2026 - screenpsyche.com

Luca guiding Carmy through pastry lamination in a Copenhagen kitchen from The Bear, showing calm mentorship and mastery.

Ego and Mastery in The Bear: How Luca Becomes Carmy’s Healthiest ‘Rival’

Understand how ego and mastery in The Bear define the bond between Luca and Carmy. Learn why Luca's calm mastery is the essential mirror for Carmy.

Screen Psyche January 28, 2026

Classical oil painting of Lisbeth Salander from the 2011 film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, holding a laptop with surveillance on Mikael Blomkvist, with vivid colors and scenes of her trauma in the background

Film Character Analysis

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: Lisbeth Salander And Trust As A System

Explore The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo character study of Lisbeth Salander. See how she uses a powerful trust system and boundaries for personal protection.

Screen Psyche January 22, 2026

Classical oil painting triptych of Patrick Bateman, Barbie, and Jay Gatsby performing idealized personas, symbolizing the false self and identity performance under social gaze.

Psychological Concepts via Characters

Wearing The Mask: Study Of The False Self

Wearing The Mask: Explore why Bateman, Barbie, and Gatsby adopt a false self to survive. Learn how external approval scripts identity and how to be authentic.

Screen Psyche January 18, 2026

Realistic classical oil painting of Eve Polastri from Killing Eve holding a bloodied knife, symbolizing her transformation from civilian investigator to dangerous operative

TV Character Analysis

Killing Eve Themes: From Civilian To Dangerous

Analyze Killing Eve themes as Eve Polastri shifts from bored civilian into a dangerous obsession. Learn how MI6 and Villanelle license her dark transformation.

Screen Psyche January 12, 2026

Bright classic oil painting of Marty McFly standing between past and future versions of his family in Hill Valley, symbolising teenage identity conflict and self-authorship in Back to the Future

Film Character Analysis

Marty McFly: In A Teenage Identity Tug-Of-War

Discover Marty McFly Who he is vs who he becomes in this deep dive into teenage identity. Learn how time travel helps rewrite family patterns and find agency.

Screen Psyche January 8, 2026

Classic oil painting of two young women absorbed in their phones and laptop in a bright bedroom, symbolising parasocial attachment and one-sided emotional bonds with media figures

Psychological Concepts via Characters

Parasocial Attachment: Loving a Person Who Doesn’t Know You

Discover how Film and TV characters foster parasocial bonds in hits like Swarm. Learn why one-sided emotional relationships feel real and shape fan identities.

Screen Psyche January 4, 2026