This paper will provide an introductory description of the film’s character Michael Oher and the rationale for the selected personality theories by supporting reasons with professional literature. An analysis of the character's personality according to two personality theories using specific theoretical constructs from each theory supported by specific examples from the film will be provided. Next there will also be an analysis of how internal and external factors influence the character's personality within the context of two personality theories, supported by detailed examples from the film will be discussed. Followed by an analysis of the effect that crisis or trauma-causing events have had on the personality of the character, well supported …show more content…
better known as Michael Oher is a professional football player who is currently playing for the Carolina Panthers. Standing at six feet four inches and weighing 315 pounds, number 73 is an offensive tackle. Michael has 11 biological siblings and was born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 28, 1986 to Denise Oher and Michael Jerome Williams. Denise was an alcoholic and addicted to crack cocaine his father was in and out of prison for a majority of Michael’s life. He was murdered in Michael’s senior year of high school (Michael Oher). When he was seven years old, Michael and some of his siblings were removed from their mother’s care by child protective services and placed into foster homes. Michael constantly ran away from these foster homes searching for his mother and was homeless for various periods of time. He performed poorly in school, repeating the first and second grade, and scored below average on aptitude test. He was rarely present in school and was simply passed to the next grade to get rid of him (Lewis, …show more content…
Psychodynamic personality theory suggests our personality development is the result of both conscious and unconscious forces and childhood experiences (Nystul, 2011). These conscious and unconscious forces influence our behavior and we develop certain defense mechanisms as we move through the various stages of psychosocial development, which occurs in early childhood. The challenges of each of these stages must successfully met in order to develop a healthy personality (McLeod, 2013). Michael Oher’s childhood was a troubled one, he experienced a traumatic event and the environment in which he grew up failed to provide him with the physical, emotional, educational, and socioeconomic security he needed to successfully meet his developmental milestones. This theory addresses these factors and provides therapeutic methods to address them (The Blind Side,
Torgersen, S. (2009). The nature (and nurture) of personality disorders. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 50(6), 624-632. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.2009.00788.x
In the Gabriel Myers’ case, it is clear that various adults in his life committed serious errors that led to his untimely death. As a kid in the foster care system, it is the responsibility of his assigned case worker to ensure that his needs are being met and that Gabriel was in the safest home that had authority figures who not only cared for him but were equipped to provide him the care he needed. Gabriel’s caseworker failed at various aspects of his well-being while he was under his supervision.
This essay will explore one of the possible combinations of theories on personality and explain how it can be applied in practical therapy.
Addressing the needs of children in foster care has been an issue that has tried to be addressed in many ways. In 2001, approximately 300,000 children entered the foster care system, with the average time spent in placement equaling 33 months (Bass Shields, & Behrman, n.d.). Statistically, the longer a child is in the foster care system, the greater number of placements they will have, and instability increases each year (Bass Shields, & Behrman, n.d). I recently read a novel by a girl who was placed into the system at age two, and by age 12 she had already experienced 14 different placements (Rhodes-Courter, 2007). Stories such as this one are not uncommon in the foster care system, especially if the child is a member of a sibling group or
Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958. He was one of ten children growing up. Michael and his siblings grew up in a very strict home. He had many conflicts with his father, who was physically and emotionally abusive. Michael’s music career began with the formation of The Jackson 5 in 1963, when he joined his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Jermaine in their already booming musical group. This was the start of Michael’s singing career. He was only five years old at this time, and went solo in 1971 at the young age of thirteen (Internet Movie Database).
Eric Erickson (1902-1994) was a psychoanalytical theorist who refined the study of personality development across the life stages (School of Arts, Development and Health Education, Massey University, 2012). His psychosocial theory (Newman & Newman, 2007) extended on the work of his mentor, and originating theorist; Sigmund Freud (Berk, 2012). Erickson’s theory divulged that individuals confront both negative and positive social pressures, at each life stage. How they deal with such experiences, and the learning, or lack of, acquired from them, determines how they cope and develop throughout their remaining life stages (Newman & Newman, 2007). Negative experiences not properly managed at any stage, adversely affect individual growth.
