Overthinking TV

Personality

What the "Up" Series Reveals About Personality Change

Alan Jern Ph.D. on March 23, 2021

An interview with Claire Lewis, producer of the celebrated 50-year documentary series, on what she thinks the series reveals about personality, class, and development.

An interview with Claire Lewis, producer of the celebrated 50-year documentary series, on what she thinks the series reveals about personality, class, and development.

Memory

Why You Should Stop Binge-Watching

Alan Jern Ph.D. on March 10, 2021

Binge-watching TV episodes leads to worse memory retention and is less fun than watching episodes released weekly.

Binge-watching TV episodes leads to worse memory retention and is less fun than watching episodes released weekly.

Fear

What It Was Like to Be a Doctor During the AIDS Crisis

Alan Jern Ph.D. on March 2, 2021

Following the release of "It's a Sin" about the AIDS crisis, I talked to Dr. Martin Seltman, one of the only primary care doctors who treated AIDS in Pittsburgh in the 1980s.

Following the release of "It's a Sin" about the AIDS crisis, I talked to Dr. Martin Seltman, one of the only primary care doctors who treated AIDS in Pittsburgh in the 1980s.

Bias

Can Watching TV Reduce Prejudice?

Alan Jern Ph.D. on February 22, 2021

Can watching shows and films featuring characters from different groups reduce prejudice toward those groups? Recent experiments suggest the answer could be yes, even if the effect is small.

Can watching shows and films featuring characters from different groups reduce prejudice toward those groups? Recent experiments suggest the answer could be yes, even if the effect is small.

Personality

NXIVM and Heaven's Gate Cults Used Common Persuasion Methods

Alan Jern Ph.D. on December 21, 2020

Why would someone join a cult? Two recent docuseries about the NXIVM and Heaven's Gate cults suggest they used similar, effective persuasion principles we're all susceptible to.

Why would someone join a cult? Two recent docuseries about the NXIVM and Heaven's Gate cults suggest they used similar, effective persuasion principles we're all susceptible to.

Media

Two of This Year's Best TV Shows Highlight the Value of Curiosity

Alan Jern Ph.D. on December 1, 2020

This year gave us two TV shows, "Joe Pera Talks With You" and "How to With John Wilson," that prove there is plenty of joy to be found in the world if we're curious enough.

This year gave us two TV shows, "Joe Pera Talks With You" and "How to With John Wilson," that prove there is plenty of joy to be found in the world if we're curious enough.

Guilt

Guilty Pleasures Are Just Pleasures

Alan Jern Ph.D. on November 10, 2020

Why do we feel guilty for liking "bad" TV? Many psychologists believe that guilt is adaptive, but that doesn't mean it's helping us make good entertainment choices.

Why do we feel guilty for liking "bad" TV? Many psychologists believe that guilt is adaptive, but that doesn't mean it's helping us make good entertainment choices.

Cognition

Are We Tricking Ourselves Into Loving Bingeworthy TV Shows?

Alan Jern Ph.D. on September 8, 2020

Some television shows can place big demands on our time and attention. Does this lead us to think these shows are better than they really are?

Some television shows can place big demands on our time and attention. Does this lead us to think these shows are better than they really are?