SASB Goes Hollywood: Teaching Personality Theories Through Movies

Authors

John R. Paddock, Kennesaw State University
Sophia Terranova, Emory UniversityFollow
Lance Giles, State University of West Georgia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2001

Abstract

In this article we describe a technique for teaching personality theories to undergraduate psychology students. The method shows students segments from feature films that illustrate key concepts and uses the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB; Benjamin, 1994) model to focus attention on interactional behavior. We present qualitative and quantitative data supporting the utility of this teaching technique and suggest it can be successfully applied in introductory psychology as well as upper division courses (e.g., abnormal psychology, child development, theories of personality).