15 documentaries about Psychology that you cannot miss

The psychology and the neurosciences they are often too complicated subjects to understand only from readings. There go 15 documentaries on psychology Essentials, divided by topic so you can immerse yourself in these exciting sciences.

Documentaries on Social Psychology

Then we offer you a selection of documentaries on psychology that can change the way you see things. Take good note!

1. The Act of Killing (2012)

During the Cold War, Colonel Suharto came to power in Indonesia through a coup. From then on, he led a mass murder campaign of communists that resulted in the death of thousands of civilians. The Act of Killing is an Oscar nominated documentary for Best Documentary Feature Film in which Anwar Congo and Herman Koto, two former mercenaries under Suharto's command, explain and recreate the murder crimes they committed years ago as part of their job.

The film is made up of assassination performances and paramilitary confessions. that they have never faced penalties for what they did and that even today they are protected by the government. In this story you can see clear cases of

depersonalization and of reification of the enemy, very frequent processes in contexts of systematic extermination and genocides.

2. The Shock Doctrine (2009)

A benchmark in documentaries on social psychology. It is a film based on the famous book that Naomi Klein published in 2007 and that receives the same name. In it, it is explained how certain unpopular political measures can be implemented using fear to create a permanent state of exception.

3. Psychological Warfare (2010)

This documentary focuses on the maneuvers and techniques with which public opinion has recently been directed towards certain topics making millions of people think in a certain way through propaganda and Relationships Public. Among the people who appear in the story of Psychological Warfare are Noam chomsky, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

4. Manufacturing Consent. Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992)

Philosopher and linguist Noam Chomsky recounts the ways in which the general public is misled, sometimes publishing data false and sometimes omitting important information, so that ordinary citizens cannot make decisions freely. Chomsky argues that it is not necessary to censor to create uniform and predictable states of opinion.To achieve this, it is enough to throw in huge amounts of insignificant data that mask the absence of important information.

What is explained here is a sample of why freedom can only exist given certain premises (including having all the important information). If you have ever wondered why everyone has such similar opinions despite enjoying theoretical freedom to direct their lives, this may give you some clues.

Documentaries on Educational Psychology

5. The Finland Phenomenon (2011)

This is a documentary about educational psychology Y education by values. It examines the world's most admired educational system: Finnish.

6. Forbidden Education (2012)

Argentine independent film that focuses on the problems of conventional education their effects on youth. Other models of the educational system are proposed, although due to the nature of the documentary, the possible solution to the gaps in the current educational system remains quite blurred.

Most of the following psychology documentaries are in television documentary format and are shorter in length.

Documentaries on psychology and neuroscience

6. Mystical Brain (2006)

A group of researchers from the University of Montreal study the neural processes that occur duringmeditation and mystical experiences.

7. Total Isolation (2008)

What happens when your brain is left totally alone, deprived of stimuli? This documentary answers the question by investigating the brain activity of people intotal isolation.

8. The Man with 7 Seconds of Memory

This short documentary examines the life of Clive Wearing, a man who, due to hippocampal injuries, suffer from retrograde and anterograde amnesia, just like the protagonist of Memento. Every 7 seconds, the immediate memories of him fade.

9. Is Seeing Believing? (2010)

A tour of the brain and physiological processes that explain the optical illusions. This snippet explains the McGurk Effect:

Documentaries on Developmental Psychology

10. Why Do We Talk?

The language mechanisms, exposed in this interesting documentary. Essential for those students or psychologists interested in language development.

11. The Secret Life of the Brain (2002)

It focuses on the development of human brain (and the psychological stages that accompany the process) throughout people's lives.

Documentaries on psychology and mental disorders

12. Mary and I (2013)

Documentary focused on the autism that analyzes the specific case of a person with this disorder. valuable if you want to know first-hand what an autistic person is like. You can see it here.

13. My Bipolar Child

Talk about parenting and living with young people with Bipolar disorder. You can see here.

14. 1% Schizophrenia (2006)

Film against frivolization and prejudices associated with schizophrenia. Directed by Ione Hernández and produced by the renowned Julio Médem.

Documentaries on Economic Psychology

15. Mind Over Money (2010)

The documentary explores the psychological factors behind decision-making and finance and economy management.