Dr. Rosenberg has shown how superheroes and their stories illuminate various psychological phenomena. Her analyses open doors into more general psychological issues, and have led to effective ways to convey life lessons.
In addition to her written work about superheroes (see published works, some Psychablog entries, as well as her superhero blog at Psychology Today) she teaches and speaks about the psychological phenomena revealed by superheroes.
Among her teaching experiences, Dr. Rosenberg has taught a brief (noncredit) course at MIT on Superheroes and the Life Lessons They Teach Us. Among her speaking experiences, she was featured on the History Channel's show, Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight, and she speaks at Comic Book Conventions.
Dr. Rosenberg is available to speak about various related topics including:
- Superheroes and the Life Lessons They Teach Us:
- We all have alter-egos
- Why the costume counts
- Being different can give you power
- Adversity can be overcome
- No matter what your abilities, life can still be frustrating
- Running toward danger: Overcoming your fears
- Think ahead rather than simply react
- What's Wrong With Bruce Wayne?
- Diagnosing the Joker
- Forging Iron Man's Foundations
- Buffy's Beginnings: From Caterpillar to Butterfly
- Wolverine: Memory and Identity
- Understanding Superman's personality
- The Importance of Superhero Origin Stories
- What Students Really Learn at Hogwarts
All of these talks are both entertaining and full of psychological content. Dr. Rosenberg is able to convey the essence of recent discoveries about our minds and motivations in an engaging and disarming way.
