Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous celebrities of the 21st century (Pettinger, 2013). She appeared in 29 films throughout her career, and seemed very successful and well adjusted to outsiders. After she was found dead after an apparent suicide, the public was exposed to her inner turmoil. Monroe spent her short life dealing with problems, many stemming from her unstable childhood (Wholper & Huston, 1964) Karen Horney, 1885-1952, was a psychoanalytic psychologist who developed a theory of neurosis, and studied the ways neurotic people deal with anxiety from interacting with others. Horney deduced that childhood was a time of anxiety, and that children deal with that anxiety by being compliant, aggressive or withdrawing. If a child lives in an unstable home, they will become overly dependent on one strategy, leading to neuroticism in later years (Brenner, 2009). I believe that Monroe childhood fits into Horney’s model of neuroticism based on her tumultuous childhood, and that her behaviour displays many traits associated with excessive compliance in her later years.
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles on June 1st, 1926 to Gladys Baker. She was illegitimate, so the name Mortenson was assigned by the hospital. At twelve days old, she was taken away from her mother and placed in the care of Ida and Albert Bolender where she would remain for the next seven years. At the age of two, she was nearly smothered to death by a foster grandparent, and at the age of six Monroe was not the only foster child that the Bolender’s took in; there were often three of four other children in the household. During her seven years in the Bolender’s care, Monroe had 13 foster siblings come and go. The Bolender’s we...
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Marilyn Monroe Quotes (n.d), retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marilynmon386391.html
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Wholper, David L. (Producer), & Huston, Johm (Director). (1964). The Legend of Marilyn Monroe [Motion picture]. USA.
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June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California Norma Jeane Mortenson was born. She never knew her father and her mother is Gladys Baker, Gladys has psychiatric problems and was placed into a mental institution. One of Monroe's earliest memories of her mother is Gladys trying to smother her with a pillow in her crib (“Marilyn Monroe.”). As she grew up, she spent most of her time in eleven foster homes and one orphanage. (“18 Things...Monroe.”). Until she was seven she was in foster homes until her mother got her back but soon after her mother was declared insane and had to go to a psychiatric hospital (Bradshaw, Lauren). While Monroe was in foster homes she was sexually
Marilyn Monroe is an icon that is idolized by many and had a great impact on pop culture. She didn’t have the best childhood and had a lot of up and downs in her life. Marilyn Monroe was born in California in 1926. She was named Norma Jeane Mortenson after a popular actress at the time. Her mother Gladys Baker was mentally ill, so she had to put Monroe in foster care. She lived in a foster home until she was seven years old. She had two other siblings from her mother’s first marriage. She never met them because her mom’s first husband took them to live with him in Kentucky.
Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Mortenson. A devious soul but a pure heart, a black past, but a bright future; she became one of the most idolized figures in society. Norma was definitely not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and she never sugar coated her life to the media. She was straight forward which made her heavily known for her quotes such as “I learned to walk as a baby and I haven’t had a lesson since.” (Marilyn Monroe). This was the beginning to her life story as a hero. This may not seem inspiring or heroic to many by the lack of knowledge a person may have on Norma. In the depths of her quotes lay a deep, heartfelt life though. For this quote may seem sensational and comical to the ear, but Marilyn was transferred to many foster homes not really having a parent that would show her the way. What a good role model would do though, and what Norma courageously has shown society, is that when life knocks you down, get up and hit life back twice as hard. Norma Jeane Mortenson, married Jim Dougherty, and started working. Soon she created the character Marilyn Monroe, she dyed her hair blonde, wore short dresses, and she became the momentous and inspirational character that everyone saw through television, newspapers, and photos. She was one of the greatest actors, singers, and models of the nineteen forties and fifties. But like every hero they suffer and create their own demise. Jeane, Marilyn Monroe, is a shakespearean tragic hero, because like every hero she must fall.
Davis, S. F., & Palladino, J. J. (2003). Psychology. (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Born as Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles General Hospital, her mother, Gladys, listed the fathers address as unknown. Marilyn would never know the true identity of her father.
Neuroticism boldly contrasts with the other personality traits in the Five Factor Model for personality (Openness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, Contentiousness, and Neuroticism). An individual being high in any of the other four traits could hardly be considered pathological. For example, high levels of agreeableness, within reason, would probably be considered to be a positive and healthy characteristic. However, the discussion regarding neuroticism certainly takes a darker turn. Gunthert, Cohen, and Armeli (1999) in their study, operationally define neuroticism as a predisposition to experience negative affect (negative emotional systems). Lahey (2009) defines it slightly differently, as the tendency to “respond with negative emotions to threat, frustration, or loss.” More generally, the personality trait is characterized by anxiety, angry hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsiveness, and vulnerability (Cervone & Pervin, 2010). Neuroticism has critical implications outside of personality psychology. Some researchers suggest that neuroticism is significantly correlated with both physical and mental health issues more so than any other personality trait variable. This increased risk is not just for a particular group of pathologies; neuroticism has been linked to Axis I and II disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) across the board (Lahey, 2009). In some occupational performance studies, negative affect was negatively related to job performance (Kaplan, Bradley, Luchman, & Haynes, 2009). This may be extrapolated to individuals high in neuroticism, as it the trait is the predisposition for the experience of negative affect. Research on daily stress and coping showed th...
