15 absolutely essential documentaries about psychology

Films that capture different bits of reality about psychology.

Psychology and neuroscience are often too complicated subjects to understand from readings alone. Here are 15 documentaries on psychology divided by topic so that you can immerse yourself in these exciting sciences.

Documentaries on Social Psychology

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

1. The Act of Killing (2012)

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

The film is composed of staged murders and confessions of paramilitaries who have never faced punishment for what they did and are still protected by the government today. In this story one can see clear cases of depersonalization and reification of the enemy, very frequent processes in contexts of systematic extermination and genocide.

2. The Shock Doctrine (2009)

A reference in documentaries on social psychology. It is a film based on the famous book of the same name published by Naomi Klein in 2007. It explains how certain unpopular political measures can be implemented by using fear to create a permanent state of exception.

Psychological Warfare (2010)

This documentary focuses on the maneuvers and techniques with which public opinion has recently been directed towards certain issues, making millions of people think in a certain way through propaganda and Public Relations. Among the people featured 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 deceived, sometimes by publishing false data and sometimes by omitting important information, so that ordinary citizens cannot make free decisions. Chomsky argues that it is not necessary to censor to create uniform and predictable states of opinion.To achieve this, it is enough to spew out vast amounts of insignificant data to mask the absence of important information.

What is explained here is a sample of why freedom can only exist given certain premises (among them, that of having all important information available). If you have ever wondered why everyone has such similar opinions in spite of 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 and educational psychology and values education. It examines the most admired education system in the world: the Finnish.

6. The Forbidden Education (2012)

Argentine independent film that focuses on the problems of conventional education its effects on youth. Other models of educational system are proposed, although due to the nature of the documentary, the possible solution to the shortcomings of the current educational system is rather blurred.

Most of the following documentaries on psychology have the format of television documentaries 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 during meditation and mystical meditation 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 in total isolation. total isolation.

8. The Man with 7 Seconds of Memory

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

9. Is Seeing Believing? (2010)

A journey through the brain and physiological processes that explain optical illusions. optical illusions. This excerpt explains the McGurk Effect:

Developmental Psychology Documentaries

10. Why Do We Talk?

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

11. The Secret Life of the Brain (2002)

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

Documentaries on psychology and mental disorders

12. Mary and Me (2013)

Documentary focused on autism that analyzes the specific case of a person with this disorder. Valuable if you want to know firsthand what an autistic person is like. You can watch it here.

13. My Bipolar Son

It talks about raising and living with young people with bipolar disorder. You can see it here.

14. 1% Schizophrenia (2006)

Film against the 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)

This documentary explores the psychological factors behind decision-making and the management of finances and the economy.