Dr. Mu Hu’s research interests are primarily in the area of media psychology. He is particularly interested in the illusive interaction (“parasocial interaction” or “PSI”) and relationship (“parasocial relationship” or “PSR”) between media users and media figures or characters. His recent research has focused on the relationships between PSR and audiences cognition, attitudes, and behaviors. He is now working on the influence of PSR on audiences attitudes toward clinical depression, romantic beliefs, and online shopping.
Dr. Mu Hu has been teaching a wide array of courses in communication area, which include introduction to media studies, public speaking, communication theory, seminar in communication, research methods, persuasion, intercultural communication, and fundamentals of human communication.
Dr. Mu Hu likes traveling, reading novels, watching BBC documentaries, and visiting his hometown. He is an avid San Antonio Spurs fan since high school.