May the Fourth be With You

We at the Novice Professor are self-admitted nerds/geeks (I can never remember the correct terminology). To celebrate this May the 4th, we have compiled, for your nerding/geeking pleasure, blog posts, memes, podcasts, books, etc. that apply Star Wars to psychological content. 

Read or read not, there is more below.

Psychology Today’s blog has several great posts applying psychological concepts to Star Wars. Topics include

• personality theories (Erikson and Freud)
• child development
• gender equality and stereotypes,
• gender roles and heroism,
• psychological disorders,
• attitudes,
• learning

​Eric Wesselmann and Scott Jordan of Illinois State University discuss in an article with NPR about how the appeal of Star Wars is largely about a sense of “belonging to something bigger than yourself”.

Taking it a step further, Travis Langely has compiled essays from several psychologists into a book with their takes on psychology ranging from family, prejudice, and psychoanalysis.

​Brandon Saxton (@Brandon_Saxton) and Kathryn Gordon (@DrKathrynGordon) of The Jedi Counsel explore mental health in a variety of fictional characters including Star Wars, such as this podcast on Darth Vader’s issues  and this one on Leia’s resilience.
 
One of our fave tweeps and blogger Jessica Hartnett (Not Awful and Boring) shared this great meme with us: 

​and she has a blog post about what probability means in a given profession that includes a reference to Han Solo.
 
The following are just a sample of the awesome memes available for your Star Wars obsession: 

Thanks for reading! We hope everyone has an excellent end to their spring semesters. As you finish up with grading final exams and papers, take a deep breath and repeat this mantra:

“I’m one with the Force. The Force is with me.”
(Chirrut Îmwe from Rogue One)
​

Next week: Graduate school application advice for prospective undergraduates.