The Superficiality of Psychology in the Media

In today's world it is impossible to escape the reach of television and film. In this media- centric society psychology is an omnipresent concept in media. However, it is not the scientific, accurate side of psychology that is portrayed. Rather, psychology in the media is expressly superficial. Media-psychology's superficiality stems from television and film's misrepresentation of psychologists, and our society's misuse of psychology in online dating.

Psychologists are given a bad rap on screen. Any American television watcher can tell you this. There are, however, several variations of psychologists portrayal in the media. The first is the monotone, overly-psychoanalytic forensic psychologist. This psychologist can be found on shows such as Law and Order or CSI. They posses an astounding knowledge of criminal psychology, and somehow are always up to date on the latest study (the information of which they are always ready to regurgitate on hand) (Cannon). The next, and much more common portrayal of a psychologist in the media is the "achilles-heel" psychologist. Who is a morally sound person but commits some terrible ethical violation, like having an affair with their patients brother. (Yes, that happens in Prince of Tides with I Barbara Streishand) (Sleek 1). In the article How are psychologists portrayed on screen? by Scott Sleek from the APA Monitor, Harriet T.

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Schultz and Irving Schneider, MD, produced a cataloging system for psychologists in the media. They are as follow:

* 'Dr. Dippy,' who is crazier or zanier than his patients. Examples are Mel Brooks in 'High Anxiety' or TV's Frasier Crane.

* 'Dr. Evil,' usually a corrupt mind-controller or homicidal maniac like Hannibal Lecter in 'Silence of the Lambs.'

* 'Dr. Wonderful,' the warm, caring, competent therapist who has endless time to devote to patients and often cures them by uncovering a single traumatic event. Examples are the psychiatrists in 'Ordinary People' and 'Three Faces of Eve.'

* 'Dr. Rigid,' who stifles joy, fun and creativity. The spoilsport psychologist who tries to have Santa Claus committed as a lunatic in 'Miracle on 34th Street' is an illustration of this stereotype.

* 'Dr. Line-Crosser,' who becomes romantically involved with a patient, like Streisand in 'Prince of Tides.' (Sleek 2)

Even in a study of 500 college students only 90% of the participants knew that romantic relationships with your therapist was wrong, and more astonishingly, only 70% knew that it was unethical for "therapists to have business or social relations once treatment had ended (Sleek 2)." It is clear that psychologists have been misrepresented in the media, and because of this, the population as a whole has gross misconceptions about psychologists.

More astounding then a psychologist's portrayal in the media, is the use and superficiality of psychology in the media. Our media has an extreme emphasis on social psychology and our interactions with others, and the American society drowns itself in the online