psychologically rich world thesis

“What’s Up Doc?”

This assignment focuses on the psychologically rich world around us. You are asked to complete a psychological profile of any one person featured in a documentary. Your review will be more substantial than the sample shown here, and you can use these films because there are only dot points shown, but you also can use any other film if it meets these criteria.

Criteria for acceptance:

The film must be a documentary

It must be over 1 hour long

It must be about an issue or person which lends itself to a discussion of psychology (so is not only about a sports contest, or nature etc).

It can be about only one person or a few people (so the excellent  “Amy” documentary about Winehouse will work)  as would “Epstein -Filthy Rich”, but you would focus on just one person or two or three, but a large group. For example you could examine Epstein, or any one or two of his victim’s or accomplices). If you choose the excellent “Athlete A”, focus on Nasser, or up to three of his victims.

It must include psychologically related material on at least one person or group.

So, ‘A perfect 14″ is a great documentary, and is about plus sized models, and so would work. “The World before her” is only about Hindu girls and will be good tool. Blackfish is about marine mammals etc, so will not work, neither will “March of the Penguins”. But, “Love Me” (Mail order bride industry). Remember to focus on one bride or one male.  “The True Cost” (International garment industry), “It’s a Girl” (the killing off of girls in India and China, because they are girls), “Happy” (the name says it all), these will all work because they involve disparate groups, governments, men, woman, Ukrainians, Americans, Indians etc. You will also find lots of documentaries about individuals, such as “Missing Mom”, “A Sister’s Call”, “Forgetting Dad”, “The Family I had “, “Goodnight Sugar Babe”, “Killer in the family”, “Natascha Kampusch”, “The Moors Murders”, and “Memories of a Penitent Heart” and probably hundreds of others.

So here is what to do for the documentary YOU choose.

Name it, and say in one sentence what its about. Do NOT focus on retelling story of the individuals, just give a profile of one key person, or up to three people.

Here is an example of how short the description of the story should be. This is a summary of Les Miserables.

” Jean ValJean is a released prisoner who is bitter at life, until an unexpected act of kindness, by a Catholic bishop, launches him on  life of service and redemption, in which, despite being pursued by the police, he assists many others achieve a measure of success and happiness”  Then, focus on only the psychology of your subject(s) (one or more people) sociology, not the politics, technology or legal aspects. Here’s an example. “Missing Mom”. The psychological impact on adult kids of a mom who deserted them 25 years ago, and the developments when (SPOILER) they find her. Profile them or Or profile HER. What is their, or her, psychological profile, how did loss and abandonment affect their  social status, (ascribed or acquired), class, inequity, gender, caste, institutions (one is an RMCP officer). How are functional or dysfunctional are they. What are their in groups, out groups, connections with marginalized people, (mom was homeless and drug involved at times) role of governments, relevance of education, exploitation, etc.

Or you can choose a small group affected by a bigger issue: For example,

“The True Cost”, international garment industry and its impact around the world.