The Jet Propelled Couch Summary

Case Study of “The Jet-Propelled Couch,” by Robert Lindner
In psychology there are several different approaches. Phycologist use a variety of these approaches to understand and help many different people. One approach being psychoanalytic. This approach looks at the unconscious mind and how it affects different behaviors and personality. The next approach is trait. This approach places individuals along a continuum of various characteristics. Another approach psychologist use is the biological approach. This looks at inherited predispositions can affect personality. All of these approaches can be used in the case study “The Jet-Propelled Couch,” by Robert Linder to understand Kirk Allen’s personality.
Kirk Allen was a young man in his thirties.

He was referred to Dr.Lindner by a physician in the Southwest. The physician told Dr.Lindner that he was a normal man except for his ideas about living on a different planet part of the time.
Kirk was born in Hawaii in 1918, and was an only child from his parents’ marriage. After his birth his family moved to Paris, and then back to Hawaii. During his childhood Kirk’s parents were busy. His father was busy with administrative duties and his mother was busy with welfare projects for the natives on the island. His mother went into a depression after she learned that the application for replacement had been declined. His father died when Kirk was fourteen. He was raised mostly by different servants. When he was older he began writing about a delusion he had. He wrote, in immense detail about his travels to other planets.