Verified by Psychology Today

Mirror, Mirror

Reflections on/of self and others in popular culture.

Health
Can Celebrities Help Increase Vaccine Turn-Out?

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on April 16, 2021

On the fence about getting a COVID vaccine? Celebrities may be able to help influence vaccine-hesitant people, if they take the right approach.

On the fence about getting a COVID vaccine? Celebrities may be able to help influence vaccine-hesitant people, if they take the right approach.

Beauty
Face of Controversy

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on April 29, 2017

Why Plagiarism Isn't the Only "Lesson in Exploitation" of Michelle Obama's Controversial Mural Image

Why Plagiarism Isn't the Only "Lesson in Exploitation" of Michelle Obama's Controversial Mural Image

Bias
Familiar Stereotypes in Feminist Clothing

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on July 8, 2015

Melissa McCarthy's new screwball action comedy "Spy" is successful for a reason: it's well-made and brilliantly acted. It even feels vaguely empowering, given that female leads (who don't look like Angelina Jolie) are near-absent from the action film landscape. However, underneath progressive trappings lurk various forms of sexism that should temper our applause.

Melissa McCarthy's new screwball action comedy "Spy" is successful for a reason: it's well-made and brilliantly acted. It even feels vaguely empowering, given that female leads (who don't look like Angelina Jolie) are near-absent from the action film landscape. However, underneath progressive trappings lurk various forms of sexism that should temper our applause.

Media
Three Reasons Why We Shouldn't Confuse Selfies with Vanity

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on September 30, 2014

Everywhere you turn, someone is worrying about or debating the perceived epidemic levels of vanity and narcissism thought to motivate selfies and other forms of self-oriented social media behavior. However, framing the issue as one of superficial self-aggrandizement may be neither accurate nor useful. Here are at least three reasons why...

Everywhere you turn, someone is worrying about or debating the perceived epidemic levels of vanity and narcissism thought to motivate selfies and other forms of self-oriented social media behavior. However, framing the issue as one of superficial self-aggrandizement may be neither accurate nor useful. Here are at least three reasons why...

Beauty
If Only "That Perfect Girl" Were "Gone"

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on May 21, 2014

Just when it seems that everything interesting and relevant about Disney's Frozen has been said, there is a bit more to say about Elsa's record-breaking, break-out song. Although we would hope young children could embrace the spirit of autonomy and leave the Barbie/Bratz imagery behind, research suggests beauty norms may be hard to disentangle from other inspiring ideals.

Just when it seems that everything interesting and relevant about Disney's Frozen has been said, there is a bit more to say about Elsa's record-breaking, break-out song. Although we would hope young children could embrace the spirit of autonomy and leave the Barbie/Bratz imagery behind, research suggests beauty norms may be hard to disentangle from other inspiring ideals.

Media
Understanding the Oscar Obsession

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on February 24, 2014

Last year about 40 million people tuned in to watch the Academy Awards. Why do we care? What is it about celebrities and their performances that are so darn riveting? Research at the intersection of psychology and communication offers an answer: parasocial interaction, a seeming, powerful intimacy that develops between media figures and audiences.

Last year about 40 million people tuned in to watch the Academy Awards. Why do we care? What is it about celebrities and their performances that are so darn riveting? Research at the intersection of psychology and communication offers an answer: parasocial interaction, a seeming, powerful intimacy that develops between media figures and audiences.

Bias
Hear Me Roar! Kudrow's Character Tackles Sexism, Head On.

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on November 9, 2013

In the latest episode of Scandal, Lisa Kudrow's defiant speech as Congresswoman and presidential hopeful, Josie Marcus, exposes a subtle form of "benevolent sexism," and shows that it is okay, and actually important, to be furious about it. She is taken seriously as a political contender after she passionately accuses the press of undermining women's political ambitions.

In the latest episode of Scandal, Lisa Kudrow's defiant speech as Congresswoman and presidential hopeful, Josie Marcus, exposes a subtle form of "benevolent sexism," and shows that it is okay, and actually important, to be furious about it. She is taken seriously as a political contender after she passionately accuses the press of undermining women's political ambitions.

Sex
Miles to Go...

Dara Greenwood Ph.D. on October 4, 2013

Miley Cyrus continues to be a pop cultural lightning rod, eliciting heated criticism, admiration, and parody. I offer some thoughts on Sinead O'Connor's (first) open letter to Miley, why Miley continues to matter, and how we can keep her role, and our own, in perspective.

Miley Cyrus continues to be a pop cultural lightning rod, eliciting heated criticism, admiration, and parody. I offer some thoughts on Sinead O'Connor's (first) open letter to Miley, why Miley continues to matter, and how we can keep her role, and our own, in perspective.