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
War memes - propaganda

We’re Being Played: Propaganda, Memes and War

Packaging war in meme-driven narratives uses cultural cues to turn combat into entertainment, normalizing violence and influencing how future conflicts are perceived.Key pointsMemetic warfare uses pop culture symbols, like Call... read more →
  • April 1, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments

The Legacy of Daytime Talk Shows Lives in Your Feed

The talk shows never disappeared. Their conflict, confessions, and emotional manipulation became shareable spectacles on social media. Key Takeaways Talk shows turned emotional exposure into entertainment, but what was episodic... read more →
  • January 11, 2026
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
Social media parenting trends, like “FAFO parenting,” turn parenting into an identity marker, signaling moral values and amplifying social comparisons and anxiety about “doing it right.” Photo: Gaudi Lab/Canva

FAFO Parenting: Letting Kids Learn the Hard Way

The latest parenting trend on social media says let kids experience the consequences of their actions rather than intervening. Sounds good. Does it work? Key Points FAFO parenting emphasizes natural... read more →
  • November 13, 2025
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
Granfluencers Expose Ageist Stereotypes by Being Real. Photo by One Inch Punch

Rise of Granfluencers: Exposing Ageist Stereotypes by Being Real

Granfluencers are challenging social media norms and gaining millions of followers on TikTok by sharing joy, offering wisdom with a dash of humor, and being themselves. Key Points: There has... read more →
  • March 11, 2024
  • Pamela Rutledge
  • No Comments
Sharenting

4 Things to Know: Sharenting and the Risks of Putting Kids’ Pics Online

Online personas crafted by parents can hinder a child's identity development. Key Points Sharenting, even with the best intentions, can violate a child's privacy and disclose personal information. Social media... read more →
  • December 22, 2023
  • 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

  • Do You Want Your Kids Arguing Like a Politician?
  • U.S. Politics Look Like a Bad Marriage
  • We’re Being Played: Propaganda, Memes and War
  • The Legacy of Daytime Talk Shows Lives in Your Feed
  • Oprah's High Road: Diverging Paths in Daytime Talk Shows

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

  • Do You Want Your Kids Arguing Like a Politician?
  • U.S. Politics Look Like a Bad Marriage
  • We’re Being Played: Propaganda, Memes and War
  • The Legacy of Daytime Talk Shows Lives in Your Feed
  • Oprah's High Road: Diverging Paths in Daytime Talk Shows

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Content copyright Pamela Rutledge 2026.