Psychology at the Movies [Paperback]

Psychology at the Movies explores the insights to be gained by applying various psychological lenses to popular films including cinematic depictions of human behavior, the psychology of filmmakers, and the impact of viewing movies.

• Uses the widest range of psychological approaches to explore movies, the people who make them, and the people who watch them
• Written in an accessible style with vivid examples from a diverse group of popular films, such as The Silence of the Lambs, The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Taxi Driver, Good Will Hunting, and A Beautiful Mind
• Brings together psychology, film studies, mass communication, and cultural studies to provide an interdisciplinary perspective
• Features an extensive bibliography for further exploration of various research fields

List of Illustrations and Figures xi

Acknowledgments xiii

1. Introduction—The Many Sides of Psychology and the Many Faces of the Movies 3

Goals of Psychology at the Movies 6

Story, Entertainment and Art in the Movies 9

A Liberal Use of Psychology 10

A Symbolic Framework for the Psychology of Film 12

Organization of Psychology at the Movies 14

Further Reading 16

2. The Search for Meaning—Psychological Interpretations in the Movies 19

Human Behavior in the Movies 21

Unconscious Conflict in the Movies 24

Archetypes in the Movies 28

Ideology in the Movies 30

Spectators in the Movies 33

Closing Shots: The Boons and Banes of Interpretation 37

Further Reading 39