The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead

by Travis Langley (Editor), John A. Russo (Foreword)

Aim for the brain! The characters of The Walking Dead live in a desolate post-apocalyptic world, filled with relentless violence and death. In reality, how would such never-ending stress and trauma affect the psyche? By understanding the psychological forces that drive the series' action, fans can better grasp Robert Kirkman's compelling fictional universe. Which characters suffer PTSD, which show the most hope for recovery, and which instead show posttraumatic growth? Has Rick Grimes lost his mind? What's it like for kid like Carl growing up during the zombie apocalypse? Is the Governor a psychopath, a sociopath, or something even worse? What does that make Negan? What is the emotional cost of killing a walker or even another living person? What does Terror Management Theory tell us about what it means to fight constantly or survival? What is groupthink and how does it affect the decisions made by the people of Woodbury, Terminus, Alexandria, and Rick's "family"? How do they find hope? In 19 chapters from a range of esteemed contributors, plus a foreword by George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead co-creator John Russo "Case Files" sidebars on the villains (the Governor, the Whisperers, the Claimers, Negan, and more), The Walking Dead Psych of the Living Dead answers these and many other questions in a way sure to fascinate the millions of passionate graphic novel readers and TV viewers.  What does it take to stay human when humanity has lost the world? Contributors include :
John Blanchar * Megan Blink * Colt J. Blunt * Josue Cardona * Adam Davis * William Blake Erickson * Frank Gaskill * Jennifer Golbeck * Jonathan Hetterly * Katrina Hill * Alan Kistler * Dana Klisanin * Stephen Kuniak * Martin Lloyd * Stephanie Norman * Patrick O'Connor * Katherine Ramsland * Clay Routledge * John Russo * Billy San Juan * Janina Scarlet * Steven Schlozman * Lara Taylor * Dave Vergaagen * Mara Wood * E. Paul Zehr *

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Zombies, Pop Culture, Tv, Reference, Mental Health

286 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Dr. Travis Langley, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Henderson State University, is best-known as the author of the acclaimed book BATMAN AND PSYCHOLOGY: A DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT. He is also editor and lead writer for the Popular Culture Psychology series of 12 books looking at the psychology of characters and stories such as THE WALKING DEAD PSYCHOLOGY: PSYCH OF THE LIVING DEAD, CAPTAIN AMERICA VS. IRON MAN: FREEDOM, SECURITY, PSYCHOLOGY, and most recently THE JOKER PSYCHOLOGY: EVIL CLOWNS AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM. PsychologyToday.com features his blog, “Beyond Heroes and Villains.” A popular speaker internationally, he has given talks at universities and has led or joined hundreds of convention panels (especially at Wizard World shows) and on the Comic Con-Fusion YouTube channel. He also happened to be an undefeated champion on the Wheel of Fortune game show. As Stan Lee described him, “This man is a genius!”

Reviews

[Sandra Fulbright-myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that talk about my favourite shows from the perspective of psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, etc. Geek squared.

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this on impulse, given my current fascination with the comic and the TV series probably working in with my job as a psychotherapist! I must say, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed every page of this book. The authors write in a very engaging, flowing style and manage to simplify complex psychological concepts while relating them consistently back to the characters and the landscapes of TWD.
This to me shows the authors' depth of understanding. If you enjoy horror, and learning about diverse psychological (and even psychiatric) topics (group dynamics, the Hero's journey, defence mechanisms, psychopathy and the dark tetrad of evil, psychiatric syndromes such as PTSD and the bodily response to trauma, existentialism, stages of personality development etc) then this comes highly recommended.
Oh and the reference lists at the end of each chapter are treasures.

My ONLY question left unanswered: what is the TV series's beef with little girls ?? Rick shooting a zombified female minor in episode 1 season 1, Sophia's transition and death, Lizzie murdering Mika and then getting shot...whats up AMC? If someone can answer me that, my life will be complete!

[Mommooshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for fans of The Walking Dead who also like to analyze the characters as well as their own reasons they are attracted to the show. I felt the strongest parts were the discussions of the psychology of why people like watching and enjoy the feelings the show brings forth.

As with all books that are compilations of various authors, I liked some essays better than others but most were interesting and offered a variety of viewpoints.

