Psychology at the Movies

Skip Dine Young is a Professor of Psychology at Hanover College in Indiana. He is a licensed clinical psychologist with interests in popular culture, narrative psychology and human development.

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

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
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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
 
3. Psychopathology, Psychotherapy and Psycho--Psychologists and Their Patients in the Movies 43
 
Representations of Psychological Disorders 44
 
Representations of Psychologists and Psychological Treatment 49
 
Closing Shots: The Impact of Representations of Psychology 55
 
Further Reading 60
 
4. Crazy Genius--The Psychology of Filmmakers 63
 
Psychobiography and Filmmakers 64
 
Auteurs: Profiles of Directors 65
 
Star-Gazing: Profiles of Actors 69
 
Psychology for Filmmakers: The Case ofWoody Allen 73
 
Closing Shots: Evaluating Psychobiography 76
 
Further Reading 77
 
5. Picturing the Audience--Psychological Profiles of Moviegoers 81
 
Movie Audiences through the Years 83
 
The Movies PeopleWatch 85
 
The Movies People Like 88
 
Closing Shots: The Viewers behind the Numbers 91
 
Further Reading 91
 
6. The Cinematic Moment--Emotions and the Comprehension of Movies 95
 
Cognitive Psychology and the Movies 96
 
The Perception of Movies 97
 
The Narrative Comprehension of Movies 99
 
The Emotional Comprehension of Movies 101
 
Brain Functioning and the Movies 107
 
Closing Shots: An Unlikely Partnership 109
 
Further Reading 110
 
7. Reflecting on the Screen--The Reception of Movies 113
 
Viewer Enjoyment of Movies 115
 
Viewer Interpretations of Movies 120
 
Closing Shots: The Challenges of Audience Response 126
 
Further Reading 127
 
8. The Movies Made Me Do It--The Effects of Film 131
 
Effects on Behavior 133
 
Effects on Thoughts and Emotions 139
 
Propaganda and Effects on Culture 143
 
Closing Shots: The Great Debate over Media Effects 145
 
Further Reading 149
 
9. Movies as Equipment for Living--The Functions of Film 153
 
Professional Functions of Movies 155
 
General Functions of Movies in Everyday Life 159
 
Personal Functions of Movies in Everyday Life 161
 
Closing Shots: Seeing Movies from a Different Angle 168
 
Further Reading 169
 
10. Conclusion--Putting the Pieces Together 173
 
An Appeal for Interdisciplinarity 177
 
Movies as Art 179
 
Appendix A: Mental Health Professionals in Top Box Office Grossing Movies, 1990-1999 181
 
Appendix B: Three Top 50 Lists of Acclaimed Movies 183
 
Appendix C: Emotionally Arousing Movie Scenes 187
 
Appendix D: Therapeutic Movies 189
 
Endnotes 191
 
Bibliography 219
 
Filmography 239
 
Index 249