PSY 360 - Psychology & Popular Culture

3 Credits

Psychology has often been a topic treated in popular film (movies and television). Mental illness, therapeutic practice, human experimentation, and client-practitioner relationships, have been and continue to be represented with varying degrees of accuracy and authenticity. Such film treatments have run the gamut from comedy to drama. At best, some films have arguably helped foster social change, while at worst others have portrayed Psychology and psychological issues in inaccurate and potentially damaging ways. While such representations, both positive and negative, can influence public impressions of the field, such popular art can also have consequences for the professional as well. Through a careful examination of selected films, students will develop a deeper appreciation of the role such art may play in influencing public perception of Science in general and Psychology in particular. By attaining greater understanding of how popular culture may impart problematic perceptions of the field, the student will be better versed and better able to anticipate and address biases and misconceptions of the public.

Prerequisite(s):