Cinema and Life Development - by Thomas Peake (Hardcover)

About the Book

Peake uses prevailing and emerging models of life-span development along with examples from Cinema to animate psychological understanding and application.

The use of film offers powerful opportunities for anecdotes, clinical applications, and examples of life stories drawn from popular and lesser-known cinema. The addition of movies as metaphors make the material accessible to lay, student, and professional readers. Drawn from numerous workshops and symposia using this material, Peake finds this emphasis breathes life into teaching, negotiating, and growing from new perspectives.

Book Synopsis

Peake uses prevailing and emerging models of life-span development along with examples from Cinema to animate psychological understanding and application.

The use of film offers powerful opportunities for anecdotes, clinical applications, and examples of life stories drawn from popular and lesser-known cinema. The addition of movies as metaphors make the material accessible to lay, student, and professional readers. Drawn from numerous workshops and symposia using this material, Peake finds this emphasis breathes life into teaching, negotiating, and growing from new perspectives.

Review Quotes

.,."[A] psycho-cinema book with wide appeal....Dr. Peake's thinking and his crisp writing help the reader fly through this print medium as fast as a modern movie drama, and the aftertaste is just as good. Scholars will find as many references to classic books and research that inform psychotherapists as to the numerous films conveniently indexed in the Appendix....Deep learning is rarely this enjoyable."-J.D. Ball, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor and Vice Chair Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School

.,."[M]akes an interesting and unique contribution to the therapy process and the training of psychotherapists....It is often helpful to "prescribe" movies to patients to facilitate the therapeutic process, but unless the therapist is a cinemophile it is difficult to select from the vast array of titles available at the local rental store. This book helps to categorize many films along therapeutic themes, thus making the selection process much easier for the therapist. I expect this volume to join the reference section of the therapist's library after they have enjoyed a good read..."-Jay J. Chrostowski, PsyD, ABPP-CL, Diplomate in Clinical Psychology

.,."The book is a fine resource to show health professionals how to understand people and do effective treatment in an enjoyable way. The author has trained psychologists and health care professionals for two decades. Peake's interweaving of cinematic illustrations with classic psychological issues keeps the reader entertained, informed, and challeged. A liberal use of irony and humor makes the volume fun....before or after the movies."-Karl L. Sachs, Psy.D., Clinical Psychologist

.,."This book will help individuals explore their own pitfalls and successes through the creative distance of cinema. In addition, those who train therapists will find this book a disarming and engaging way to help introduce developmental, psychological, and relationship issues, obstacles, and resolutions. Wonderful examples and insightful quotations are interspersed throughout the text. I give this book and enthusiastic "two thumbs up!!"-Kelly L. Blair, Psy.D.

About the Author

THOMAS H. PEAKE is ABPP Clinical and Health Professor and Associate Dean, School of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology.