Good Will Hunting Psychology

In the movie, “Good Will Hunting” there are several psychological theories that could be used to explain how Will Hunting’s development was influenced by events in his childhood. After watching the film and observing the way Will blames himself for his abusive upbringing resulting in his lack of emotional development and trust, it is clear that Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the ultimate need for self-actualization best explains why Will developed into the complex, emotionally disturbed and unconfident man introduced in the movie. “Good Will Hunting” is a film about with Will Hunting, who works as janitor at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Will grew up as an orphan in a poor area of South Boston, Massachusetts. During his childhood, Will was shuffled from one abusive foster home to the next, where he was subjected to abuse ranging from being burned with cigarettes to being beaten with a wrench. Will may be the janitor at a prestigious institute, but he is also a

For a person to achieve the successive level, the level below it must be reached. The theory explains distinct levels of human needs, typically illustrated by a pyramid shape with ascending levels. The theory describes five levels of needs: Physiological needs, which are a human’s very basic needs, such as water, food and sleep. The next level is a person’s Safety needs, the things a person needs for protection from the environment, such as clothing and housing. Love and Belongingness needs, the following level, includes the idea of intimate relationships, family and friendships. Next is Esteem needs tier which encompasses things that promote your self-worth, such as confidence, recognition and approval. Self-actualization is the uppermost tier of the pyramid and is attained when you reach your full