Think about the obstacles of a woman to become successful in the 1950s. I want to find an answer whether it was the media, which created Monroe’s sexy image or Monroe, whom herself used her sexy image to become famous. I am going to study the background of the time period, and learn if the current events such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War, had any impact on Monroe's life, or whether Monroe herself had any influences politics in mid-20th century. I will also explore on how Monroe’s image influenced and redefined the feminism in the 21st century. I believe Marilyn Monroe was a clever, confident, and independent woman who was very brave and smart. Her spirit is what the girls in the new century needed. I also would like to study why Marilyn Monroe is still relevant and even famous in the 21st century to show the power of female charisma.
Marilyn Monroe was a deeply troubled woman and I believe that in applying a Psychoanalytic Perspective to her life, the first theorist that comes to mind is Erik Erickson and his stage theory of personality. In applying his theory we see that we can assess Marilyn’s personality through Erickson’s psychosocial stages of “Identity vs. Role Confusion” and “Intimacy vs. Isolation” (Friedman & Schustack 133-134). Marilyn’s childhood, the most critical time in any child’s life when any and all relationships are crucial to their healthy development proved to be the catalyst for her later problems in life as evident by the lack of any solid and
Norma Jean, most famously known as Marilyn Monroe was a famous actress in Hollywood that was one of the biggest sex symbols to come by in the 1900’s. Marilyn Monroe did not start out as an actress or one of the world’s biggest sex symbols, she began her career as a model. Monroe began work in a weapons factory in Burbank, California, where she was later discovered by a photographer. She was married to her first husband Jimmy Dougherty who was a marine. Jimmy had been deployed for some time and when he returned in 1946, Monroe had a fruitful career as a model, and she also changed her name from Norma Jean Baker to Marilyn Monroe in preparation for an acting career (Cinnamon,
(Freud, 1905) Berie is stuck in the phallic stage due to her abnormal family set-up/unusual relationship with both her mother and father. When stuck in this phase, Freud says that the adult personality can contain the following traits: vanity, sexual anxiety, inadequacy, and inferiority. Even as a fifteen year old, Berie exhibited all of the possible traits, which were later exaggerated when her own husband treated her the same way that her emotionally-vacant father did. During her teenage summer, Berie felt like she was not as desirable as the other girls, and often hid in the corners of bars as the other girls danced the night away. Berie was ignored at home, around friends, at work, and most importantly by her best friend Sils, whenever there was a boy around. "The words "developed" and "undeveloped" filled me with dread and loathing," (Moore, 1994, 13) Placing worth in how others viewed her body, Berie spent many years feeling inferior to everyone around her; this timidness followed her through her adult life, permeating every area, including her
Horney’s theory focuses on neurosis and the ideal self of the individual. Her theory plays an important role in the development of an individuals personality and can be applied to the film Precious directed by Lee Daniels. The film is based on an African-American teenager girl who lives in Harlem with her abusive and ruthless mother as well as the mothers revolting boyfriend. The role of the mother plays a significant role in Precious’ personality development and will be discussed further in the essay with regard to Horney and the following aspects of; social and cultural conditions, basic anxiety and basic evil, neurotic needs, coping strategies and the ideal self vs the despised self.
Maslow’s Psychoanalytical perspective can be used to give an understanding of this part of Marilyn Monroe’s life. Maslow’s theory was developed and based on hierarchy of needs. Maslow wanted to know and understand what motivated people. His belief was that individuals are motivated to achieve certain needs (Feist & Feist, 2009). According to Maslow, Marilyn Monroe had some loving, belongingness needs and safety needs. Maslow believed that when people had their needs for love and belongingness in early years, they do not panic or feel devastated when they are rejected or denied of love. Whereas people who experienced love and belongingness in small doses, have stronger needs for affection and acceptance (Feist & Feist, 2009). This can be app...
Wedding, D., & Corsini, R. J. (Eds.). (2014). Current psychotherapies (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage
Marilyn Monroe, whose real name is Norma Jeane Mortenson, was born on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. She was American actress, singer and model. She also was one of the most famous movie star, the sex symbols and pop icons of the 20th century. Despite her an unhappy, difficult childhood she got succeed during her short life period. She worked minor roles for years. Then, she showed her comedy ability, appearance on television and attraction with films. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch are some examples of these films. Her success and these films provided her to be the most popular film actress in 1950s and 60s. “During her career, Monroe's films grossed more than $200 million. Monroe died of a drug overdose on August 5, 1962, at only 36 years old”. In this paper, personality of Marilyn Monroe, especially her dominant trait neuroticism will be examined by using the trait theory. The five-factor theory and Eysencks’ three dimensions of personality will be used for this examination.