The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red

How do people stay true to themselves in times of crisis? Where does anyone find the strength to stand up in the face of oppression? When will the worst side of human nature wither before the best?

Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, has captivated readers for four decades and continues to stir popular conversation and controversy through the hit Hulu television series. The story has grown into a cautionary tale evoking fear and concern, and yet it also inspires many. The Handmaid’s Tale Psychology: Seeing Off Red delves into the psychology of the characters and events depicted in each version of Atwood’s epic, both in print and on screen. Through 18 chapters, psychologists and therapists look deeply into the fiction, analyzing it both personally and professionally to unearth its message about real human truths. Topics include oppression, resistance, power, identity, violence, posttraumatic stress versus posttraumatic growth, good versus evil, morality versus mortality, spirituality versus religion, helplessness versus hopefulness, and more.

Travis Langley, PhD, series/volume editor, distinguished professor of psychology at Henderson State University, has been a child abuse investigator, courtroom expert, and Wheel of Fortune game show champion. A popular keynote speaker for the American Psychological Association, Amazon, and other organizations, he speaks regularly on events throughout the world, discussing heroism and the power of story in people’s lives. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Saturday Evening Post, CNN, MTV, and hundreds of other outlets have interviewed him and covered his work. He has appeared as an expert interviewee in documentary programs such as Necessary Evil, Legends of the Knight, Superheroes Decoded, Pharma Bro, AMC Visionaries: Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics, and Hulu’s Batman & Bill.

Online, he’s easy to find. Just look for Travis Langley as @Superherologist or @DrTravisLangley.