Learning objective

The overarching learning goal is for students to reflect on their own media consumption and critically analyse the psychological functions of films and genres. Students should identify the primary needs and desires their consumption satisfies and consider how this consumption compensates for real-life deficits (the Gap Hypothesis).

Content and methods

The worksheet uses any chosen genre as a central case study. Content includes the psychological incentives (such as escapism or a desire for security), the effects of formal patterns, and critical aspects (for example, unrealistic expectations). Methods are:

• Individual inventory (“Personal Seismogram”) of the preferred genre and the primary needs it addresses
• Text analysis of the chosen genre, followed by research and brief explanations of unfamiliar terms
• Partner work to reflect on the function of consumption (distance versus closeness to reality)
• Hypothesis formation (the Gap Hypothesis), where students propose how their consumption compensates for everyday deficits

Competencies

• Self-reflection: Analyse personal media consumption and the psychological needs behind it
• Text and research skills: Understand complex psychological relationships in texts and explain key terms in the genre’s context
• Critical thinking: Distinguish between the genre’s idealised depictions and real-life situations

Target group and level

Upper secondary educators and students