Psychology Through the Lens of Film

Where Psychology Meets Film

CinemaPsych explores the psychological science behind films both popular and obscure—helping listeners understand movies and the human mind a little better.

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Film, Psychology, and Meaningful Conversation

CinemaPsych brings psychological science into conversations about characters, stories, relationships, behavior, and the ways films represent the human experience.

Explore Films

Browse films discussed on the podcast and discover the psychology concepts connected with each title.

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Explore Psychology

Search the database through topics such as memory, emotion, relationships, social influence, and mental health.

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Teach and Learn

Find publications, research, classroom resources, and practical tools for using film to explore psychology.

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Behind the Microphone

About CinemaPsych

Created by cognitive psychologist Dr. Alexander B. Swan, CinemaPsych brings psychological science, film analysis, and thoughtful conversation together in one podcast.

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CinemaPsych

Psychological science, thoughtful analysis, and a genuine love of movies.

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Explore Psychology Concepts

Select a concept to see films and episodes connected with that area of psychology. The number beside each concept indicates how many database entries currently use that topic.

Social Psychology 88 entries Cognitive Psychology 70 entries Relationships 66 entries Clinical Psychology 62 entries Developmental Psychology 52 entries Family Dynamics 46 entries
Browse the Complete Concept Library
aggression 41 attachment 21 attitudes 26 Behavioral Psychology 19 belief 19 childhood trauma 23 Clinical Psychology 62 Cognitive Psychology 70 conformity 19 coping 29 death 23 Developmental Psychology 52 diagnosis 21 emotions 39 family dynamics 46 fear 26 friendship 21 gender 42 group behavior 27 Health Psychology 27 lifespan development 23 Memory 34 mental illness 33 morality 42 Neuroscience 19 obedience 21 perception 31 Personality Psychology 34 prejudice 20 Psychological Disorders 44 psychopathology 34 psychosis 20 relationships 66 resilience 28 self-concept 21 self-identity 27 sexism 19 social influence 36 Social Psychology 88 stereotypes 29 stigma 23 stress 25 therapy 25 the self 31 treatment 28

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Choose a Film. Discover the Psychology.

Browse the film database or listen to CinemaPsych through your preferred podcast platform.

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