Erik Erickson’s eight stages of psychosocial development is argumentatively one of the best theories to explain how human beings should healthily develop from infancy to late adulthood. Every stage of the theory must be successfully completed for optimal human personality growth. Stages that are not successful completed may result in reoccurring problems throughout one’s lifespan. Every stage is broken down by a psychosocial crisis, each with a conflicting matter that must be resolved. If the person fails to resolve this conflict, they will carry the negative trait into every remaining stage of life. Furthermore, if the person successfully resolves the conflict, they will carry the positive trait into every remaining
As children, our characteristics are rapidly evolving. The unique combination of our innate chemistry and our experiences determine the trajectory of our lives. How we view the world, other people, ourselves and life in general is becoming an embedded pattern that affects all of our future interactions. Some of us emerge from childhood with a relatively stable set of characteristics and coping strategies which helps us lead a satisfying life. Yet, some of us emerge with traits that create huge obstacles in our relationships with others and in how we resolve the difficulties that are presented to us throughout life. If enough of our traits are maladaptive, it is very likely that we have developed what is considered to be a personality disorder.
In its most basic form, personality is what defines a person through their “…expression of emotions, relationship building, and their individual patterns of behavior…” (CITE). Two of the most prolific theories on the formation of personality were developed by neurologist Sigmund Freud and psychologist Carl Rogers. Both Freud and Rogers worked in psychotherapy, the area of therapy, which “…focuses on fostering a positive mental well-being…” (CITE). These men based their general theories of personality on their experiences with patients, however their conclusions are worlds apart. Rogers is recognized for his approach to therapy where the “…client…” has a more direct role in the process (CITE). Whereas Freud is best known for his work on the unconscious mind.
Erickson’s psychosocial stages of the life cycle were defined in the interactions between Fisher, Dr. Davenport, his Navy Psychiatrist, his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tate, and his mom. Erickson’s psychosocial stages of the life cycle proposed that personality develops in sequences. (Hutchinson, 2013) Fisher
The purpose of this report is to analyse the personality of the character, Will Hunting from the film Good Will Hunting using the psychodynamic and humanistic theories of personality. The main characters discussed in this text and their relationship to Will can be seen in appendix 1.
The Purpose of this Paper The purpose of this paper is to apply two developmental concepts, as proposed by Erikson, to the real life experiences of Joe Smith. This paper will emphasize the influence of social structures expressed as risk or protective factors and any traumatic experiences that have shaped their developmental outcomes. Concept #1 will include an exploration of Joe’s psychosocial development during puberty, tied in with Erikson's fifth stage of development: identity versus identity confusion. Concept #2 will include an exploration of Joe’s psychosocial development in middle adulthood, tied in with Erikson's seventh stage of development: generativity versus stagnation.
Psychodynamic and behavioural approaches are the two major approaches to personality, however, they view personality from different perspectives. Psychodynamic approach makes the argument that personality is caused by forces in the unconscious that are not learned. The individual has little control over their behaviour as it is predetermined, and early childhood plays a crucial part in shaping a person’s personality. Behavioural approach, on the other hand, recognises personality as learned and focuses only on present behavioural matters. Because of
Famous psychological theorists Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers were both the greatest researchers in our modern time. They both made a lot of advancement in psychological fields, clinical evidence and expertise. They both developed a theory of 'hidden' personality’, in which the psychologists theorized that people have a ‘hidden' personality within them, one which they are not aware of. This concept indicated that the human nature and the role play in rationale behind the human motivation. Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers do have same common in their theories. They were both influenced by working within their patients and shared the familiarity through the many years of clinical performance. Based on their experimental studies, Sigmund Freud believed that the human nature is inherently aggressive, and Carl Rogers sustained that the people are innately are good. Indeed, Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers have diverse opinions and different assumptions on the personality of a human. During the contemporary scientific research, I prefer to agree with Roger’s theory over the Freudian model because it is more in tune with findings of my experiences.
The concept of personality has numerous definitions (Fatahi, Moradi, & Kashani-Vahid, 2016). Schultz and Schultz (2009), define personality in its broad sense as the manner of an individual’s behaviour in different situations. This essay explores the nature of personality, with the intention of highlighting its flexibility. The results of numerous empirical research studies are examined in order to investigate if, and how personality changes over time. It will be argued that an individual’s personality has the ability to change throughout their life.