Game of Thrones Psychology

Title: Game of Thrones Psychology: The Mind is Dark and Full of Terrors
Author: Travis Langley (editor)
Genre: non-fiction, pop culture, psychology

"We keep reading George R.R. Martin's stories and watching their onscreen depictions because we hope enough and believe enough of the characters will gain enough insight into their own natures and enough understanding of what really matters in time to save their world. Letting ourselves hope and believe in them helps us practice hoping and believing in ourselves and the future before us all" (p.3).

If you are looking for a book to compliment the Game of Thrones TV show now that the series has ended, I would like to recommend Game of Thrones Psychology. This anthology was published in 2016, so if you are one of the few people that hasn’t watched the final season, this book will give nothing away. Each chapter is written by a different psychologist who explains a psychological theory, model, or personality trait and then applies to a specific character in the show or to the overall world of Westeros. Thankfully, the theories and models are explained in layman’s terms and in short chapters, so a non-psychologist will not be overwhelmed by psychological jargon. General topics covered include: freedom versus security, safety versus security, love and marriage, parenting styles, death and mourning, love and belonging, leadership, sexism, self-esteem, problem solving, self-control, and story complexity and the brain (the complex nature of the GoT universe makes you think and is good for you!). Chapters that focus on a psychological trait within a specific character focus on: greed (ahem, Cersei), psychopathy (Ramsay Bolton), overcoming abuse (Danerys Targaryen), trauma and posttraumatic growth (Arya, Sansa, Dany), rape (Sansa), torture (Theon), The Great Mother Archetype (Cersei versus Dany), phobias (The Hound), serial killers (Ramsay again), heroism (Jon Snow, The Hound), and self-actualization (Master Aemon).