Discovering Psychology and the Mind Through Scenes from TV and Cinema

Plats Umeå

Why do some people feel secure in relationships while others fear abandonment or avoid closeness? Why do we sometimes make irrational decisions even when we believe we are being logical? Why do certain personality types repeatedly encounter similar conflicts in relationships, friendships, or at work?

Boka nu

This course offers an accessible introduction to psychology by exploring these questions through scenes from films and television series. Stories and characters often reveal psychological patterns more clearly than abstract theory. By watching and discussing selected scenes together, we will explore how people think, feel, make decisions, and interact with others..

The course is designed for the general public and requires no previous knowledge of psychology. Short lectures will introduce key ideas, and film scenes will be used to illustrate them. Participants will be invited to reflect on the behavior of characters and connect these ideas to situations from everyday life.

What You Will Learn

During the course you will:

• Why do people behave so differently in relationships?

• Why do some people trust easily while others struggle with closeness?

• How do early life experiences influence adult relationships?

• What shapes our personality and how stable is it over time?

• Why do people sometimes make decisions that are clearly not in their best interest?

• What are cognitive biases and how do they influence our judgments and perceptions?

• Why do we sometimes postpone important tasks even when we know we should not?

Course Format

The course consists of four in-person sessions, each lasting 2.5 hours. The course will combine lectures with scenes from cinema and tv that illustrate psychological ideas in practice. These scenes will help participants see how psychological concepts appear in everyday situations such as relationships, family dynamics, workplace interactions, and personal decision making. Participants are welcome to take part in discussions and small reflective exercises, but participation is entirely voluntary. Those who prefer to simply watch, listen, and reflect are equally welcome.

Goal

The goal of this course is to help participants better understand how people think, feel, and behave. By learning about psychological patterns in relationships, personality, and decision making, participants will gain new perspectives on everyday situations in personal life, social interactions, and work environments.

Instructor

Dr. Oben K. Bayrak holds a PhD in decision theory and behavioural economics and has several years of experience teaching and researching topics related to human decision making and psychology. Read more about Oben here: https://sites.google.com/view/obenbayrak/cv

Prerequisites/Level

No prior knowledge of psychology is required. The course is open to anyone who is curious about human behavior and interested in exploring psychology through cinema.

Location

Folkuniversitetet, Umeå. Before the start of the course, you will receive more information about the venue and how to get there.

Kursledare

Oben Kurtulus Bayrak

Dr. Oben K. Bayrak holds a PhD in decision theory and behavioural economics and has several years of experience teaching and researching topics related to human decision making and psychology.

En man tittar ned på en dator

Har du frågor?

Kontakta Folkuniversitetet i Umeå

umea@folkuniversitetet.se

Datum
15 apr. 2026 - 6 maj 2026
Onsdag
Antal tillfällen
4
Första tillfället
ons 15 apr. 2026 kl 18:00-20:30
  • ons 22 apr. 2026 kl 18:00 - 20:30
  • ons 29 apr. 2026 kl 18:00 - 20:30
  • ons 6 maj 2026 kl 18:00 - 20:30
Plats
Nygatan 43, 90330 UMEÅ
Visa på karta
Studietimmar
16
Kurs-ID
505501
Pris
1200 kr