What role does psychology play in shaping the way we live, learn, compete, and care for one another? In Psychology and Society, a diverse group of thinkers - from neuroscientists and philosophers to legal scholars and elite athletes - explores how psychological insights are deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Blending scientific expertise with personal experience, the film offers an engaging look at how our understanding of the mind continues to evolve, and why embracing that knowledge is critical for tackling challenges in education, mental health, ethics, and human performance.
Among the featured contributors is Elyn Saks (University of Southern California), a legal scholar and author known for her advocacy on mental health and human rights. Drawing from both personal experience and policy research, Saks shares a powerful perspective on how to support individuals with serious mental illness—particularly those experiencing homelessness. She emphasizes the importance of aggressive outreach strategies, stressing that offering safety and dignity must come before any clinical intervention can be successful.
Janko Tipsarević, a former world Top Ten tennis player, offers a rare athlete’s perspective on the mental demands of elite sport. In Achieving Sporting Excellence, he reflects on how sports psychology helped him overcome mental roadblocks, manage pressure, and maintain peak performance on the global tennis stage. His story highlights the critical role of psychological training in achieving excellence, both on and off the court.
Patricia Churchland (UC San Diego), a philosopher at the forefront of neurophilosophy, explores what it means to accept that our minds are rooted in brain biology. In Embracing Our Biology, she outlines how advances in neuroscience challenge traditional ideas about free will, moral responsibility, and even consciousness itself—encouraging us to rethink the foundations of human identity and ethical behavior.
Stephen Kosslyn (Foundry College), a cognitive psychologist specializing in education and learning, offers insights into how psychological science can enhance how we teach and learn. His work demonstrates how understanding attention, memory, and motivation can lead to more effective and personalized educational experiences.
Nita Farahany (Duke University), a scholar at the intersection of law, ethics, and neuroscience, adds depth to the conversation with her expertise in neuroethics. She explores how emerging brain technologies are challenging our assumptions about autonomy, privacy, and the legal definition of personhood.
Through these varied lenses, Psychology and Society demonstrates that psychology is far more than a clinical discipline - it’s a living, dynamic force that shapes how we understand ourselves, relate to others, and navigate the world around us. Whether addressing the invisible struggles of mental illness, the fine-tuned mindset of athletic achievement, or the ethical frontiers of neuroscience, this documentary is a vivid reminder of how deeply the science of the mind touches every aspect of modern life.
What role does psychology play in shaping the way we live, learn, compete, and care for one another? In Psychology and Society, a diverse group of thinkers - from neuroscientists and philosophers to legal scholars and elite athletes - explores how psychological insights are deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life....
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