Why have vampires become such a feature of modern culture? Can vampire-like conditions be explained by medical research? Is there a connection between vampirism and Freud?
The Psychology of Vampires presents a captivating look at the origins of vampires in myth and history, and the psychological theories which try to explain why they fascinate us. It traces the development of vampires from the first ever vampire tale, written by John Polidori in 1819, to their modern cultural legacy. Together with historical detail about Polidori’s eventful life, the book also examines the characteristics of vampires, and explores how and why people might identify as vampires today.
From sanguinarians who drink blood, to psychic vampires who suck the energy from those around them, The Psychology of Vampires explores the absorbing connections between vampirism and psychology, theology, medicine and culture.
Aperitif - The Vampires’ Favourite Ice Cream
Chapter 1- Poor Polidori and the Human Jam
Chapter 2 The Early History of Vampires.
Chapter 3 Dracula on the couch
Chapter 4 – The doctor who wanted to be something different
Chapter 5 – The Vampire develops and the poet flees from the bailiffs
Chapter 6 – Dip the Pen in Blood
Chapter 7 – Theology, Child Abuse – and the vampire ‘syndrome’
Chapter 8 – The First Proper Story
Chapter 9 - Sucking out energy - the passive aggressive personality
Chapter 10 – In Print
Chapter 11 – Vampires on the ward
Chapter 12 – A modern Oedipus, Bloodletting and three more deaths
Chapter 13 – Polidori’s cultural legacy
Biography
David Cohen is a psychologist, film maker, writer and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. His books include the best-selling Diana, Death of a Goddess on the controversies surrounding the Princess' death and Great Psychologists as Parents, and his film on the Soham murders was nominated for a BAFTA award.
