2025 - screenpsyche.com

Oil painting of Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind, symbolizing survival, narcissism, and emotional resilience during the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

Psychological Themes in Gone with the Wind: Scarlett O’Hara’s Survival, Narcissism, and Emotional Adaptability

Scarlett O’Hara, one of American literature’s most iconic characters, embodies a complex interplay of survival instincts, narcissism, and emotional adaptability. Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, Gone with the Wind, uses the backdrop…

Screen Psyche September 11, 2025

Oil painting of iconic characters Walter White, Tony Stark, Cersei Lannister, and Frodo Baggins, symbolizing shame’s role in character design and storytelling.

Psychological Concepts via Characters

The Role of Shame in Character Design

Shame: a universal human emotion, a powerful narrative tool. It can erode a character's identity, drive them to extremes, or pave the path to redemption. This exploration delves into the…

Screen Psyche September 10, 2025

Oil painting of June Osborne from The Handmaid's Tale, symbolizing resistance, survival, and hope against oppression.

TV Character Analysis

June Character Analysis in The Handmaid’s Tale: Survival, Resistance, and the Weight of Hope

Margaret Atwood's dystopian masterpiece, "The Handmaid's Tale," remains strikingly relevant in today's world. The novel's exploration of women's rights, individual freedom, and totalitarian regimes resonates with contemporary concerns about authoritarianism,…

Screen Psyche September 9, 2025

Oil painting of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, wearing a suit and holding a bloodied knife, symbolizing capitalism, narcissism, and the hollow self.

Film Character Analysis

American Psycho: A Deep Dive into Patrick Bateman, Capitalism, and the Hollow Self

Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel, American Psycho, remains a chillingly relevant exploration of 1980s excess, American materialism, and the complexities of the human psyche. This analysis delves into the protagonist, Patrick…

Screen Psyche September 8, 2025

Oil painting of famous self-destructive characters from film, representing the psychological death drive and themes of Thanatos.

Psychological Concepts via Characters

Self-Destructive Characters in Film

Introduction to Thanatos and Its Psychological Implications In the realm of psychology, Thanatos refers to the instinctual drive towards death, destruction, or a return to an inanimate state. Coined by Sigmund Freud,…

Screen Psyche September 7, 2025

Dolores Abernathy in Westworld, painted in a semi-realistic oil painting style, symbolizing free will versus the illusion of choice.

TV Character Analysis

Westworld: Free Will vs. the Illusion of Choice

HBO's Westworld immerses viewers in a technologically advanced Wild West theme park populated by incredibly lifelike android "hosts." This simulated reality becomes a crucible for exploring profound philosophical questions about consciousness, reality,…

Screen Psyche September 6, 2025

Oil painting of Truman Burbank from The Truman Show, symbolizing identity, reality, and the search for authenticity.

Film Character Analysis

Identity and Reality in ‘The Truman Show’

'The Truman Show,' directed by Peter Weir and released in 1998, is a film that has carved its own niche in cinematic history as a profound exploration of identity, reality,…

Screen Psyche September 4, 2025

Semi-realistic illustration of characters from film and TV struggling with impostor syndrome, including Elizabeth Gilbert, Andy Sachs, Mia Dolan, and Fred Flarsky.

Psychological Concepts via Characters

Impostor Syndrome in Film: Characters Who Feel Like Frauds Despite Success

Impostor syndrome, a pervasive psychological phenomenon, affects individuals who doubt their abilities and feel like frauds despite evident accomplishments. This analysis delves into notable fictional characters from film and television…

Screen Psyche September 3, 2025

Oil painting of Midge Maisel performing stand-up comedy in a vintage 1950s club, representing feminism and empowerment through humor.

TV Character Analysis

Humor as Feminist Rebellion in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, we are introduced to Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a housewife in 1950s New York City who embarks on a groundbreaking career as a stand-up comedian. Midge is…

Screen Psyche September 2, 2025

Chihiro from Spirited Away facing mystical spirits, representing childhood fear, innocence, and growth.

Film Character Analysis

Fear and Innocence in Childhood: A Deep Dive into Spirited Away

Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (2001) isn't just a visually stunning animated film; it's a profound exploration of childhood fears and the loss of innocence. As Chihiro navigates a magical bathhouse to rescue…

Screen Psyche September 1, 2025