The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead (Volume 1) (Popular Culture Psychology)

Book Synopsis: Aim for the brain! The characters of The Walking Dead live in a desolate post-apocalyptic world, filled with relentless violence and death. In reality, how would such never-ending stress and trauma affect the psyche? By understanding the psychological forces that drive the series' action, fans can better grasp Robert Kirkman's compelling fictional universe. Which characters suffer PTSD, which show the most hope for recovery, and which instead show posttraumatic growth? Has Rick Grimes lost his mind? What's it like for a kid like Carl growing up during the zombie apocalypse? Is the Governor a psychopath, a sociopath, or something even worse? What does that make Negan? What is the emotional cost of killing a walker or even another living person? What does Terror Management Theory tell us about what it means to fight constantly for survival? What is groupthink and how does it affect the decisions made by the people of Woodbury, Terminus, Alexandria, and Rick's "family"? How do they find hope? In 19 chapters from a range of esteemed contributors, plus a foreword by George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead co-creator John Russo and "Case Files" sidebars on the villains (the Governor, the Whisperers, the Claimers, Negan, and more), The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead answers these and many other questions in a way sure to fascinate the millions of passionate graphic novel readers and TV viewers. What does it take to stay human when humanity has lost the world? Contributors include: John Blanchar, Megan Blink, Colt J. Blunt, Josue Cardona, Adam Davis, William Blake Erickson, Frank Gaskill, Jennifer Golbeck, Jonathan Hetterly, Katrina Hill, Alan Kistler, Dana Klisanin, Stephen Kuniak, Martin Lloyd, Stephanie Norman, Patrick O'Connor, Katherine Ramsland, Clay Routledge, John Russo, Billy San Juan, Janina Scarlet, Steven Schlozman, Lara Taylor, Dave Vergaagen, Mara Wood, and E. Paul Zehr.