The Psychology of the Simpsons: D'Oh!

by Alan S. Brown

Book Overview

Psychologists turn their attention to The Simpsons , one of America's most popular and beloved shows, in these essays that explore the function and dysfunctions of the show's characters. Designed to appeal to both fans of the show and students of psychology, this unique blend of science and pop culture consists of essays by professional psychologists drawn from schools and clinical practices across the country. Each essay is designed to be accessible,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932100709
• ISBN13: 9781932100709
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Smart Pop
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Interesting read

The Psychology of The Simpsons is another book that I enjoyed reading, particularly since it made me reflect on myself with certain chapters but also to keep in mind other chapters for future references. The chapter which mentions compatibility between Marge and Homer is particularly interesting since it shows to a degree what makes a relationship last; at least that is how I viewed it. Overall it is interesting and could be useful for someone who is majoring in psychology. FYI: I did not get a chance to write a review at the time I purchased and read this book until now.

Like Watching an Itchy and Scratchy Episode

"The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself, but in so doing, he identifies himself with people--that is, people everywhere, not for the purpose of taking them apart, but simply revealing their true nature." -- James Thurber In the world of American television no other animated series, or any sitcom for that matter, has endured as long as "The Simpsons". What started out in 1987 as a few animated shorts featured on "The Tracey Ullman Show", "The Simpsons" quickly became an essential icon of American popular culture and has served as a prototype for future adult cartoon series to come such as "Family Guy", "King of the Hill", and "American Dad". Perhaps one reason for Matt Groening's overwhelming success with the show's sixteen seasons is his ability to present relatable human truths and paradigms absurdly and to their exaggerated ends. The community of Springfield parodies modern American society in a humorous fashion. In part, that is the reason for the common name, "Springfield". Though the state in which Springfield exists is never established in the series, Springfield in reality can be found in thirty-four states throughout the United States in a way that suggests a reflection of common society as we know it to be. Beyond the laughs and humor of the television show a deeper understanding of psychology can be applied in quite a creative way. This is the basis for the book, The Psychology of The Simpsons edited by Alan Brown, PhD. and Chris Logan. Nearly every aspect in psychology is covered in a compilation of essays written by credible experts in their respected fields. Topics range from the effects of alcoholism in Springfield to the application of the Big Five personality theory to a host of regularly featured characters. On the surface a reader's first impression might be one of skepticism in the book's scientific merits as the subject matter is based on a fictional world. That notion is quickly dismissed in the first essay, "The Family Simpson: Like Looking in a Mirror?", which focuses on comparing the family for which the series is named with the traditional family structure in America. In brief, the Simpson family is made up a married heterosexual couple with three mixed-gendered children where the husband is the breadwinner and the wife is the homemaker . This sets the tone for the rest of the book. Before delving into the finer points of psychology the editors appear to have a desire to establish a credible relationship with the reader by making the case that we have more in common with this family and community than first meets the eye. The true magic of this book is that it never lets the reader down. Just when a particular topic of psychology seems dry, and too over-analyzed, then comes an application from the show that makes sense of it all and leaving the reader wanting to be more of a fan of the show and psychology. Casual vi