Introduction: the many sides of psychology & the many faces of the movies : Goals of Psychology at the movies ; Story, entertainment and art in the movies ; A liberal use of psychology ; A symbolic framework for the psychology of film
The search for meaning: psychological interpretations in the movies : Human behavior in the movies ; Unconscious conflict in the movies ; Archetypes in the movies ; Ideology in the movies ; Spectators in the movies ; The boons and banes of interpretation
Psychopathology, psychotherapy & psycho-psychologists & their patients in the movies : Representations of psychological disorders ; Representations of psychologists and psychological treatment ; The impact of representations of psychology
Crazy genius: the psychology of filmmakers : Psychobiography and filmmakers ; Auteurs: profiles of directors ; Star-gazing: profiles of actors ; Psychology of filmmakers: the case of Woody Allen ; Evaluating psychobiography
Picturing the audience: psychological profiles of moviegoers : Movie audiences through the years ; The movies people watch ; The movies people like ; The viewers behind the numbers
The cinematic moment: emotions & the comprehension of movies : Cognitive psychology and the movies ; The perception of movies ; The narrative comprehension of movies ; The emotional comprehension of movies ; Brain functioning and the movies ; An unlikely partnership
Reflecting on the screen: the reception of movies : Viewer enjoyment of movies ; Viewer interpretations of movies ; The challenges of audience response
The movies made me do it: the effects of film : Effects on behavior ; Effects on thoughts and emotions ; Propaganda and effects on culture ; The great debate over media effects
Movies as equipment for living: the functions of film : Professional functions of movies ; General functions of movies in everyday life ; Personal functions of movies in everyday life ; Seeing movies from a different angle
Conclusion: putting the pieces together : An appeal for interdisciplinarity ; Movies as art
Appendix A. Mental health professionals in top box office grossing movies, 1990-1999
Appendix B. Three top 50 lists of acclaimed movies
Appendix C. Emotionally arousing movie scenes
Appendix D. Therapeutic movies.
