A Psychologist at the Movies

Personality

Impenetrable Suit, Susceptible Mind: Iron Man's Personality

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on October 10, 2017

What insights come from an analysis of Tony Stark's personality?

What insights come from an analysis of Tony Stark's personality?

Personality

Mad Love: Personality Disorders in Harley Quinn & the Joker

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on July 30, 2016

Do the Joker and Harley Quinn display common symptoms of personality disorders?

Do the Joker and Harley Quinn display common symptoms of personality disorders?

Relationships

Love in The Hunger Games

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on November 15, 2013

Why does Katniss fall for Peeta in The Hunger Games? This article discusses one possibility: The Misattribution of Arousal. Sometimes, scary situations lead to love.

Why does Katniss fall for Peeta in The Hunger Games? This article discusses one possibility: The Misattribution of Arousal. Sometimes, scary situations lead to love.

How much of this movie is Hollywood hogwash?

In "Remember the Titans," football leads to reduced racism. Does this accurately portray research and theory on eliminating prejudice?

Freudian Psychology

Freud & Jung in “A Dangerous Method”

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on October 1, 2012

How accurate is the psychology history in "A Dangerous Method?" History + Psychology + Sex = Awesome!

How accurate is the psychology history in "A Dangerous Method?" History + Psychology + Sex = Awesome!

How realistic is the portrayal of mental hospitals in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?"

How classical music, classic Hollywood, and classical conditioning come together in "A Clockwork Orange."

Relationships

Valentine’s Day at Hogwarts, Part 3

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on February 12, 2012

Why Harry Potter will never find a lasting romantic relationship.

Why Harry Potter will never find a lasting romantic relationship.

Anxiety

Valentine’s Day at Hogwarts, Part 2

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on February 8, 2012

Part Two in a series analyzing love in the world of Harry Potter.

Part Two in a series analyzing love in the world of Harry Potter.

Attachment

Valentine’s Day at Hogwarts

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on February 6, 2012

With Valentine's Day approaching, do you know how love works in Harry Potter's world? Read about Attachment Theory, psychology's most popular theory of love, within the world of Hogwarts.

With Valentine's Day approaching, do you know how love works in Harry Potter's world? Read about Attachment Theory, psychology's most popular theory of love, within the world of Hogwarts.

Terror Management Theory

Confronting Death in “Serenity”

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on December 8, 2011

Mortality salience in the film "Serenity" affects personality, love, and religion. A must-read for anyone who has confronted death--or for anyone who just loves Joss Whedon films.

Mortality salience in the film "Serenity" affects personality, love, and religion. A must-read for anyone who has confronted death--or for anyone who just loves Joss Whedon films.

Bias

Sexism in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”

Wind Goodfriend Ph.D. on November 28, 2011

Hostile Sexism is a clear theme in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." But is the heroine of the story, Lisbeth Salander, the most sexist character of all?

Hostile Sexism is a clear theme in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." But is the heroine of the story, Lisbeth Salander, the most sexist character of all?

The "Twilight" series can be used as a display of behaviors that put people at risk of abuse in relationships.