The Mind On Stage

Fictional worlds, cognition, and emotion
by Thalia R. Goldstein, Ph.D.

Psychological Realism and Characters

One interesting thing about old movies is how different the acting feels- particularly when you get back to silent movies and the first "talkies". The acting in these films was taken from melodramatic theatre, and therefore is highly, well, melodramatic. Read More

Do You Need to "Feel" It? Acting Theory and "My Week with Marilyn"

"My Week With Marilyn" provides two examples of competing acting theory and its importance for the portrayal of characters. Read More

What, Cognitively, Does an Actor Actually Do?

An actor uses his/her theory of mind, empathy, and emotion-regulation skills to create a realistic portrayal of a character for our enjoyment. Read More

To Hold as 'Twere, The Mirror Up to Nature

Pretend and fiction are critical parts of our daily lives. Read More

Thalia R. Goldstein, Ph.D.

Thalia R. Goldstein, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral research fellow at Yale University researching children's role play, pretend, and acting.

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