This essay will discuss how the personality of the main character in the movie ‘Precious’ develops by applying Karen Horney’s theory of neurosis to account for these reasons. One will see how the environment and the people she is surrounded by, influences her personality either in a positive or negative way. Particular emphasis will be placed on social and cultural conditions, basic anxiety and basic evil, neurotic needs and coping strategies and as well as the ideal self and the despised self. Lastly, we will see what factors had a positive influence on the characters life, causing her personality to grow and develop. One should note that this essay will not follow the order of events that take place in the movie, but rather apply these events to Horney’s theory, accounting for personality development. Horney makes use of the term ‘neurotic trends’ to account for an individual’s “behaviours and attitudes towards oneself that express a person’s needs” (Schultz & Scultz, 2008). These neurotic trends include the movement away from people (the detached personality), movement against people (the aggressive personality) and movement towards people (the compliant personality) which are evident in the movie and account for Precious’ personality development (Schultz & Schultz, 2008). Neurotic needs are seen a coping devices used to confront one’s anxiety (Harris, 2012). Those with a detached personality are desperate for perfection and independence, while those with an aggressive personality crave power, social recognition, personal achievement and administration (Harris, 2012). In contrast to this, those that have a compliant personality crave approval and affection (Harris, 2012). The movie begins in a dream like setting where the main... ... middle of paper ... ...nature. Therefore it is evident that through the application of Horney’s theory, we are able to understand and account for the reasons behind Precious’ personality development. By looking at her social and cultural conditions, basic anxiety which is cause from basic hostility, her neurotic needs and coping strategies and lastly her idealised self and her real self, we are able to understand why Precious’ personality was like it was. The relationship she had with caregivers, school teachers, the nurse and the social worker all had an impact on her life, whether it was positive or negative and this is what determined her personality. However it was through the positive influence of others that enabled her to change what she stood for. It is thus evident that one’s personality may grow and develop depending on the coping strategies adopted and the influence of others.
A personality is a combination of various attributes that belong to a single person. Each one has its own unique qualities and traits that create an individual that is different from any other human being. How this individuality is formed depends on the environment that a person has lived through and their experiences. Alison Bechdel grew up in a home with a father who alienated himself from his family so that he could conceal a dark secret from his life. Nevertheless, Bechdel was able to take from her past so that she could become a strong and independent women who kept true to who she was. Likewise, straying from the expected path of her family, Dorothy Allison was determined to become the person who she wanted to be. Expressing who she is and not changing to match others expectations has become high priority in Allison’s adult life. It was through a journey of hardship in their childhoods, both Allison and Bechdel were able to discover their individual identities in their adult life.
If a magnificent movie is judged by its ability to leave a message with you long after you’ve seen it, then the movie Precious is one of them. There are various reasons to see the movie Precious. Rarely does a movie upset and inspire you at the same time. It will leave you emotionally. It is a movie set in 1987 Harlem about overweight, uneducated, African American teenager who is a victim of incest. Among other things, it is a story of perseverance and survival. It also gives us a raw look at the connection between abuse and eating problems.
In families, every member tends to have a role. Mary, Precious mother, is her primary caretaker. However, she is also the main and primary source of physical and emotional abuse that interacts with Precious life. Her mother’s source of abuse continues in taking advantage of Precious by using her to obtain welfare checks. Her own mother has no importance regarding Precious education or future. She refers to her own daughter as “dumb” continuously. In comparison, Carl Jones main role is to be the father of Precious, but at the same time her rapist. He has been taking sexual advantages on his own daughter since her childhood until he dies. Carl Jones raped Precious who had two of his children. Carl Jones was also the catalyst of the abuse Precious
Daniels does not waste time in demonstrating the personality of Precious since in the opening scene she is shown causing a fight with another classmate. Discussing the fight and Precious’ second pregnancy, the principal recommends she transfer to an alternative school. Precious admitted to the film’s audience that she always sits in the back of her classes and does not speak much, and the audience is able to infer soon after that she is illiterate (Fletcher, 2008). However, this soon changes after enrolling into the alternative school taught by Ms. Blu Rain. Ms. Rain encourages Precious to be positive, reminding her that “everybody is good at something,” (Fletcher, 2008) and she also helps Precious develop her literacy skills.
