Personality Development In The Movie 'Precious'

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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.

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