Psychology on the box … week beginning the 24th January

The trend for programmes on eating behaviour continues this week. However, there are also documentaries on Freud and dreaming.

On Saturday ( BBC4, 8pm) a documentary series called ‘Bright Lights, Brilliant Minds: A Tale of Three Cities’ turns it’s spotlight to Vienna 1908. This was a prolific time for Freud in terms of work production and the documentary looks at his publications. This will provide some historical perspective for students and give them a sense of the time in which the psychodynamic approach came to fruition.

On Monday a programme called ‘Horizon: Why do we dream’ is scheduled ( BBC4, 11.15pm). Although dreaming was removed from most specifications in 2008, this programme will provide answers to one of the most commonly asked questions students ask ( other than ‘What questions do you think will be on the exam paper?’!). It may also provide some footage about REM sleep and the sleep cycle which, if you’re covering Biological Rhythms, will be invaluable.

Eating behaviour is examined in a Horizon documentary scheduled for Wednesday (BBC4, 11.20pm). It is entitled ‘Horizon: Why are Thin People Not Fat?’ and does exactly what it says on the tin. The reasons behind thin people staying thin will refer to metabolism and genetics. This is potentially useful for the evolutionary explanations for eating behaviour.