The Handmaid's Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red

by Travis Langley PhD (Editor), Wind Goodfriend PhD (Editor)

Overview

How do people stay true to themselves in times of crisis? Where does anyone find the strength to stand up in the face of oppression? When will the worst side of human nature wither before the best?

Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, has captivated readers for four decades and continues to stir popular conversation and controversy through the hit Hulu television series. The story has grown into a cautionary tale evoking fear and concern, and yet it also inspires many. The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red delves into the psychology of the characters and events depicted in each version of Atwood’s epic, both in print and on screen. Through 18 chapters, psychologists and therapists look deeply into the fiction, analyzing it both personally and professionally to unearth its message about real human truths. Topics include oppression, resistance, power, identity, violence, posttraumatic stress versus posttraumatic growth, good versus evil, morality versus mortality, spirituality versus religion, helplessness versus hopefulness, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684420421
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/05/2024
Series:	Popular Culture Psychology , #16
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Travis Langley, PhD, series/volume editor, distinguished professor of psychology at Henderson State University, has been a child abuse investigator, courtroom expert, and Wheel of Fortune game show champion. A popular keynote speaker for the American Psychological Association, Amazon, and other organizations, he speaks regularly on events throughout the world, discussing heroism and the power of story in people’s lives. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Saturday Evening Post, CNN, MTV, and hundreds of other outlets have interviewed him and covered his work. He has appeared as an expert interviewee in documentary programs such as Necessary Evil, Legends of the Knight, Superheroes Decoded, Pharma Bro, AMC Visionaries: Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics, and Hulu’s Batman & Bill.

Online, he’s easy to find. Just look for Travis Langley as @Superherologist or @DrTravisLangley.

Table of Contents

About the Editors

Acknowledgments

Introductions: To the Center and Back Again

Why Gilead is Personal by Wind Goodfriend

Seeing Off Red by Travis Langley

I. On the Road to Gilead

1. A Cacophony of Silence: Network Effects and Freedom of Speech by Andrea Frantz & Wind Goodfriend

Freed by Froot Loops: From Silencing One Voice to Amplifying Many by Travis Langley

2. Could It Happen Here? Delusions, Overvalued Beliefs, and Legitimate Fears by Colt Blunt

3. Structures of Sexism Within the Republic by Amber Garcia

4. Authoritarian Personality and the Origins of Fascism by Martin Lloyd

Serena Joy vs. Serene Joy: Interview with Actor Yvonne Strahovski by Jenna Busch

II. At Face Value

5. Blessed Are the Meek: Internalized Oppression in Gilead by Erin Currie

6. Your Dystopian Cosplay Is Our Reality: A Critical Race Theory Analysis by Apryl Alexander

The Conversion Tale: Unveiling Gilead’s Twisted Transformations by Adam Baldowski

7. Handmaids So White: An Exploration of Diversity and Feminism by Brittani Oliver

8. Under His Eye: Concealing and Revealing Identities by Dawn Weatherford & William Blake Erickson

Daisy’s Hair: Trichotillomania in The Testaments? by Travis Langley

III. Under a Cloud

9. Power and Control: Psychological Abuse Dynamics in a Dystopian World by Wind Goodfriend

10. Rape and Sexual Violence by Shelley Clevenger

11. Blues Dressed in Red: Postpartum Disorders among the Handmaids by Brittney Brownfield & Hannah Espinoza

12. Waste Not, Want Not: Social Status, Power, and Reproductive Scarcity by Marie-Joëlle Estrada

IV. Above and Below

13. Devils by Degrees, Angels at Angles: Who Dwells in Strata of Evil and Good? by Travis Langley

14. The Players of Morality: Gilead, God’s Word, and Humanity by Sanjana M. Kulkarni & Eric D. Wesselmann

15. Hallowed Be Thy Name: Exploring the Religious Mindset by Daniel Hand

16. Heroes and Villains: Psychopaths, Sociopaths, or Survivors? by Asher Johnson

V. The Way Forward

17. The Survivor’s Tale: From Helplessness to Hopefulness, Even in Gilead by Travis Langley

18. The Daughters’ Tale: The Life Cycle, Continuing by Travis Langley

Final Word

June: The Personal is Political

Wind Goodfriend

Notes

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

"Another five-star anthology from Dr. Langley and his team! This will melt your mind in the best way. A thoughtful analysis of the books, TV show, and movie which helps the audience more deeply digest the darkness and dangers of Atwood's classic dystopian nightmare. A mind-blowing deep dive into the details of Margaret Atwood's world and the way it's portrayed on screen. You'll learn more about the characters and gain insight into the question: could this happen in our reality? This thorough look behind the psychological curtain of The Handmaid's Tale and its characters will change the way you watch the show or read Atwood's books.” —Stephanie Carr, Founder of LiteraryHype

“The title immediately seized my interest, but it was the captivating chapters within that truly kept it! This compelling exploration delves into the intricacies of a world where morality blurs, echoing the thought-provoking question posed within its pages: ‘Few people see themselves as evil... What about when one person’s idea of good conflicts with someone else’s?’ This book navigates the complex interplay of ideologies, shedding light on the profound psychological depths of Margaret Atwood's iconic tale.” —Katlyn Gillis, author of Invisible Bruises and The 6 Stages of Healing from Childhood Family Trauma

"The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red is an essential companion for anyone looking to delve deeper into the novel’s themes. It enhances the appreciation of Ms. Atwood’s work and offers valuable insights into human nature and societal dynamics.” —Monica Lee Bellais, film producer (Wakefield, Divine Instinct)

"For those who wonder what comes next for American women after Margaret Atwood’s searing depiction, The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red, offers theories from a diverse range of psychologists and therapists about the past as prologue. Chilling or comforting, the future they see is not yet written, and what we do today will affect everybody’s tomorrow.” —Eleanor Clift, author of Founding Sisters and the Nineteenth Amendment

“The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology is a deep exploration of trauma, sexual abuse, control, and resilience. Drs. Langley, Goodfriend, and company not only present us with an examination of Atwood’s dystopian narrative through a psychological lens, but also offer greater insight into the fictional and real-world repercussions of the psychological distress on the human mind, and the damaging impact of oppression.” —Dr. Suzana Flores, author of Untamed: The Psychology of Marvel’s Wolverine

From the Publisher