Pop Psychology

Scott and Jared Parker•www.facebook.com

TV & Film

Film Reviews

We use insights from psychology to understand characters from pop culture.

Last refreshed: June 29th, 2025 at 3:13 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Inside Out - Conditions of worth, depression, and mourning

The guys are still holed in their Covid safety bunker, and they talk about Riley from Inside Out. Is Riley depressed? Is her sense of her worth tied up in her being happy all the time? What happens if our mind-trains fall into the forgetfulness hole? They also talk about mourning, the phenomenology of depression, Carl Rogers, and Osmosis Jones. They also discuss mini-beefs with the film, and Scott and Jared quibble about the nature of the unconscious. Also, there is a parrot.

Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 22 min

Grab Bag 1 – Ross from Friends, two movie reviews, Michael Scott, the Truman Show Delusion

The guys lock themselves in the basement to escape the ‘rona and do a grab bag episode where they talk about the following: Ross from Friends (he has attachment problems), A Dangerous Method, an R.D. Laing bio-pic, Michael Scott (not a narcissist, doesn’t have a personality disorder), and the Truman Show delusion. Also, there is a parrot, so how bad could things be?

Apr 11, 2020•1 hr 25 min

Iron Man 1 – quantum change, conversion experiences, William James, and Kierkegaard

Tony Stark goes into the cave a selfish bastard and comes out with a deep concern for mankind. These types of changes are pretty common in media, but they are actually pretty miraculous if you think about it. What do psychologists have to say about sudden personality changes like this? The guys talk about quantum change, conversion experiences, and brainwashing, and they discuss the ideas of William James (as usual) and Kierkegaard.

Jan 27, 2020•1 hr 17 min

Grizzly Man – mania, paranoia, addiction recovery, sublimation, and projection

The guys watch the Werner Herzog film Grizzly Man and talk about bipolar disorder, mania, addiction recovery, sublimation, and projection. They also talk about the strengths and weaknesses of DSM diagnoses, and, son of a gun, they talk about William James, Freud, and Jung again. They also read some dope quotes from Jean-Paul Sartre and David Foster Wallace.

Jan 13, 2020•1 hr 12 min

Thanos – delusion, repetition compulsion, trauma, splitting, and Melanie Klein

Does Thanos make more sense as a character who is a little off his rocker? The guys talk about delusions, borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, repetition compulsions, trauma, splitting, philosopher Merleau-Ponty, and psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. Also, (sorrynotsorry) they read some Freud.

Dec 16, 2019•1 hr 13 min

Frozen - ice powers, repression, and unconditional positive regard

In this episode, we talk about panic disorder and OCD, repression, the nature of interpretation, and Freud, Rogers, and Jung.

Dec 02, 2019•1 hr 17 min

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