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.
