Mediatized trauma: theoretical and methodological foundations for research

Section: Sociology of Journalism

In this article, the authors aim to explore the concept of “mediatized trauma,” including the conditions for its emergence and its manifestations. The scientific literature establishes a consistent link between media consumption of potentially traumatic content—such as disasters, terrorist attacks, and wars—and the manifestation of anxiety, post-traumatic symptoms, and other negative consequences in audiences. The development of online platforms has qualitatively transformed modern media consumption, granting audiences unlimited access to potentially traumatic content. Consequently, studying the emergence and dynamics of mediatized trauma in the context of deep mediatization is highly significant. The authors conducted eight expert interviews with specialists in psychological trauma. According to the interviewed psychologists, mediatized trauma, in terms of its occurrence and subsequent development, can be classified as a form of “witness trauma.” Informational visual content exerts a powerful influence on the psyche and holds significant potential for traumatization. The degree of audience trauma depends largely on how the content creators construct the video sequence and the meanings embedded in it. Additionally, the level of traumatization varies according to the “psychological profile” of the individual, including their psychological resilience and preparedness. The manifestations of mediatized trauma closely resemble those of unmediated trauma, characterized by heightened anxiety, insomnia, emotional agitation, and a diminished sense of security and control over one’s life.

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To cite this article: Vyrkovsky A. V., Krasheninnikova M. A., Mamedov J. Z. (2024) Mediatizirovannaya travma: teoreticheskie i metodologicheskie osnovaniya dlya izucheniya [Mediatized trauma: theoretical and methodological foundations for research]. Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seriya 10. Zhurnalistika 6: 136–157. DOI: 10.55959/msu.vestnik.journ.6.2024.136157