Get Psyched!
There is nothing more interesting than looking into deep, dark parts of the human psyche through entertainment. The brain loves learning about itself, and humans generally have a morbid curiosity about what happens when we’re pushed to the extreme. If you adore psychology, we’d recommend the shows below.
1. Black Mirror
Black Mirror is an anthology television series that combines sci-fi and technology into psychological commentary on where humanity is headed. Typically set in the not-so-distant future, the characters of Black Mirror face complex, morally grey situations that force us to face our potential future if we continue to let technology control our lives.
2. Twin Peaks
This 1990s television series was created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The show is well-known for being a combination of mystery, horror, and drama, and is full of surrealism, supernatural elements, and an uncanny tone.
3. Mindhunter
This 2017 Netflix series is a psychological thriller based on a 1995 true-crime book. It follows two FBI agents who launch a research project, interviewing imprisoned serial killers. The show provides insight into the psychology of why people kill, as the two detectives attempt to apply their newfound knowledge to ongoing investigations.
4. Dexter
This early 2000s crime staple follows Dexter Morgan, a mild-mannered forensic technician by day, who lives a secret second life as a vigilante serial killer. With his knowledge of bloodstain pattern analysis and his driving ideology of only killing “those who deserve it,” Dexter asks the question of how bad is a murderer who only kills bad guys?
Dexter_series_tv.JPG: Belb, basandome en logo original de la serie de asesinatos
5. Lost
Regularly considered one of the greatest television shows of all time, the science fiction adventure drama series Lost highlights psychological themes of redemption, survival, fate versus free will, and the human need for purpose. The ending of the show is typically considered vague, leaving it open to the interpretation of the viewer.
Manuel Bartual from Madrid, España on Wikimedia
6. What Would You Do?
What Would You Do? (WWYD) was an early 2000s television series that asked everyday humans if they would intervene when coming into contact with conflict or illegal activity. The show used hidden cameras to capture the reactions of passersby, and offered a more real psychological insight into how we react to extreme situations.
7. The Alienist
The Alienist is a period crime drama based on a 1994 novel of the same name. Set in the 1890s, a group of professionals joins together to investigate a serial child murderer. The show explores the emerging field of psychology and the methods of forensic psychology that existed in the late 19th century.
8. Shrinking
Shrinking is a comedy-drama series that first came out in 2023. It focuses on a grieving therapist, who begins pushing the ethical barriers of his practice by telling his patients exactly what he thinks. The show has been praised for being an excellent examination of grief.
9. Hannibal
This 2010s NBC series focuses on our favorite dignified cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The show follows the relationship between Hannibal and FBI special investigator Will Graham. The show explores the nature of a relationship between two damaged individuals, the struggle of dark impulses, and self-preservation.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
10. Big Brother
This reality competition show explores what happens when you lock a group of strangers in a room together and give them no contact with the outside world. Aside from the competition element, the show explores what happens when people are under 24/7 surveillance, social isolation, and intense stress.
Konstantin Iliev, acting as a representative of TV Nova s.r.o., Czech republic on Wikimedia
11. Sharp Objects
This Southern Gothic psychological thriller follows an emotionally troubled reporter who’s tasked with covering the murder of two young girls. The show explores the psychological impact of trauma, abuse, and generational violence.
12. Baby Reindeer
This miniseries has a combination of comedy, drama, and thriller elements. It follows the relationship between an aspiring comedian and a woman who continuously stalks him in person and online. The show explores the trauma of being stalked, the manipulative behavior of the stalker, and how difficult it is to get help from the legal system in non-violent situations like this.
13. Carol & The End Of The World
This animated Netflix miniseries follows the final months of human life before Earth collides with another planet, terminating humanity as we know it. While most people fulfil their lifelong dreams, Carol prefers to live as she always has. The show explores themes of existentialism and finding meaning before death, and offers a critique of capitalism.
14. The Bear
The Bear is an American television series that follows an award-winning chef returning to his hometown to manage his deceased brother’s sandwich shop. The show follows the psychology of unsteady family dynamics, PTSD, and how the employees navigate the high-stress environment of restaurant work.
KRYSTEE CLARK (photo)
RanZag (cropping) on Wikimedia
15. Barry
Barry is a comedy-drama that came out in 2018. It follows Barry Berkman, a former US Marine who now works as a hitman, and finds himself in an acting class in Los Angeles. The show explores feelings of loneliness, depression, and guilt, and how finding a new sense of purpose acts as an outlet for these darker feelings.
16. Severance
This science fiction psychological thriller follows the lives of employees at Lumon. The show’s name is a medical treatment that ensures employees don’t have any memories of the outside world while at work and vice versa. This award-winning series explores themes of identity, memory, and the extremity of a work-life balance.
17. The Sinner
The Sinner is a police procedural series based on a 1999 novel. The show follows a detective who investigates crimes committed by unlikely culprits, and the show explores themes of guilt, repression, trauma, and inner turmoil.
BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash
18. Lie To Me
Lie to Me was a late 2000s television series that followed Dr. Cal Lightman, an expert in microexpressions, facial coding, and body language, who used his expertise to help solve investigations. The show explores the psychology of deception and human behavior.
© Ra Boe / Wikipedia on Wikimedia
19. Survivor
This long-standing reality competition show first premiered back in 2000, and has been a reality TV staple ever since. The show requires a group of people to isolate on an island, where they must provide their own food, fire, and shelter, while pushing themselves to the physical and mental maximum. The show observes how human behaviors are affected through stress, deprivation, and strategy-based decision-making.
20. Bates Motel
Based on the novel Psycho, Bates Motel is a prequel series to the events of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960s film. The show follows the lives of Norman and Norma Bates, with the final series loosely tying into the plot of the novel. The show follows Norman’s descent into psychosis and DID, driven by Norma’s abuse of her son.
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