A Detective’s History of Psychology: Understanding Key Theories and Concepts Through Mystery Fiction

Are you captivated by detective fiction and mystery stories? Do you enjoy solving puzzles or explaining other people’s behavior? Have you ever thought Miss Marple would make a good therapist or Sherlock Holmes an excellent researcher? If so, you probably have already seen the connection between detective fiction and the field of psychology.

This book introduces key concepts and theories of psychology through the lens of mystery fiction. Designed for curious readers of all backgrounds, it explores the crossroads of detective fiction and psychology. Thought-provoking activities and questions enhance readers’ inquisitiveness, deductive reasoning, critical thinking, and psychological insights.

Diane Mello-Goldner is a social and personality psychologist and currently is a senior lecturer in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Boston University. Previously she spent 28 years at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, as a professor of Psychology and academic dean.