Psychology of Media & Technology

There are a lot of physical changes when you become a mom.  Some research suggests that pregnancy impairs memory temporarily. It certainly was true for me, although I think that's nature's way of making the next kid seem like a good idea.  (It was.) The hormonal changes also increase the drive to connect and heighten sensitivity to danger to protect your young -- all of which makes sense from an evolutionary perspective.  Thus we gain vigilance and lose the ability to sleep deeply through the night and movies with gore or child abduction lose their appeal.  #mediapsychology #parenting #fightorflight #scarymovies

The rise of Influencer marketing as created a new dimension in storytelling, somewhere between Reality TV and true confessions. It is ripe with archetypes and emotions.  While it has disrupted multiple business models, it also raises the ante on the increasing monetization of personal lives and can put them in direct conflict with values, ethics and well being, especially when it comes to young children. More to come.  #mediapsychology #influencerpsychology #influencerparenting

Don't fall into the trap of thinking the conspicuous showing off is all because of social media.  Social media didn't invent bragging.  For parents, there is a continual struggle to raise children with any form of privilege or affluence and to avoid a sense of entitlement that will damage their future relationships or undermine a healthy sense of self.  Wealth without effort can negatively impact self-esteem and make teens and young adults especially vulnerable to being ‘liked’ on social media.

The best reviews come from skeptics.  See this thoughtful piece on @dianagraber 's new book Raising Humans in a Digital World