| Contents |
Introduction: the many sides of psychology & the many faces of the movies : Goals of Psychology at the movies ; Story, entertainment and art in the movies ; A liberal use of psychology ; A symbolic framework for the psychology of film -- The search for meaning: psychological interpretations in the movies : Human behavior in the movies ; Unconscious conflict in the movies ; Archetypes in the movies ; Ideology in the movies ; Spectators in the movies ; The boons and banes of interpretation -- Psychopathology, psychotherapy & psycho-psychologists & their patients in the movies : Representations of psychological disorders ; Representations of psychologists and psychological treatment ; The impact of representations of psychology -- Crazy genius: the psychology of filmmakers : Psychobiography and filmmakers ; Auteurs: profiles of directors ; Star-gazing: profiles of actors ; Psychology of filmmakers: the case of Woody Allen ; Evaluating psychobiography -- Picturing the audience: psychological profiles of moviegoers : Movie audiences through the years ; The movies people watch ; The movies people like ; The viewers behind the numbers -- The cinematic moment: emotions & the comprehension of movies : Cognitive psychology and the movies ; The perception of movies ; The narrative comprehension of movies ; The emotional comprehension of movies ; Brain functioning and the movies ; An unlikely partnership -- Reflecting on the screen: the reception of movies : Viewer enjoyment of movies ; Viewer interpretations of movies ; The challenges of audience response -- The movies made me do it: the effects of film : Effects on behavior ; Effects on thoughts and emotions ; Propaganda and effects on culture ; The great debate over media effects -- Movies as equipment for living: the functions of film : Professional functions of movies ; General functions of movies in everyday life ; Personal functions of movies in everyday life ; Seeing movies from a different angle -- Conclusion: putting the pieces together : An appeal for interdisciplinarity ; Movies as art -- Appendix A. Mental health professionals in top box office grossing movies, 1990-1999 -- Appendix B. Three top 50 lists of acclaimed movies -- Appendix C. Emotionally arousing movie scenes -- Appendix D. Therapeutic movies. |
| Abstract |
All movies are psychologically alive, exploding with human drama. This drama can be seen from many different angles-in the movies themselves, in the people who make them, and in the people who watch them. Psychology at the Movies explores these issues and addresses how psychologists have interpreted movies and how psychotherapy and psychopathology have been depicted in film. The author also examines the psychological make-up of legendary directors, such as Hitchcock, Scorsese and Woody Allen, and actors such as Angelina Jolie and Jack Nicholson. Also considered is the powerful impact that film can have on its audience. The author draws upon his extensive experience in the fields of film and psychology to reveal the deep connections between the fantasy world of cinema and the realities of everyday life. Engagingly written to appeal to academics and movie fans alike, Psychology at the Movies is a front row ticket to issues at the forefront of popular cinema and the human mind. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-237), filmography (pages 239-247) and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2011042656 |
| ISBN | 9780470971772 (pbk.) |
| ISBN | 0470971770 (pbk.) |
