Speaking & Consulting
    • Audience Engagement: Why Use Personas?
      • How to Build a Persona
    • Adapting to Change
    • Transmedia Storytelling
      • Storytelling Across Platforms
      • Transmedia Storytelling Starts with the Power of Story
      • Our Transmedia World
      • Transmedia Case Study: The Three Little Pigs
      • Transmedia Storytelling Workshop
  • Story Power
    • Brand Storytelling
    • Storytelling: Brands, Entertainment & Organizations
      • Storytelling for Organizations
      • Core Story: Case Study
  • In the News
    • Press Quotes & Interviews 2022-2025
    • 2021-2019
    • 2018-2016
    • 2016-2017
    • 2015-2013
    • 2012 & EARLIER
    • Video Interviews & Webinars
  • Resources
    • Mindful Media & Digital Literacy
      • Positive Media Psychology
      • Benefits of Video Games Part 1
      • Benefits of Video Games Part 2
      • Benefits of Video Games Part 3
      • Becoming Mindful: Exercises
      • Mindful Media Journal
    • Academic Materials
      • Media Psychology Syllabus 2021
      • Media Psychology Syllabus 2012
      • Media Psychology Syllabus 2015
    • Articles
      • Persuasion & Augmented Reality
      • Psychology of Transmedia Engagement
      • Theories of Attention
      • The Psychology of Color
      • Website Design: How to Use Psych Theory
      • Data Strategy: Listen to Your Consumers’ Stories
      • The Psychology of Story
  • Archives
  • Contact

About Pamela Rutledge

Pamela Rutledge, PhD, MBA is the Director of the Media Psychology Research Center. A consultant, author, speaker, and professor, she consults on a variety of media projects developing audience engagement and brand storytelling strategies.
Hello high school. Crowdsourced matches may feel like social evaluations of a user’s attractiveness and status. Photo: Pixelshot/Canva Pro

Can Crowdsourcing Fix Dating Apps?

A new approach to dating platforms replaces algorithms with crowdsourced votes from human matchmakers who “vibe-check” to set up potential pairs Existing dating apps have a people problem, but a... read more →
  • October 6, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
Your parents may seem as phone-absorbed as your teenagers, but their needs and motivations are different. Photo: AzmanL | Getty Images Signature; Jasmina Putnik | JRP Studio.

Are Grandparents the New “iPad Kids”?

Managing teens’ tech use is hard enough. What happens when your parents join in? Here’s how to address those frustrating digital habits without becoming the technology police. Key Points Social... read more →
  • September 11, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
The “dopamine site” trend highlights how much of our enjoyment rests in the emotions associated with imagined futures. Photo: mojo_cp/Getty Images and man-no/Getty Images

The Popularity of “Dopamine Sites” Shows the Emotional Pay-off of Fake Food Orders

South Korea's "dopamine sites" split the emotions of consumption from the financial transactions and show that a lot enjoyment comes from anticipation, not ownership. Key Points Anticipation is a big... read more →
  • June 23, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
Protecting kids from AI is impossible. Teaching judgment and digital literacy is not. Photo: Supatman/Getty Images

We Didn’t Prepare Kids for Social Media: Will We Do Better with AI?

We failed to prepare kids for social media by focusing on restriction instead of education. Can we do better with AI by giving them the skills they need for a... read more →
  • May 29, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
When bullying and personal attacks are rewarded, kids see them as desirable and effective. Photo: Valentina Nity’s Images|Canva Pro

Do You Want Your Kids Arguing Like a Politician?

U.S. politics teaches kids to handle conflict by fighting dirty, not listening and responding with respect. Those lessons won’t serve them well in their own relationships. Key Points: Kids see... read more →
  • April 20, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
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FOR THE PRESS

Dr. Pam Rutledge, media psychologistDr. Pamela Rutledge is available to reporters for comments on the psychological and social impact of media and technology on individuals, society, organizations and brands.  pamelarutledge@gmail.com

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RECENT POSTS

  • Can Crowdsourcing Fix Dating Apps?
  • Are Grandparents the New “iPad Kids”?
  • The Popularity of “Dopamine Sites” Shows the Emotional Pay-off of Fake Food Orders
  • We Didn’t Prepare Kids for Social Media: Will We Do Better with AI?
  • Do You Want Your Kids Arguing Like a Politician?

MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH

The Media Psychology Research Center (MPRC) is an independent research organization directed by Dr. Pam Rutledge.  Read about MPRC at www.mprcenter.org.

CONSULTING PROJECTS

Dr. Rutledge consults on a variety of media projects using psychology to translate data into human behavior for powerful results.

  • Parenting in a Digital World webinar series
  • Persona Development for audience segmentation
  • Fan and Audience Engagement: Identifying audience narratives to satisfy needs
  • Brand Storytelling: Supercharging brand meaning

RECENT POSTS

  • Can Crowdsourcing Fix Dating Apps?
  • Are Grandparents the New “iPad Kids”?
  • The Popularity of “Dopamine Sites” Shows the Emotional Pay-off of Fake Food Orders
  • We Didn’t Prepare Kids for Social Media: Will We Do Better with AI?
  • Do You Want Your Kids Arguing Like a Politician?

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Content copyright Pamela Rutledge 2026.