Psychology and Pop Culture: An Empirical Adventure examines the psychological aspects of pop culture preferences, personality, and behavior from across sixteen research studies. The authors analyze such phenomena as superhero and antihero fandoms, internet trolls, women in popular culture, generational preferences, and romance and sexuality. Analyzing pop culture in the context of the #MeToo movement, LGBTQIA+ representation, and contemporary politics, Keith W. Beard, April Fugett, and Britani Black pay close attention to contemporary issues of inclusion and marginalization.

This latest installment in the Psychology of Popular Culture series turns its focus to superheroes. Superheroes have survived and fascinated for more than 70 years in no small part due to their psychological depth. In The Psychology of Superheroes, almost two dozen psychologists get into the heads of today's most popular and intriguing superheroes. Why do superheroes choose to be superheroes? Where does Spider-Man's altruism come from, and what does it mean? Why is there so much prejudice against the X-Men, and how could they have responded to it, other than the way they did? Why are super-villains so aggressive? The Psychology of Superheroes answers these questions, exploring the inner workings our heroes usually only share with their therapists.

With a Foreword by Danny Fingeroth, former Group Editor of Marvel's Spider-Man comics line Popular culture, simply stated, is the language of a people, expressed through everything from its clothing, food choices, and religious practices to its media. The popular and predominant values, interests, and needs of a society find their way into mass consciousness through a variety of venues including literature, cinema, television, video games, sport, and music. Through the inter-related forces of mass production, global marketing and the Internet, the fruits of popular culture penetrate into stores, living rooms, and everyday experience of children, teens, and adults in the form of catchphrases, toys, iconography, celebrities, and indelible images. Psychotherapists and counselors who can tap into the powerful images, messages, and icons of popular culture have at their disposal an unlimited universe of resources for growth, change, and healing. Using real-world case examples and sound psychological theory, this book demonstrates how you can immediately start incorporating popular culture icons and images into your counseling or therapy. In this way, the authors will help elevate your ability to conduct clinical interviews with clients of all ages and all types of clinical problems.

Have you ver wondered why people are the way they are? Or why some fictional characters are so memorable? This fun look at personality psychology (yes, fun) explores how some very popular characters are able to worm their way into our hearts. Through the lens of typology, the works of Charles Schulz, J.K. Rowling, and others are seen more fully, and insight is given as to why they are so loved by people all over the world across multiple generations. It just may change how you see the world too.

Using the authors’ clinical practices and their teaching experiences, along with a series of quotes from movies, TV, advertising and music, this book will help the reader navigate real-world issues. For instance, “Show me the money,” from Jerry Maguire, offers sound financial advice, and “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” from Gone with the Wind, provides insight about love and loss. These references from popular culture help clarify and instruct; they also explain that the prevalence of images, sounds, and words that surround us have something to offer. Indeed, the book allows the authors to come from behind their couches and give direct practical advice, as well as information about ourselves, from the everyday echoes of popular culture. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/popular-culture-meets-psychology/200907/self-help-through-popular-culture-i-money

This e-book presents a crucial work in the systematic study of educators’ cinematic reflections and to what extent could these be interpreted in terms of the theoretical framework of Habermas’s domains of reflection and discursive acts. The chapters in this volume altogether describe important theoretical developments, data analysis, and significant findings about the importance of popular film in pedagogy. The topics in this book present an exploratory view of reflective practices, cinematic experiences and journaling. Sample essays are also provided for the benefit of readers. It is through these converging possible cinematic explorations that we may be able to move from solitary/monologic reflective practices to a rational reconstructive educational pedagogy. This e-book will be of interest to students, researchers and teachers in the realm of psychology, education and pedagogy.

Harry Potter has provided a portal to the wizarding world for millions of readers, but an examination of Harry, his friends and his enemies will take us on yet another journey: through the psyche of the Muggle (and wizard!) mind. The twists and turns of the series, as well as the psychological depth and complexity of J. K. Rowling’s characters, have kept fans enthralled with and puzzling over the many mysteries that permeate Hogwarts and beyond: • Do the Harry Potter books encourage disobedience? • Why is everyone so fascinated by Professor Lupin? • What exactly will Harry and his friends do when they finally pass those N.E.W.T.s? • Do even wizards live by the ticking of the clock? • Is Harry destined to end up alone? And why did it take Ron and Hermione so long to get together? Now, in The Psychology of Harry Potter, leading psychologists delve into the ultimate Chamber of Secrets, analyzing human mind and motivation by examining the themes and characters that make the Harry Potter books the bestselling fantasy series of all time. Grab a spot on the nearest couch, and settle in for some fresh revelations about our favorite young wizard!