ToPIX Call for Movies

Posted on behalf of Nicole Bies-Hernandez, ToPIX Assistant Editor

ToPIX Call for Movies

The practice of incorporating films that portray psychological concepts into the classroom and/or course assignments can be not only an engaging activity for students but can also complement course content, and enhance critical thinking/analysis and writing skills (Boyatzis, 1994; Green, 2003; Hemenover, Caster, & Mizumoto, 1999). While the use of films in psychology courses is not a new practice (e.g., Anderson, 1992; Fleming, Piedmont, & Hiam, 1990; Robinson, Lee, & Maas, 1976), more recently it has been shown that incorporating films into the classroom not only provide the previously mentioned benefits but can also be effectively used to dispel myths related to psychology (e.g., myths about schizophrenia; Owen, 2007) and to teach about psychological concepts (e.g., teaching about the persuasion; Simpson, 2008). With the demonstrated utility of using films to illustrate psychological concepts, some great online resources such as the PsychMovies website have emerged with movies lists that could be helpful for instructors interested in incorporating films into their courses.

Are you using movies in the classroom, as part of course assignments or teaching a psychology and film course? If so, please consider sharing with ToPIX. Please e-mail your favorite movies for demonstrating a variety of psychological topics along with the concept(s) illustrated in the movie to bieshern@unlv.nevada.edu with the subject: "ToPIX Movie List". Additionally, any comments on how you have used the movies (or could use them) in the classroom would be helpful. All movies are welcomed, but we are particularly looking for newer movies (i.e., movies from the past 5 years) and movies related to the psychological concepts we are lacking movies for (i.e., careers, history, neuroscience, motivation, emotion, health, statistics, therapy, human factors, educational psychology, and comparative psychology) to fill in the gaps of our working list. The goal is to have an updated and comprehensive movie list by the end of September and continue regular updates to the wiki throughout Fall 2012.

The work in progress can be found here. We hope you will join us in the fun of creating this movie list!

References

Anderson, D. D. (1992). Using feature films as tools for analysis in a psychology and law course. Teaching of Psychology, 19(3), 155-158.

Boyatzis, C. J. (1994). Using feature films to teach social development. Teaching of Psychology, 21(4), 99-101.

Fleming, M. Z., Piedmont, R. L., & Hiam, C. M. (1990). Images of madness: Feature films in teaching psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 17(3), 185-187.

Green, R. J. (2003). Teaching psychology through film, video. APS Observer, 16(7), 23-25, 28. 

Hemenover, S. H., Caster, J. B., & Mizumoto, A. (1999). Combining the use of progressive writing techniques and popular movies in introductory psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 26(3), 196-198.

Owen, P. (2007). Dispelling myths about schizophrenia using film. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37(1), 60-75.

Robinson, M. A., Lee, K. A., & Maas, J. B. (1976). A set of films which demand discussion. Teaching of Psychology, 3(2), 92-93.

Simpson, K. E. (2008). Classic and modern propaganda in documentary film: Teaching the psychology of persuasion. Teaching of Psychology, 35(2), 103-108.