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 ...

The next entry in Sterling's Popular Culture Psychology series features twenty chapters and exclusive interviews with cast members and Rod Roddenberry. In a fun and accessible way, Star Trek Psychology delves deep into the psyches of the show's well-known and beloved characters. The trailblazing franchise spans five TV series, thirteen films, and countless novelizations. It celebrated, as no other form of entertainment had before, a world filled with space-traveling dreams and hum...

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, a...

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 the following: Does Batman have PTSD? Why does he fig...

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,...

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 . . .Spide...

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...

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, a...

By understanding the psychological forces that drive The Walking Dead’s action, fans can better grasp Robert Kirkman's compelling fictional universe. Which characters suffer PTSD, which show the most hope for recovery, and which instead show posttraumatic growth? Has Rick Grimes lost his mind? What's it like for a kid like Carl growing up during the zombie apocalypse? Is the Governor a psychopath, a sociopath, or something even worse? What does that make Negan? What is the emotion...

This thought-provoking anthology offers a close examination of the psychology behind the intricate narrative and compelling characters in author George R.R. Martin's bestselling work, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the popular HBO TV series based upon his books, Game of Thrones.In Martin's richly detailed world, deceit, manipulation, and greed rule the day, and almost everyone fights for power over the realm or simply over their own lives. How do love and hate, good ...

This provocative collection, edited by acclaimed media psychology writer Travis Langley and with a foreword by the legendary Stan Lee, examines the complex psychological and political choices made by Captain America and Iron Man throughout their careers, culminating in Marvel's superhero civil war which spreads far beyond the Avengers themselves. Why do Steve Rogers and Tony Stark see things so differently? What are their motivations? Is either one truly in the right? Captain America v...

How does an immortal deal with death? What kind of person makes the best Companion? 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 can looking at an ancient Time Lord teach us about real human nature? Doctor Who Psychology: A Madman with a Box explores these questions and many more. Chapters include:●"Getting to the Hearts of Time Lord Personality Change"●"Who's Who: Interv...