Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction
Part I: What is an Acting Class? An Empirical Investigation
A Psychological Analysis of Acting Class : The Method
The Content and Structure of Acting Classes
Part II: The Eight Habits of Mind Taught in Acting Classes
Habits of Mind Introduction
Body Awareness and Control: learning to Understand and Control Your Physicality
Release Inhibitions and Be Playful: Learning to Perform Fully and With Self-Trust
Imagine and Envision: Learning to Create and Think Beyond Perception
Consider Others: Learning to Think About Others' Behaviors, Minds, Emotions, and Perspectives
Think Collaboratively: Learning to Actively and Purposefully Communicate, Engage, and Work With Others
Be Flexible: Learning to Be Open and Try New Ideas Until One Works Best
Commit to Choices: Learning to Make Firm, Bold, and Definitive Decisions
Reflect and Think Metacognitively: Learning to Thoughtfully Consider Your Own Actions
Part III: Connections
The Scene Study Cycle
The Complexity of Acting Classes
Goals and Contexts
The Future of Acting Classes and Research
Appendix: Technical Research Information

"Discover the cognitive, social, emotional, and other psychological benefits of learning how to act and perform. This book looks behind the curtain of theatre education to see how thinking on stage happens in real secondary classrooms. Reporting on the first large scale systematic qualitative analyses of acting classes for adolescents, the author introduces the discovery of the eight Acting Habits of Mind-thinking strategies to solve problems and creatively complete tasks. Each Habit is tied to current scientific research findings for related psychological constructs, including creativity, self-esteem, empathy, emotion regulation, and well-being. Connections are then made to individual student needs, future research, and the complexity of theatre education. Based in the science of development and actual theatre education as it happens in a variety of school types, with a diversity of students, this book provides an answer to the question "What, psychologically, is an acting class?" Every educator, administrator, and arts lover can use this book to better understand and advocate for their art form and demonstrate why theatre should be included in schools. Theatre educators, advocates, and performers have long theorized about the cognitive, social, emotional, and other psychological benefits of learning how to act and perform. However, a thorough, scientifically-based analyses of acting classes and the benefits of theatre has been missing- until now. This book looks behind the curtain of theatre education to see how thinking on stage happens - in real classroom. Reporting on the first large scale systematic qualitative analyses of actual acting classes for adolescents, this book introduces the discovery of the 8 "Acting Habits of Mind" - thinking strategies to solve problems and creatively complete tasks- that are used, integrated and fostered in acting classes. Each Acting Habit of Mind is tied to the current scientific research and findings for related psychological constructs, including creativity, self-esteem, empathy, and emotion regulation and health. Then, connections are made to individual student needs, future research, and the complexity of theatre education. Based in the science of development and actual theatre education as it happens in a variety of school types, with a diversity of students, this book provides an answer to the question "What, psychologically, is an acting class?" and can help every educator, administrator, and theatre lover advocate for their art form"-- Provided by publisher.