Summary
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.
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.
Contents
The positive psychology of superheroes / Christopher Peterson and Nansook ParkThe social psychology of the Justice league of America / Wind Goodfriend
Superman's personality / Robin S. Rosenberg
Anti-heroism in the continuum of good and evil / Michael Spivey and Steven Knowlton
Positive psychology of Peter Parker / Robert Biwas-Diener
Prejudice lessons from the Xavier Institute / Mikhail Lyubansky
When I grow up I want to be a superhero / Bryan J. Dik
Is there a superhero in all of us? / Peter A. Hancock and Gabriella M. Hancock
Mind-reading superheroes / William J. Ickes
An appetite for destruction / Chuck Tate
The stereotypical (Wonder) woman / Chuck Tate
What would Freud say? / Andrew R. Getzfeld
Coming to terms with bizarro / Siamak Tundra Naficy
Coping with stress... the superhero way / Stephanie R. deLuseĢ
Arkham Asylum / Bradley J. Daniels
The incredible Hulk / Christopher J. Patrick and Sarah K. Patrick
Gender typicality and extremity in popular culture / Kerri L. Johnson, Leah E. Lurye, and Jonathan B. Freeman
Cracking the superhero's moral code / Peter DeScioli and Robert Kurzban.
Additional Information
| Series | BenBella Books psychology of popular culture series. |
| Subjects |
Conduct of life.
Heroes -- Psychology. Typology (Psychology) Self-actualization (Psychology) |
| Publisher | Dallas, Tex. : [Chicago, IL] :BenBella Books ;2008 Distributed by Independent Publishers Group, |
| Contributors |
Rosenberg, Robin S.
Canzoneri, Jennifer. |
| Language |
English |
| Description |
vi, 259 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm. |
| Bibliography Notes |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| ISBN | 1933771313 9781933771311 |
| Other | Classic View |