Note: I received this advanced reading copy from the publisher as a goodreads Giveaway with no requirement of review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Angela Ferrigno · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a family therapist who's also a complete geek, this book stimulated two of my passions at the same time. I received this book for Christmas and it was literally one of the best gifts I've gotten. I've been a fan of the show since episode one, and eventually hope to read the comic (some day). The show however continues to stir up my emotions, and I'm constantly analyzing the psyche of each character; wondering how I'd react in a similar situation. It's that interest that made me freak out at the concept of this book. And it did not disappoint! With chapters that touched on grief, trauma, child development in the apocalypse, fear (and how it shapes our behavior), psychopathy vs sociopathy, and our fascination with apocalyptic stories, it hit on every major topic that goes through my mind as I've watched the series unfold. The book covers the TV series, comic, and video games so there were moments mentioned that I didn't always recognize, but that didn't detract from the content of what the chapters were trying to discuss. One chapter in particular that I truly enjoyed was that of Daryl's evolution and how his story follows a "hero's journey". As a fan favorite, Daryl's character development throughout the TV series is one that has always touched me, so I was grateful he has a whole chapter devoted to understanding how his journey happens and why it's important. The only thing disappointing about the book, is simply that I feel it was written/published too soon. With the series and comic still in full swing, this book is lacking other topics that newer seasons or issues of the comic might touch upon. For instance... Negan. In this book, Negan gets 2-3 pages as one of the "case files" peppered throughout the book. The Governor and Gareth (from Terminus) are discussed more simply because they were more prominent threats when the book was published. Negan is one of my favorite characters because he is so damn fascinating to analyze! I would have loved more insight into his character in a book like this. Whether you're a fan of the show or not, applying some of these major psychological concepts to a fictional story is a fun way to learn something new.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of "The Walking Dead," and I loved this book.

It takes a deeper dive into why we watch and into the psychology underlying the survivors' paths forward. Why do some become nobler while others become crazed with power? Why do some continue while others commit suicide? How does overwhelming stress affect behaviors?

My favorite chapter concerned Daryl Dixon and his transformation from redneck to hero. The author of the chapter compared him to classic heroes such as Ulysses, using Joseph Campbell's hero arc. While some are destroyed by the apocalypse (zombie or otherwise), some find their true purpose in life and come to the realization that they are people of value who can contribute to society.

Yes, I know it's a TV show. But I have always felt that there are important lessons about human behavior to be learned there.

A must-read for any fan of the show or comics.

[Cari Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished my copy that I won through a Goodreads giveaway and was very satisfied. Unlike most pop psychology books that have been on the market, this collection of essays are individually written by qualified experts in the field and complete with references.

The range of topics is enjoyable and focus on everything from whether or not The Governor is a psychopath to roles that individuals take on in an apocalyptic setting.

What makes this book stand out is that not only is it written in layman's terms without dumbing down the content, but that it seamlessly blends aspects from all Walking Dead media (comics, tv and video game).

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I wanted it to be. It's a smart, interesting exploration of the characters of The Walking Dead - mostly the living characters, although the chapter on zombie brains is great too and the feature on how to fool a walker is both clever and entertaining. The chapters bring real psychology into looking at fictional characters, and it really works. So glad I found this one. Batman and Psychology was one of my favorite books ever, and this follow-up looking at Robert Kirkman's zombie apocalypse works really well.

[Michael Witwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished my advance reading copy and I loved it! I'm a lifelong horror movie fan and The Walking Dead Psychology really opened my eyes as to why concepts like zombies are so darned appealing. With an insightful foreword by Night of the Living Dead co-creator John Russo and a series of fascinating chapters (by several different contributors and edited by Dr. Travis Langley) that cover virtually every psychological and sociological aspect of the zombie apocalypse, as portrayed on TWD, this book really keeps you engaged and thinking - a must read for TWD fans and zombie generalists alike!

[Fernleaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read for fans of the show, I learned a lot of interesting tidbits about psychology. it is a collection of essays and while there is fairly good continuity through the different perspectives it's not quite the same as having one author for the whole exploration. I wouldn't recommend reading it without having watched at least through season 5 of the show, and the very last two case files have minor spoilers for season 6 as well.

[Indy Quillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I asked for this book for Christmas in 2015 and can't believe I forgot to review it here. Fascinating view of The Walking Dead world (and how it can relate to a real event in the modern world - without the Zombies) as well as the how and why the people react as they do in the TV series. I found it valuable as a writer. Being a self-reliance enthusiast made the read even more interesting. Cool book.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful explanation of human psychology made relatable through an exploration of, the to be classic TV show, The Walking Dead. Definitely makes one want to go back and re-watch the entire series with an added respect for the writers. Although I say I have "finished the book", l lied. I didn't read the last two chapters because the "Survivors" are being introduced in 2016. Can't wait!!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the Governor a psychopath or a sociopath? Is it possible to find meaning in life during the zombie apocalypse? How do trauma and PTSD factor in? Very intriguing answers about the Walking Dead from psychologists, psychiatrists, and general smarty pants people.

