Research Paper: How the Media Affects National Psyche
Following the American Psychological Guidelines
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Introduction
National psychology refers to the idiosyncratic emotional character of specific states, cultural groups or immigrates. It is a common assumption that diverse cultural parties or individuals habiting a specific state, are commonly characterized by a unique mixture of human attitudes, principles, virtues and emotions. National psychology plays various imperative roles in the development of a country. For instance, from a political dimension, politicians will appeal to people using common national identity such as the “ Russian people.”
Media may refer to tools that are required to store and deliver information in form of processed data to people. There are various types of media known to man. However, this paper focusses on the various means of communication that include televisions, newspapers, radios and magazines. This forms of communication are widely known for their ability to influence people’s views and opinions. Media plays a vital role in the influence of national psychology.
The influence of media on national psychology has been under scrutiny for several years. Studies show that media can indeed affect psychology of an individual directly or indirectly. There are several theories that have been postulated to support this notion. One of the theories is media psychology. “Theories of psychology have been formed from synthesis of philosophy and physiology.( Luskin, 2010).
Media psychologists developing such theories focus on the identification of plausible advantages and disadvantages of all factors surrounding the interaction between media and psychology. This consequences are quite flexible and can either influence the majority inhabitants of a state negatively or positively. This paper will focus on the influence of media on national psychology using two countries as major examples: Russia and Canada
The media in Russia presents a wide range of broad casting and print outlets that are made available to the public. This media offers all kind of in depth perspectives and caters for varied tastes and preferences. There are approximately ninety three thousand media outlets in Russia which comprise of twenty seven thousand newspaper and three hundred and thirty television channels.
There are three television channels that have wide national outreach that posse general influence to the public. According to studies conducted about the media preference in Russia, the three television channels are given first priority followed by the national newspaper and then the internet. The three television channels have been widely condemned for their lack of neutrality. The television coverage presents propagandas, half-truths and a varied mixture of perceptions.
These channels are operated by the government. Therefore the information passed to the public is under the influence of the state legislations. The channels are known to incite Russians in favor of the government, and this, according to current studies, have changes the opinion of the public to work in the favor of the government’s opinion.
Studies have validated that television has been used by the current Russian president Vladimir Putin to lay the framework for the steps that he intends to take. Most of the programs aired on the television stations during the day relate to the epic activities of the Soviet Army during the period when they liberated the Crimea and Sevastopol. (Vladimir, 2013). This has been translated by media psychologist as a means to which the government is introducing the concept of use of force to the public.
Recent days have shown the massive resignation of media personalities working for the Russian networks. Abby Martin, a Washington based anchor from Russia, recently created an uproar when she denounced Russia’s involvement that occurred during a broadcast on Monday. Her reasons for her actions, which were made public were that, were that it was not according to their policy to allow the media intervention and that it was actually possible to disagree with Russia.
Following her decision, Liz Wahl, a Russian news anchor resigned on air stating that she did not “want to be part of a network funded by the Russian government in a bid to whitewash the actions of Vladimir Putin.
These actions reflect on the extent to which the government, through the media, brainwashes its citizens through the media. This has then affected the national psychology such that Russians have opinions that work in favor of what their president intends to do.
Canada is known to possess a rich media environment that is enjoyed by both the old and the young. The influence posed by this exposure is quite profound and in many occasions reflects back on the views that they have on themselves and the world around them. Studies show that the media exposure in Canada has been linked to aggressive behavior that impacts on the mental psychology of the viewers. The Canadian media has been known to impinge on the democracy of the country by playing with national psychology.
The broad casting sector of Canada is funded by the government. The government is also responsible for controlling media ownership. The information passed over the media is under the influence of the government such that whatever is passed over to the citizens is the opinion of the government. This strategy has been validated to work in the favor of the government in that the public are psychological made to reason and believe in whatever information they receive from the media.
This is a major example of how media has influence over the psychology including the opinion of the public. Recent controversies in the news have claimed that the prime minister of Canada has used his influence with the media to influence the news that is being broadcasted to the public in a bid to brain wash the public opinion. It has been further claimed that The Aspers, who are in charge of a television channel that receives good reception in Canada have bribed the liberal party of Canada so as to impinge on the freedom of press and diversity of the people.
Various studies validate the fact that most Canadians are under the influence of the information passed on to them by the press such that no matter the weight of opinion, they are swayed towards what they perceive from the media.
CONCLUSION
The countries above are examples on how the national psychology is dependent on media influence. Both Russia and Canada experience a media system that is controlled by the government, such that whatever information is relayed is based on what is deemed right to the people in power. This system is very effective in swaying the public opinion to the most favorable side of the state legislation.

References
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