Ghostbusters Directed by: Ivan Reitman

1. GhostbustersDirected by: Ivan Reitman Mrs. Magee AP Psychology 2009-2010 Sample PowerPoint

2. Summary • Dr. Peter Venkman • Winston Zeddmore • Dr. Raymond Stantz • Dr. Egon Spengler

3. Summary • Four scientists go into the business of catching ghosts. New York becomes the gateway for to another dimension that will release evil and terror on the city. The Ghostbusters are saving NYC when the EPA comes in and closes their facility. This ends up leaving the city vulnerable to all demonic creatures, including the Sumerian god, Gozer. Only the Ghostbusters can save the city from destruction.

4. Critique • I think this movie gives and interesting twist on the psychological theme that the past can come back to haunt the present. The characters are well developed and each have their individual “talent”. The film itself has become an iconic symbol of the strength of NYC and often references this strong will throughout the dialogue. I would give this movie a 9 out of 10 for the humor and witty story line. The following are 10 different points in the movie when psychology can be observed… but there are at least 10 more examples throughout!

5. Negative Reinforcement • Definition: a stimuli that increases a response when something like shock is taken away • “I’m studying the effects of negative reinforcement on ESP ability”- Dr. Venkman in Ch. 2 Ch 8

6. Negative Reinforcement • This scene demonstrates negative reinforcement because Venkman recreates a horrible experiment, combining the ideas of Milgram and ESP with his subjects. The boy is shocked for wrong answers: he is to increase correct answers and the shock will be removed. Ch 8

7. Parapsychology • Definition: The study of paranormal phenomena, like ESP • The Ghostbusters are a group of men that study the paranormal phenomena of ghosts • “I have PhD’s in parapsychology and psychology” – Dr. Venkman, Ch 15 Ch 6

8. Parapsychology • Parapsychology is looking at paranormal activity and the capturing of these ghosts throughout the movie is a continuous example of looking at items which go beyond the range of normal experience Ch 6

9. Schizophrenia • Definition: a severe disorders of disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions and actions. • Venkman asking Alice the librarian, “Have you or any member of your family been diagnosed as schizophrenic, mentally incompetent?”- Ch 3 Ch 16

10. Schizophrenia • Schizophrenia is seeing or hearing things that are not really there; this scene where the librarian meets a ghost in the stacks is a great example of when society would jump to conclusions and say that she might have a problem with her brain. Ch 16

11. Collective Unconscious • Definition: Carl Jung’s concept of a shared, inherited bank of memory that originates from human history • “Could be erased memory stored in the collective unconscious…”- Dr. Spengler, Ch 9 Ch 15

12. Collective Unconscious • Jung believed that there were certain ideas that all humans share; a concept of hero, mother, etc. In this case, Spengler is implying that the spook Dana has with a demon in her refrigerator might be a fear that we all share; a fear of creatures and the unknown Ch 15

13. Representative Heuristic • how well an item seems to represent a particular prototype • “You know you don’t act like a scientist, you are more like a game show host.”- Dana says to Venkman while he searches her home for paranormal activities Ch 10

14. Representative Heuristic • In this scene Dana is using her previous knowledge of what a scientist is and is stating that Venkman does not fit the prototype. As talked about in class, he does not fit the mold for what would be considered a “geeky scientist” Ch 10

15. Incentive “If there is a steady paycheck in it, I’ll believe anything you say” • Definition: a positive or negative stimulus that motivates behavior • After the secretary asks Winston about his views of paranormal activity… Ch 12

16. Incentive • People can be motivated by internal and external incentives. In this case, Winston is motivated by money and agree with anything in order to get a paycheck. Ch 12

17. Bystander Effect • Definition: a person is less likely to give help if other people are present • As the Ghostbusters head up to face Zool, the crowd is cheering but no one is stepping forward to help them; later when the Marshmallow Man storms down the streets there is mass chaos and everyone runs Ch 18

18. Bystander Effect • The more people added to a group, the less chance an individual will come to help. In this scene the Ghostbusters have stepped up to the challenge. Imagine if the city were to come together and help… this job would be much easier (see GB2) Ch 18

19. Mnemonics • Definition: memory aids, using imagery and organizational devices, rhymes, etc. • “Light is green, trap is clean”- Dr. Raymond Stantz giving instructions to Winston Zeddmore, Ch 14 • Similar to the rhyme, “In 1492,…” this trick will help Winston remember how to work the containment machine. Ch 9

20. Sympathetic Nervous System • Definition: this part of the ANS arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations • Louis is met by a creature in his apartment. He runs out of his apartment and towards a restaurant but is caught by the beast Ch 2

21. Sympathetic Nervous System • The SNS kicks in when a person is alarmed. In this case, Louis the next-door neighbor of Dana, is scared of the creature found in his apartment. The SNS increases heart rate, blood pressure and sugar, and makes you alert. In this case, Louis decided to run instead of fight. His SNS prepared his body to do this. Ch 2

22. Amygdala • Definition: fear learning lies in this part of the brain; a key role in connecting fear with certain situations • “I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly harm us…” Ray thinks of the only childhood item that seems harmless; the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man Ch 13

23. Amygdala • Even though the amygdala is talked about in Ch 2, the biology of fear is discussed in Ch 13. In this scene the amygdala is being activated in all of the Ghostbusters’ brains because a giant angry marshmallow man is coming towards them. This fear is processed by the amygdala. Ch 13