Reel People : Finding Ourselves in the Movies

by Gluss, Howard M., Ph.D.; Smith, Scott Edward

• ISBN13: 9780971447707
• ISBN10: 0971447705
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Keylight

Summary

Bridging the gap between abstract psychological theory and the hands-on process of creating authentic stories, this book provides creative artists with an exciting analytical tool to help in the process of character creation. Various personality styles depicted in films are examined, as well as why they are celebrated in hundreds of films. Behavioral traits that define a person and recognizable attributes such as speech, profession, dress, and health are analyzed in depth. This guide offers a valuable list of films to study to see how others interpret the personality as well as a useful template of questions to ask when developing consistent and convincing character psychologies.

Author Biography

Howard M. Gluss, Ph.D. is currently practicing psychology in Beverly Hills, California. He serves as a consultant for film and television production, profiling both character personality and development. A former student at the Banff School of Fine Arts and the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco, Dr. Gluss holds in addition to his Doctorate in Psychology, dual degrees in Drama and in Communications Studies

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xv
About the Authors	xvii
Foreword	xxi
Introduction	1	(14)
I --- The Personalities	15	(276)
The Histrionic Personality	17	(36)
The Arc of a Histrionic Film Character	39	(2)
The Histrionic Personality Summary	41	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Histrionic Personality	43	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Histrionics	44	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Histrionic	45	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Histrionic Personality	46	(7)
The Antisocial Personality	53	(48)
The Arc of an Antisocial Film Character	82	(3)
The Antisocial Personality Summary	85	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Antisocial Personality	87	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Antisocials	88	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Antisocial	89	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Antisocial Personality	90	(11)
The Paranoid Personality	101	(32)
The Arc of A Paranoid Film Character	118	(3)
The Paranoid Personality Summary	121	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Paranoid Personality	123	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Paranoids	124	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Paranoid	125	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Paranoid Personality	126	(7)
The Narcissistic Personality	133	(40)
The Arc of a Narcissistic Film Character	158	(3)
The Narcissistic Personality Summary	161	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Narcissistic Personality	163	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Narcissists	164	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Narcissistic	165	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Narcissistic Personality	166	(7)
The Borderline Personality	173	(28)
The Arc of a Borderline Film Character	190	(3)
The Borderline Personality Summary	193	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Borderline Personality	195	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Borderlines	196	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Borderline	197	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Borderline Personality	198	(3)
The Obsessive-Compulsive Personality	201	(36)
The Arc of an Obsessive-Compulsive Film Character	225	(3)
The Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Summary	228	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Obsessive-Compulsive Personality	230	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Obsessive-Compulsives	231	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Obsessive-Compulsive	232	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Obsessive-Compulsive Personality	233	(4)
The Schizoid Personality	237	(26)
The Arc of a Schizoid Film Character	250	(4)
The Schizoid Personality Summary	254	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Schizoid Personality	256	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Schizoids	257	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Schizoid	258	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Schizoid Personality	259	(4)
The Masochistic Personality	263	(28)
The Arc of a Masochistic Film Character	279	(3)
The Masochistic Personality Summary	282	(2)
Noteworthy Characteristics of the Masochistic Personality	284	(1)
Popular Cliches Associated with Masochistics	285	(1)
Similar Personality Types to the Masochistic	286	(1)
Viewing Suggestions for the Masochistic Personality	287	(4)
II --- The Mental Disorders	291	(26)
Adjustment Disorders	293	(1)
Anxiety Disorders	294	(2)
Childhood Disorders	296	(2)
Cognitive Disorders	298	(1)
Conversion Disorders	299	(1)
Somatoform Disorders	300	(1)
Eating Disorders	301	(1)
Mood Disorders	302	(1)
Bipolar Mood Disorders	303	(1)
Personality Disorders	304	(3)
Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders	307	(2)
Dissociative Disorders	309	(1)
Dyssomnia and Parasomnia Disorders	310	(1)
Sexual Disorders	311	(1)
Transvestism and Gender Identity Disorders	312	(1)
Sexual Dysfunction and Sexual Response Disorders	313	(1)
Substance-Related Disorders	314	(3)
III --- The Workplates	317	(1)
The Historical Workplates	318	(10)
Defining the Basics	319	(1)
Defining the Physical	320	(1)
Defining the Past	321	(1)
Defining the Present	322	(1)
Defining Education	323	(1)
Defining Work	324	(1)
Defining Health	325	(1)
Defining Speech	326	(1)
Defining Cognition	327	(1)
The Psychological Workplates	328	(16)
Defining Personality Type	329	(1)
Defining Behavior	330	(1)
Defining a Sense of Identity	331	(1)
Defining a Sense of Self	332	(1)
Defining Hopes and Dreams	333	(1)
Defining Emotions	334	(1)
Defining Social Skills	335	(1)
Defining Expression of Feelings	336	(1)
Defining Assertiveness	337	(1)
Defining How a Character Problem Solves	338	(1)
Defining a Character's Anger	339	(1)
Defining Mental Health	340	(1)
Defining Drugs and Alcohol	341	(3)
The Relationships Workplate	344	(3)
Defining a Character in Relationships	345	(2)
Index	347