Analysis Of Arya's Masculinity

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First of all, Arya 's masculinity can be explained by her high level of openness. According to the dispositional domain, personality trait refers to the average tendency of affection, behaviors, and cognitions (thinking) that are stable and consistent (Larsen, 2011). Personality traits are necessary for describing a person because they filter out unnecessary information by categorizing and organizing these random behavioral tendencies into manageable size so that we can use them to discover the essence of a person and predict behaviors. One of the predominant personality traits of Arya Stark is her high level of openness. Openness reflects an open and creative cognitive style. People with high openness tend to have higher motivation to experience …show more content…

According to psychoanalytic perspective, people have three selves; Id (innate energy), Ego (self-control), and Superego (moral conscience). Id is the source or drive of affections, behaviors, and cognitions. Under Id, there are two innate energies that can drive behaviors. Libido refers to the sexual energy, while Thanato refers to the death (aggression) energy. The conflict between Id and superego can create anxiety and stress that can only be solved via defense mechanisms (Larsen, 2014). Masculinity might be a defense mechanism employed by Arya to solve the conflicts between her natural tendency of Thanato (aggression) and superego (social norms). More specifically, Arya 's natural tendency of aggression is not normally accepted by her immediate female circle. The suppressed Thanato has created strain and stress which has to be released via other means. Adopting masculine identity might be a plausible way to release her unsatisfied need for aggression. Adopting masculinity provides a legitimate explanation and rationale for her to hang out with male peers and elicits masculine behaviors. In other word, since her brothers accept her masculinity, she can legitimately display and engage in masculine behaviors and release her need within the social circle that accepts her. In short, masculinity serves as a defense mechanism of sublimation, where socially unacceptable impulses are unconsciously transformed into socially acceptable attitudes and

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