Popular Culture Psychology

Why didn't Peter Parker stop the burglar who killed Uncle Ben? Are Spider-Man's foes inherently evil, or are they victims of circumstances beyond their control? What do the many web-slinging superheroes across the Spider-Verse tell us about the choices we make in the world(s) we inhabit? And who really wants to date a superhero, anyway? Especially an underdog like Spider-Man... Spider-Man has been ranked among the best-selling superhero characters since the 1960s, often as the best-selling superhero of all time. Much of his popularity lies in his humanity and his status as the poster boy for neurotic superheroes. In Spider-Man Psychology: Untangling Webs, Travis Langley (author of the acclaimed Batman and Psychology and Stranger Things Psychology) is back with his team of expert contributors to plumb the psychological depths of our favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Drawing examples from comic book stories, motion pictures (including the animated blockbuster Spider-Verse movie series), and a few well-known video games or TV cartoons, Dr. Langley and his team will untangle a variety of sticky psychological issues found throughout the famed web slinger's time-tested saga to help readers better understand psychology.

How do people stay true to themselves in times of crisis? Where does anyone find the strength to stand up in the face of oppression? When will the worst side of human nature wither before the best? Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale has captivated readers for four decades and continues to stir popular conversation and controversy through the hit Hulu television series. The story has grown into a cautionary tale evoking fear and concern, and yet it also inspires many. The Handmaid's Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red delves into the psychology of the characters and events depicted in each version of Atwood's epic, both in print and on screen. Through 18 chapters, psychologists and therapists look deeply into the fiction, analyzing it both personally and professionally to unearth its message about real human truths. Topics include oppression, resistance, power, identity, violence, posttraumatic stress versus posttraumatic growth, good versus evil, morality versus mortality, spirituality versus religion, helplessness versus hopefulness, and more.

How does an immortal deal with death?What can an ancient Time Lord teach us about real human nature?Why does the Doctor say he and Freud "got on very well"?How do the Daleks and Cybermen reflect concerns about losing our humanity?And what new challenges loom ahead when the Doctor regenerates as a woman?Hailed as the "most successful sci-fi series ever made" (Guinness World Records), Doctor Who has been a cult-classic for more than half a century. And though time may not be the boss-Rule 408-as times change, so too do social norms and psychological challenges, which have paved the way for a new kind of Doctor who can appeal to the modern viewer.Revised and updated for our changing times, the second edition of Doctor Who Psychology: Times Change explores the alien in us all. Travis Langley's fascinating in-depth collection delves into the psychology behind the time-traveling Doctor in his many iterations-as men and women-as well as his companions and his foes. With a foreword by Third Doctor Companion Katy Manning, an introduction to the second edition, and new interviews with actors who have played Doctors new and old, Doctor Who Psychology: Times Change travels through the how and why of Who. Contributors to the second edition include:Jenna Busch * Erin Currie * Jim Davies * Kristin Erickson * Wind Goodfriend * Daniel Hand * David Kyle Johnson * Billy San Juan * Deirdre Kelly * Alan Kistler * Travis Langley * Katy Manning * Justine Mastin * Matt Munson * Miranda Pollock * Stephen Prescott * Sarita Robinson * Aaron Sagers * Daniel Saunders * Janina Scarlet * William Sharp

Batman is one of the most compelling and enduring characters to come from the Golden Age of Comics, and interest in his story has only increased through countless incarnations since his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. Why does this superhero without superpowers fascinate us? What does that fascination say about us? Batman and Psychology explores these and other intriguing questions about the masked vigilante, including: Does Batman have PTSD? Why does he fight crime? Why as a vigilante? Why the mask, the bat, and the underage partner? Why are his most intimate relationships with "bad girls" he ought to lock up? And why won't he kill that homicidal, green-haired clown? Combining psychological theory with the latest in psychological research, Batman and Psychology takes you on an unprecedented journey behind the mask and into the dark mind of your favorite Caped Crusader and his never-ending war on crime.

Monsters of the Upside Down, beware! Travis Langley (author of the acclaimed Batman and Psychology) returns with a group of expert contributors to explore these and other questions to shine a light on true human nature through the Netflix series and cultural phenomenon, Stranger Things. When do feelings of grief, guilt, depression, fear, and isolation tear us down, and how do we transform them into hope, inspiration, forgiveness, acceptance, and motivation to do what's right? Growing up is hard enough without metaphors for the dangers that lurk in life's shadows springing to life in the form of monsters, villains, conspiracies, and enemy soldiers. • How do we navigate friendships to unite against bullying and its many forms? • What happens to missing persons' families or those once lost upon their return? • Can games and fantasy help us connect with others and make sense of real life? Stranger Things Psychology: Life Upside Down descends into the dark side of adolescence to find the light on the other side of the ultimate coming-of-age story. Contributors: Travis Adams * Jenna Busch * Shelly Clevenger * Erin Currie * Victor Dandridge Jr. * Andrea Frantz * Larisa A. Garski * Wind Goodfriend * Vanessa Hintz * J. Scott Jordan * Greta Kaluzeviciute * Alex Langley * Kevin Lu * Harpreet Malla * Justine Mastin * Brittani Oliver Sillas-Navarro * Leandra Parris * Billy San Juan * Janina Scarlet * William Sharp * Benjamin A. Stover * Eric D. Wesselmann The proceeds go to help rescue and assist missing and exploited children.