The Psychology of Harry Potter: An Unauthorized Examination Of The Boy Who Lived / Edition 1

by Neil Mulholland

Overview

Harry Potter has provided a portal to the wizarding world for millions of readers, but an examination of Harry, his friends and his enemies will take us on yet another journey: through the psyche of the Muggle (and wizard!) mind. The twists and turns of the series, as well as the psychological depth and complexity of J. K. Rowling’s characters, have kept fans enthralled with and puzzling over the many mysteries that permeate Hogwarts and beyond:

   • Do the Harry Potter books encourage disobedience?
   • Why is everyone so fascinated by Professor Lupin?
   • What exactly will Harry and his friends do when they finally pass those N.E.W.T.s?
   • Do even wizards live by the ticking of the clock?
   • Is Harry destined to end up alone? And why did it take Ron and Hermione so long to get together?


Now, in The Psychology of Harry Potter, leading psychologists delve into the ultimate Chamber of Secrets, analyzing human mind and motivation by examining the themes and characters that make the Harry Potter books the bestselling fantasy series of all time. Grab a spot on the nearest couch, and settle in for some fresh revelations about our favorite young wizard!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781932100884
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	04/10/2007
Series:	Psychology of Popular Culture
Edition description:	First Trade Paper Edition
Pages:	326
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Dr. Neil Mulholland was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He is presently a senior psychologist in child and family psychiatry at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, Canada, and consults to several health teams in the region. He also runs a small private practice for kids and adults, where he often uses Harry Potter as a therapeutic tool. In 1979, after spending ten years in the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, Dr. Neil graduated from Arizona State University. He then returned to Vancouver, Canada, and spent 20 years there before moving to the prairies of Alberta. According to the online quizzes, he's a bit of a Mr. Weasley.

Table of Contents

Introduction   Neil Mulholland, Ph.D.     1
What Kind of School is Hogwarts?
What Do Students Learn from Hogwarts Classes?   Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D.     5
Harry's Curiosity   Susan Engel, Ph.D.   Sam Levin     19
Intergroup Conflict in the World of Harry Potter   Melissa J. Beers, Ph.D.   Kevin J. Apple     33
"Have You Got What It Takes to Train Security Trolls?"   Shoshana D. Kerewsky, Psy.D.   Lissa Joy Geiken, M.Ed.     45
Hogwarts Academy   Charles W. Kalish   Emma C. Kalish     59
Will Harry Be Okay?
Attachment Styles at Hogwarts   Wind Goodfriend, Ph.D.     75
What Harry and Fawkes Have in Common   Misty Hook, Ph.D.     91
Harry Potter and the Resilience to Adversity   Danielle M. Provenzano   Richard E. Heyman     105
Is Magic Real?
Discovering Magic   Karl S. Rosengren, Ph.D.   Emily C. Rosengren     123
The Magical World of Muggles   Carol Nemeroff, Ph.D.     135
Time and Time Again   Peter A. Hancock   Michelle K. Gardner     153
The Weird World of Wizards
The Social Dynamics of Power and Cooperation in the Wizarding World   NancyFranklin, Ph.D.     169
Mental Illness in the World of Wizardry   Jessica Leigh Murakami     175
"Dobby Had to Iron His Hands, Sir!": Self-Inflicted Cuts, Burns, and Bruises in Harry Potter   E. David Klonsky, Ph.D.   Rebecca Laptook, M.A.     189
The Weird World of Muggles
The Werewolf in the Wardrobe   Siamak Tundra Naficy     207
Exploring the Dark Side   Christopher J. Patrick, Ph.D.   Sarah K. Patrick     221
Harry Potter and the Word That Shall Not Be Named   Mikhail Lyubansky, Ph.D.     233
Evolution, Development, and the Magic of Harry Potter   David H. Rakison   Caroline Simard, BSc., DMV     249
Learning From Harry
Using Psychological Treatment with Harry   Neil Mulholland, Ph.D.     265
Defense Against the Real Dark Arts   Patricia A. Rippetoe, Ph.D.     283
Resisting Social Influence   Melanie C. Green, Ph.D.     299
Harry Potter and the Magic of Transformation   Laurie J. Pahel     311

Editorial Reviews

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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