Psychology of the Sound Film

As an educational instrument the sound film is particularly effective for influencing people in groups, bringing to bear factors in social as well as individual psychology: social facilitation, the impression of universality, and prestige. The physical conditions under which its message is received and the absorption of the audience in the continuity of the screen story polarize the attention almost to the degree of hypnosis, with corresponding effect upon the subconscious and memory. Little intellectual effort is required to comprehend the meaning of visual-action images when coordinated with spoken words. The appeal to the emotions is equally strong through the control of empathic responses by means of meaningful real-life situations dramatically portrayed. Self-identification by the audience with the screen characters and subject matter provides vicarious experience, short-cuts the learning process, and arouses the will to believe or to act.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1947-09

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J11808