[Molly]

Great read--pretty much what I wanted it to be and what I expected it to be. Really appreciated the contributors' bios at the back of the book. Had no idea there was something called, essentially, "comic con therapy" haha. Can't wait to read psychology of Star Wars now!

[Ash Paeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty good book of the psychology behind the hit television show. I only took one course of Psychology in high school and most of the book is really easy to read and easy to follow. I enjoyed reading this tremendously.

[T.D. Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are:
1). The type of fan who likes analyzing your favorite shows, and one of your favorite shows happens to be The Walking Dead.

2). A student of psychology, a worker in the field, or just someone interested in psychology.

This book is for you.

[L.J. Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. This is for the Walking Dead fanatics, psych students, and the everyday geeks. I was in Heaven since I'm all three!

[Cinematic Cteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugely entertaining and accessible armchair psych for obsessive fans of the TV show. Makes a good companion piece to The Walking Dead and Philosophy, under a different publishing house.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really interesting, loved looking at the characters and situations from a psychological view point.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable and allowed me to indulge my obsession with The Walking Dead. Some cool insights too.

[Kelsey Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically analyses how people adapt to the new world. It made me love the characters even more!!

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a writer creates a character, or a character escapes a writer’s mind to the page most of deeply developed people with quirks, issues, goals and personality. Now interject that characters into the zombie apocalypse and see if they can hack it. Some of these couch time the people on the walking dead desperately need is an afterthought of placing them traumatic situations. Others were messed up before the turn. If you are interested in the psychology of many of the main cast this in an interesting read. It is also an interesting read for the lay person or the aspiring writing placing characters in traumatic situations. I actually was on a panel at a Comicon with the editor of this text and he spoke on the real-life issues many of our favorite fictional characters face. The chapter on Daryl and his Hero’s journey is interesting. Carol would be even better in a follow up. I recommend this to anyone creating characters for fiction and to those interested in psychology the parallels between fiction and real-life is not that blurred. I will also be reading some of the other case studies of superheroes.

[Clare Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I had to rewatch every ep of The Walking Dead. Oh dear. But don't worry, I'm psychologically ready for the zombie apocalypse.

[Benny Vidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Descripción: (2016) "Con argumentos psiquiátricos, el autor explora el comportamiento más oscuro de la naturaleza humana en un mundo postapocalíptico".

#BennyAmaLosLibros (XXVII).

[Rbkesther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro que me gustó mucho. Básicamente se trata de una serie de ensayos en donde analizan la serie (y en menor medida el cómic) desde diversos enfoques de la Psicología (es una de las cosas que más me gustó, su variedad). Al leerlos pueden parecer demasiado sencillos o superficiales pero por lo mismo me parece que es idóneo para que cualquier persona interesado en la Psicología (aunque no sepa mucho de ella) y que sea fan de TWD lo entienda y disfrute.

Mis capítulos favoritos: El Prólogo y aquel que habla sobre Daryl Dixon.

[Wesley F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read, and will make you fall in love with The Walking Dead all over again. I had high expectations for this book and they were met. A great read.

Walking Dead can easily be dismissed as a horror show banking on the audience's love of blood, gore, brutality, and gun play. That dismissive notion is baseless. The Walking Dead is an examination of human nature, from various perspectives. The show has examined our ability to deal with extreme stress and anxiety, finding meaning in an apocalyptic world, coping with loss, and maintaining values and dignity in a world where they may not serve you.

This book hits the nail right on the head and will make you appreciate the show and comic all the ore. There are one or two chapters that are basically psychology essays with a loose connection to the show, but most keep their focus on the characters and events of the show then apply the theories of modern psychology. To me, that is exactly what these books ought to do.

If you love the show or the comic, I highly recommend this book.

[Nikita Deymich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead is a breathtaking book about how the zombie horror genre would make sense and all the science behind it. At first it tells you how the director uses human emotions into getting them hooked onto the show and then triggers the emotions when someone dies. This book also talks about how the zombies would be possible with diseases and symptoms of the walkers. And how the zombie apocalypse would turn people crazy.

[Andrew Mclaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally, pretty good. A bit more of a dry read than I expect and it does jump back and forth between Graphic Novel and the Television series...overall I would recommend to anyone who likes highbrow analysis of such things.

[Jenn Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely interesting to see one of my favorite shows looked at with a psychological perspective. It gave me better insight on all the characters that I love so much and showed how much they've changed and why they do some of the things they do

[Megan Deppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of interesting ideas floating around in here, I wonder if they'll do an update now that there are new seasons available. Plus, it really helped me out when I wrote a paper on The Walking Dead for my video game seminar.

[Ryan Schumacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what I wanted and hoped this to be. Really interesting. I will definitely be reading more of these *pop culture* and psychology books.