The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived (Psychology of Popular Culture) [Paperback]

Neil Mulholland Ph.D. (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Psychology of Popular Culture

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED **

 

Leading psychologists delve into the world and characters of Harry Potter in this revealing look at J. K. Rowling's constructed universe, using the characters and their puzzling situations to offer insight into real-world psychology. Designed to appeal to both fans of pop culture and students of psychology, this unique blend of scholarship and contemporary criticism consists of essays by professional psychologists hailing from schools and clinical practices throughout the world. Every major area of psychology is covered as the contributors tackle such heady questions as Is Harry a cranky adolescent or suffering from real post-traumatic-stress disorder? Is Voldemort evil incarnate or a misguided boy now twisted beyond recognition? and Is Snape treacherous or struggling for redemption?, revealing the fictional world's complex psychological brew.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—It is perhaps the breadth and diversity of these essays that leave the collection feeling slightly uneven but allow various types of readers to browse it with some satisfaction. The selections are by professors, psychoanalysts, graduate students, and clinical psychologists. Robin Rosenberg's "What Do Students Learn from Hogwarts Classes?" seems a well-suited (and entertaining) addition to the syllabus of an education major, not "just" a Potter enthusiast. Some of the genuinely good pop-psychology fun comes from essays on such topics as Dobby and self-mutilation; Lord Voldemort and antisocial personality disorders; the romantic attachment styles of Ron, Harry, and Hermione; and, yes, even Harry Potter therapy (step-by-step instruction on "learning to cast positive spells of thought instead of negative"). This book would be an innovative choice for educators looking to engage older students of literary criticism or theoretical psychology; it's a hit-or-miss indulgence for fans of the series.—Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA
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About the Author

Neil Mulholland, PhD, is a senior child psychologist at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. He specializes in psychotherapeutic assessment and counseling for children, trauma treatment, leadership education and training, and child psychotherapy. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: Smart Pop; First Trade Paper Edition edition (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932100881
• ISBN-13: 978-1932100884
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robin S. Rosenberg is a clinical psychologist in private practice and has taught psychology at Lesley University and Harvard University. She is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and has been certified in clinical hypnosis. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology and is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders. Dr. Rosenberg specializes in treating people with eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.

In addition to writing college-level psychology textbooks, she teaches, writes, and speaks about the psychological phenomena revealed by superheroes; she can sometimes be found at comic conventions. Her website is www.DrRobinRosenberg.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid collection of psychology essays, May 1, 2007

By 

Sho (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived (Psychology of Popular Culture) (Paperback)

This is a nice compendium of essays associating Harry Potter with a range of topics in psychology. It stacks up well to other collections of critical essays and applications that take the Harry Potter books as their starting point.

The book is actually 326 pages and has an introduction and 22 chapters. Since the Table of Contents isn't available above, here are the chapters:

Introduction
Neil Mulholland, Ph.D.

What Do Students Learn from Hogwarts Classes?
Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D.

Harry's Curiosity
Susan Engel with Sam Levin

Intergroup Conflict in the World of Harry Potter
Kevin J. Apple and Melissa J. Beers

"Have You Got What it Takes to Train Security Trolls?": Career Counseling for Wizards
Shoshana D. Kerewsky, Psy.D., and Lissa Joy Geiken, M.Ed.

Hogwarts Academy: Common Sense and Magic
Charles W. Kalish and Emma C. Kalish

Attachment Styles at Hogwarts: From Infancy to Adulthood
Wind Goodfriend, Ph.D.

What Harry and Fawkes Have in Common: The Transformative Power of Grief
Misty Hook

Harry Potter and the Resilience to Adversity
Richard E. Heyman and Danielle M. Provenzano

Discovering Magic
Karl S. Rosengren and Emily C. Rosengren

The Magical World of Muggles
Carol Nemeroff

Time and Time Again: Muggle's Watch, the Wizard's Clock
Peter A. Hancock and Michelle K. Gardner

The Social Dynamics of Power and Cooperation in the Wizarding World
Nancy Franklin

Mental Illness in the World of Wizardry
Jessica Leigh Murakami

"Dobby Had to Iron His Hands, Sir!": Self-Inflicted Cuts, Burns, and Bruises in Harry Potter
E. David Klonsky, Ph.D., and Rebecca Laptook, M.A.

The Werewolf in the Wardrobe
Siamak Tundra Naficy

Exploring the Dark Side: Harry Potter and the Psychology of Evil
Christopher J. Patrick and Sarah K. Patrick

Harry Potter and the Word That Shall Not Be Named
Mikhail Lyubansky

Evolution, Development, and the Magic of Harry Potter
David H. Rakison and Caroline Simard

Using Psychological Treatment with Harry
Neil Mulholland, Ph.D.

Defense Against the Real Dark Arts
Patricia A. Rippetoe

Resisting Social Influence: Lessons from Harry Potter
Melanie C. Green

Harry Potter and the Magic of Transformation
Laurie J. Pahel

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read, July 16, 2007

By 

Chanteur d'ombre "Chanteur d'ombre" (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived (Psychology of Popular Culture) (Paperback)

Not too full of psychobabble. Suitable for beginners or those with an interest in psychology, because we already "know" the characters. This book provides an intersting insight into how JKR has structured her world, and as such how we as people interact.

A good read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychology of Harry Potter, July 12, 2009

By 

Arielle Calderon "HP fanatic" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived (Psychology of Popular Culture) (Paperback)

The book is really interesting and if you're a psych major and a Harry Potter fanatic, you'll probably enjoy it.