The review and perspective of the study on manga in psychology

Ieshima, Akihiko

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

心理学におけるマンガに関する研究の概観と展望
シンリガクニオケルマンガニカンスルケンキュウノガイカントテンボウ

Search this article

Description

The purpose of this paper was to grasp the history of the study about manga (Japanese comics) in psychology and to consider its possibilities and prospects. First, I discuss manga and its four distinctions: (1) visibility (it is composed of unique symbols and sentences); (2) popularity (=it is very popular in Japan not only among children but also among adults); (3) communicability (it is very easy to read); (4) fictionality (the stories are fiction). Next, I reviewed and introduced old studies about manga in psychology. The main focus of these studies had been their bad influence on children. It meant that we must focus on the good influence of manga and its influence on adults. The main studies about it in psychology have been on educational, cognitive, and clinical psychology. Third, I thought about the possibility of a new study of manga in psychology and about its prospects. I enumerated some research examples that might be possible, suggesting the term "manga psychology".

Journal

Kyoto University Research Studies in Education

Kyoto University Research Studies in Education 53 166-180, 2007-03-31

京都大学大学院教育学研究科