In this paper I will explore various personality theories as applied to River Tam. River Tam is portrayed in the 2002 television series 'Firefly ' and the 2005 movie 'Serenity '. She grew up as a part of the wealthy Tam family on the “core” planet, Osirius. Osirius is governed by the “Alliance,” which is a part of the Union of all planets or the UAP. The UAP was established after a war which lasted for 6 years. It is comparable to our own government combined with China’s, strict, money ruled politics, corrupt officials, etc… Early in her life, as young as 3, she was discovered to be quite intellectually gifted. She was also portrayed as being remarkably graceful which is depicted by the elegance with which she fights. At age 14, River was enrolled in the graduate physics program and had become bored with her studies. The Alliance used the guise of a school for the gifted and took River into a program used to train government assassins. She was
The film Precious takes place in Harlem in 1987, and focuses on the life of an overweight, abused, illiterate 16 year old named Claireece Precious Jones. Precious is a victim of incestuous rape and is impregnated twice by her biological father, and when she is not being sexually abused, she 's getting mentally, physically, and verbally abused by her mother. Her mother lives off of the welfare she receives, and does not do anything else besides smoke and watch television. Precious mother also does not believe that a formal education can improve Precious’ life, and she would prefer having Precious collect welfare in order to bring money into the family. In order to escape the abuse, Precious daydreams of having a glamorous life as a celebrity, and with people that care about her. Precious later sent to an alternative school,
The crisis event in the movie precious is rather obscure at first. At first look you think that the crisis event is that precious is kicked out of school sent to an alternative school because she's pregnant, however I disagree. I believe the true crisis event occurred after precious had her child and went home to her mother’s apartment. Up to that point, precious had never asked for help from anyone regarding her home life or the abuse that was taking place. When precious’s returned home from the hospital with her baby and was attacked by her mother, she ran away to the only place she knew to go that was safe, her school.
The film Precious focuses on Clarice “Precious” Jones, a girl whose life is far from ordinary. At sixteen years old, Precious finds herself pregnant with her second child, both of which belong to her father. Although he’s no longer in the picture, Precious experiences daily abuse from her mother, who thinks nothing of her. Regardless of her past, Precious is eager to give her children a better life than she had. After meeting Ms. Rein, her alternative school teacher, Precious finally gets the love and support that she’s been hoping for her whole life. Precious’ life may have had a different path had she received proper treatment earlier in life. Even though Precious is in the adolescent stage of her life, she can still benefit from treatment;
Personality is defined in a child by “expressing and regulating emotions” (McAdams, 2015, p. 70). Children that experience positive emotions and feedback are more likely to be looking for a reward or social reward for the positive behavior that is shown. A child with a developing personality knows that good will be presented with a good effect at the end. Through, research studies, it has been proven that subject well-being and personality go together. In Temperament and personality development across the life span it is stated “The idea that happiness depends on personality” (Victoria J Molfese; Dennis L Molfese; NetLibrary, Inc., 2000, p. 214).
Precious is a victim of venous psychological traumas and anxieties she faces constant child abuse, rape, domestic violence, and physical mental abuse and her mother as well suffers from anxiety. During the movie precious has recurrent flash backs of sexual abuse received from her father. Precious is also constantly around her vicious mother's violent and demeaning put downs. This all did not help with precious self-esteem. Precious suffers from many things such as, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, eating disorder. Precious as well is tested HIV positive do from her father. Precious is suffering from self esteem because of the violent from her mother and her mother always puts her down. Also because all the comments she gets from her classmates for
Personality is patterns of thinking, behavior and emotional responses that make up individuality over time. Psychologist attempt to understand how personality develops and its impact on how we behave. Several theories attempt to explain personality, using different approaches. The social-cognitive and humanistic approaches are two of many theories that attempt to explain personality. This essay will identify the main concepts of social-cognitive and humanistic approach, identify perspective differences and discuss approach limitations.
This research article conveys the importance of stemming away from the reliance of only trait theories to describe personality, but also contemplating the
The film Black Swan (Aronofsky, 2010) is one of yearly biggest hits directed by Darren Aronofsky. It tells a tragedy story about a ballerina, named Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), who was struggling with approaching the role of “black swan” after being selected as a new swan queen but finally ended up with mental disorder and self-destruction. This essay analyzes Nina’s multiple personalities based on the theory of personality proposed by Freud.
As humans we are born with a personality, but as we age our experiences from outside influences can affect and change our personalities. If we are developing that secure bond with our parents as infant’s chances are our personalities will become positive and perhaps cheerful. On the other hand, if we are neglected during our early development
Personality is the expression of a person’s traits according to ones feelings, mentality and behavior. It involves understanding individuals’ traits such as withdrawal and willpower and how various parts of an individual link together to form personality. Personality expresses itself from within an individual and is comparatively regular throughout in an individual’s life. Different people have different personalities dependent on factors such as environment and genetic composition. Our personality is dependent on the success or failure of our development in the eight stages of life. This is proposed by Erik Erikson. Success in the development stages lead to virtues while the failure leads to malignancies.