30 day meme, day 24

Day 24 - Your favorite movie and what it’s about.

if i had to pick one... i'd say wild at heart.

( here's the plot according to wikipedia )

( and this is why i like it )

think tank

so this forensic psych lab i'll be working in... i have a unique opportunity with this should i stay on post baccalaureate. since my LSAT wont be taken in time to squeeze in law school apps for next year, i've got some time to kill. the opportunity that has presented itself is an opportunity to use the lab's resources to conduct my own research. like, not work on someone else's research, but my very own (while still fulfilling my duties to the lab, of course). how freaking awesome is that?! the only problem is, i have no idea where to start.

my area of psych that i've become proficient in lies in social behavior and detecting underlying disorders/illness. where i seem to excel is reading body language and vocal patterns as well as analyzing speech in general. i've got a couple ideas of how to utilize this, but i'm not 100%.

my first instinct is to clamor all over cognitive dissonance as that's been an area of significant interest to me. unfortunately its been so heavily studied that there's not a lot of uncharted territory there.

another idea is the relation of emotion to body language and facial expressions, but i'm pretty sure paul ekman sort of stole the thunder on that one by helping to make a show about it.

so i dunno? any ideas? what would you all study if given free reign in the psych department (doesn't have to be forensic or social psych - anything)?