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Beyond Heroes and Villains

Investigating the nature of good guys and bad guys in fiction and real life

Psychosis
Folie á Deux: Joker, Harley, and the Folly of Two

Travis Langley Ph.D. on September 25, 2024

Does Joker: Folie á Deux show the "folly of two" as one individual inspires psychotic expression in another or does it demonstrate why the DSM-5 renamed shared psychosis yet again?

Does Joker: Folie á Deux show the "folly of two" as one individual inspires psychotic expression in another or does it demonstrate why the DSM-5 renamed shared psychosis yet again?

Media
Pulling Hair in "The Handmaid's Tale" Sequel, "The Testaments"

Travis Langley Ph.D. on December 19, 2023

In "The Testaments," Margaret Atwood's sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale," one protagonist has started plucking hair when stressed. At what point does it become a mental disorder?

In "The Testaments," Margaret Atwood's sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale," one protagonist has started plucking hair when stressed. At what point does it become a mental disorder?

Guilt
The Spider, the Bat, and Heroic Varieties of Survivor Guilt

Travis Langley Ph.D. on September 7, 2022

Guilt and grief drive heroes in different ways. One may strive to become a person who could have prevented their tragedy while another mires in guilt that he did not stop his.

Guilt and grief drive heroes in different ways. One may strive to become a person who could have prevented their tragedy while another mires in guilt that he did not stop his.

Neuroplasticity
Has Lockdown Life Evoked the Sensation of Jamais Vu?

Travis Langley Ph.D. on June 20, 2022

Lockdown life altered experiences throughout periods of masking or isolation, and may have lingering effects by producing feelings of jamais vu in which everything feels "off."

Lockdown life altered experiences throughout periods of masking or isolation, and may have lingering effects by producing feelings of jamais vu in which everything feels "off."

Sexual Orientation
Wonder Woman: A Superhero's Sexual Orientation

Travis Langley Ph.D. on June 17, 2022

Wonder Woman embodies positive psychology's character strengths and virtues. Lynda Carter call the character a gay icon. Cognitive dissonance may explain why some fans object.

Wonder Woman embodies positive psychology's character strengths and virtues. Lynda Carter call the character a gay icon. Cognitive dissonance may explain why some fans object.

Personality
Batman, the Riddler, and Borderline Personality Disorder

Travis Langley Ph.D. on March 13, 2022

In the film "Batman Forever" and now in "The Batman," the Riddler shows signs of borderline personality disorder. In the current film, Bruce Wayne may show some signs, too.

In the film "Batman Forever" and now in "The Batman," the Riddler shows signs of borderline personality disorder. In the current film, Bruce Wayne may show some signs, too.

Bias
The Faulty Heuristics of Holocaust Denial

Travis Langley Ph.D. on November 19, 2021

Mental shortcuts may mislead Holocaust doubters and deniers. The availability heuristic could cause some to overlook evidence of deaths by overgeneralizing survival accounts.

Mental shortcuts may mislead Holocaust doubters and deniers. The availability heuristic could cause some to overlook evidence of deaths by overgeneralizing survival accounts.