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Westworld Psychology: Violent Delights
A fascinating analysis of the psychology behind the HBO hit Westworld .
In Michael Crichton's 1973 motion picture Westworld , people playing out fantasies find their lives in danger when robots built to entertain start to kill, creating an opportunity for viewers to examine an array of psychological phenomena. Today, the HBO television series reframes those questions and fears of technology gone awry in terms of twenty-first century concerns about rapidly evolving AI. The essays in this collection, edited by Travis Langley and Wind Goodfriend, explore those issues, offering fans an in-depth psychological exploration of the Westworld universe, Westworld Violent Delights takes aim at these and many other issues.
In Michael Crichton's 1973 motion picture Westworld , people playing out fantasies find their lives in danger when robots built to entertain start to kill, creating an opportunity for viewers to examine an array of psychological phenomena. Today, the HBO television series reframes those questions and fears of technology gone awry in terms of twenty-first century concerns about rapidly evolving AI. The essays in this collection, edited by Travis Langley and Wind Goodfriend, explore those issues, offering fans an in-depth psychological exploration of the Westworld universe, Westworld Violent Delights takes aim at these and many other issues.
- GenresPsychologyNonfiction
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2019
10 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Travis Langley
21 books120 followersDr. 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!”
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 28, 2018
For what this is, it's quite good, but that begs the question. What IS it?
It's primarily a method to give real examples of modern psychology in a truly eclectic fashion especially for the fans of Westworld. Each of these essays, complete with examples, aside-blurbs in textbook-fashion, variously dive deep into ways of thinking, be it cognitive behavioral therapy to existentialism to PTSD and lots else, besides.
It comes with plenty of examples from the first two seasons of the show.
Who is this for?
It's for people who want to learn more about psychology and would love to see Westworld broken down to quite a few (but not all) psychological components. Of course, most of it focuses on coping mechanisms and issues like consciousness, uncanny valleys, and a nice heavy focus on how to be well adjusted rather than spelling out what's wrong with us (or the hosts). :)
What kind of surprised me was the rather huge reference bibliography at the end. :) In this respect, it's a rather more scholarly work than a popular one but a number of the essays still fit the popular bill nicely. Do I recommend?
Well, yeah, I for one rather enjoyed it because I have a psychology background so it served as a nice refresher. And since I'm a huge Westworld fan, they both dovetailed nicely. I makes me hunger for a nice Westworld PHILOSOPHY book, next.
Some of the essays might have been slightly dry but I didn't mind so much. I'm rather a geek.
It's primarily a method to give real examples of modern psychology in a truly eclectic fashion especially for the fans of Westworld. Each of these essays, complete with examples, aside-blurbs in textbook-fashion, variously dive deep into ways of thinking, be it cognitive behavioral therapy to existentialism to PTSD and lots else, besides.
It comes with plenty of examples from the first two seasons of the show.
Who is this for?
It's for people who want to learn more about psychology and would love to see Westworld broken down to quite a few (but not all) psychological components. Of course, most of it focuses on coping mechanisms and issues like consciousness, uncanny valleys, and a nice heavy focus on how to be well adjusted rather than spelling out what's wrong with us (or the hosts). :)
What kind of surprised me was the rather huge reference bibliography at the end. :) In this respect, it's a rather more scholarly work than a popular one but a number of the essays still fit the popular bill nicely. Do I recommend?
Well, yeah, I for one rather enjoyed it because I have a psychology background so it served as a nice refresher. And since I'm a huge Westworld fan, they both dovetailed nicely. I makes me hunger for a nice Westworld PHILOSOPHY book, next.
Some of the essays might have been slightly dry but I didn't mind so much. I'm rather a geek.
June 27, 2019
To be honest, I've never watched the "Westworld" series because well..I don't have an HBO subscription. I only read Westworld Philosophy, because I enjoy reading the Psychgeek book series. And you know what? I still enjoyed reading the book, just because of Dr. Travis Langley and his co-authors constant ability to diverge philosophy and the science of psychology with pop culture. Like I mentioned earlier, I was reading topics about philosophy and psychology I haven't heard of since college. Even if you haven't attended college, it will make you feel like a college student. But...it doesn't hurt either to have watched a 3-minute snippet summary of the HBO series on You Tube to better understand the philosophy and psychology being used in Westworld Psychology novel.
This book challenges the black or white fallacy that only bad people can do bad things. That really when under the "right" influences and circumstances, we can be capable of doing unspeakable things. Does this mean that underneath it all we are ALL bad people? Of course not. But definitely it is a reminder to remember that only we as individuals--not just our genes or programming or even our surroundings---ultimately decide the type of roles and people we want to play in our own lives.
This book challenges the black or white fallacy that only bad people can do bad things. That really when under the "right" influences and circumstances, we can be capable of doing unspeakable things. Does this mean that underneath it all we are ALL bad people? Of course not. But definitely it is a reminder to remember that only we as individuals--not just our genes or programming or even our surroundings---ultimately decide the type of roles and people we want to play in our own lives.
March 2, 2019
This was very different from Doctor Who Psychology: A Madman with a Box! (Also edited by Travis Langley.)
But then, of course it is; Westworld is a much darker show. It prompts more serious discussion.
This book clarified, for me, several psychological concepts as well as the narrative themes that define the series.
But then, of course it is; Westworld is a much darker show. It prompts more serious discussion.
This book clarified, for me, several psychological concepts as well as the narrative themes that define the series.
April 5, 2022
Not sure who this book was written for as it covers the Westworld tv series and throws in a bunch of psychology terminology and dogma.
While some of them are interesting the rest is opinion.
If you are a Psych 101 student you may get something from this book
While some of them are interesting the rest is opinion.
If you are a Psych 101 student you may get something from this book
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews