Comparison of Theorists Essay

Choose a well-known fictional character from TV, movies, or literature and analyze them using psychoanalytic theory. Use the following questions to write a case study analysis of the character.

1. Demographics of the character (gender, age, race, location, profession, etc.).
2. Personal history:
   1. Notable childhood experiences (positive and negative).
   2. Any notable experiences from adolescence or adulthood?
3. Identify a number of maladaptive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that might cause this individual to seek out (or be sent to) therapy. Explain why these particular thoughts, feelings, and behaviors may be distressing for the individual and/or society. Comparison of Theorists Essay
4. Analysis of problem: why are they experiencing their presenting problem? What would one psychodynamic theorist (Freud, Horney, Adler, or Jung) say about this person’s psychological issues? Explain the problem from two different perspectives.
5. Explain one alternative psychodynamic theorist’s perspective (Freud, Horney, Adler, or Jung).

Structure of paper:

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1. Demographics
2. History
3. Presenting Problem
4. Analysis of Problem
5. Alternative Analysis of the Problem

Approximately three to four pages double spaced (1,000-1,500 words).
At least two to three scholarly sources.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. Comparison of Theorists Essay.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

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Comparison of Theorists

Demographics

Movie producers often aim to communicate ideas and educate their audience about a specific phenomenon in society. Mostly, some of the topics range from challenge drugs and substance abuse, economic hardships, to psychological issues. A classic example of a notable fictitious character is Eleven, who is one of the main protagonists of the Stranger Things, an American science fiction and drama television series created by The Duffer Brothers (Bisset, 2019) Comparison of Theorists Essay. In season one of the television series, Eleven is depicted as a young girl aged about 12 years (Bisset, 2019). She stays with an adoptive father named Jim Hopper and biological mother Terry Ives in a family home in Hawkins, Indiana. She is evidently disturbed due to childhood residences and portrays normal child developmental milestones.

History of Eleven

Eleven’s mother was a participant in a scientific experiment called Project MKUltra conducted by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  Eleven exhibited telekinetic qualities at a young age. Dr. Martin Brenner captured and took her to the Hawkins National Laboratory to test her inherited psychokinetic competences (Bisset, 2019). The doctor placed her in sensory deprivation tanks to examine the remote viewing and capability to access dimensions. Primarily, the researcher aimed to train and use her for international espionage. However, Eleven managed to escape the laboratory and was discovered by three friends, namely Lucas, Mike, and Dustin. Eleven helped them to locate their missing friend Will who was trapped in the Upside Down, laboratory facility.

As the film progressed, Eleven mysteriously vanished after helping to track Will and was later discovered that she lived Jim Hopper at her grandparent’s old cabin. Nevertheless, she became impatient living away from her friends and decided to unite with them at Hawkins. She was formally adopted by Hopper, who also allowed her to live a decent life and socialize with friends. She had a romantic relationship with Mike, but Hopper never approved the friendship. Throughout the television series, Eleven is depicted as a mysterious character with special human attributes. She appears to be an individual who enjoys making friends and keeping the promise. However, despite her young age, she has never interacted with any child. Therefore, all aspects of her interpersonal traits are based on the interaction she has with Mike. She proves to be friendly and a fast learner, given that she managed to develop a rapport with Mike, Lucas, and Hopper.

Presenting Problem

Child development involves a logical process of learning and mastering new skills.  Therapists recommend that the infants should be offered the appropriate personal care and guidance to enable them to accomplish all the developmental milestones within the predictable periods. However, considering the case of Eleven, it is apparent that she was isolated and deprived of the opportunity to socialize with the caregivers. Primarily, abducting her from her mother denied her the chance to experience parental love and care (Van der Kolk, 2017). The scientists raised her at the Hawkins National Laboratory as a test subject rather than a young person who needed the right protection. Furthermore, isolating Eleven at the laboratory and examining her skills purposefully for application in international spying signified an aspect of discrimination.

Every child, regardless of gender, age, economic, and cultural background, should be respected and supported to achieve personal and professional aspirations. It is manifest that health professionals and clinical researchers contravened the rights of Eleven. The atrocious undertakings made Eleven timid, socially withdrawn, and unable to relate well with other people in society. Also, she had a limited vocabulary and could not articulate her emotions and ideas effectively. The background helps to justify that Eleven was exposed to a painful experience in her childhood.

Equally, Eleven portrayed significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The hardships during childhood made Eleven develop trust issues, particularly after escaping from the laboratory. She was exceedingly cautious and doubted the behavior and motives of any adult. However, after developing a friendship, she became extremely protective and exhibited unyielding loyalty for the people who loved her. Eleven’s struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder made it hard for her to understand the simple concepts of friendship and promises. Her dysfunctional upbringing affected how she related to her friends, which is why she often had serious misunderstandings with her peers.

Analysis of the Problem

Children and young adults require appropriate guidance and protection to enable them to realize and maximize their talents. Equally, it is appropriate to accord them the chance to learn, acquire relevant interpersonal skills, and explore their surroundings. Nonetheless, stressful events and failure to pay attention to the needs of the children adversely affect their cognitive, physical, and social wellbeing (Van der Kolk, 2017). Eleven’s encounters greatly made her vulnerable to trauma and a lot of stress. Besides, the continuous mistreatment in the laboratory under the pretext of examining the skills deprived her of the chance to relish her childhood.

Eleven suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder but never received any psychosomatic counseling to facilitate the recovery. Throughout early childhood, Eleven was handled as a specimen at the Hawkins National Laboratory, thereby denying her the chance to achieve the developmental milestones. The experiences adversely affected her ability to communicate and relate with peers and adults. Mostly, failure to treat stress-related concerns among the children increases incidences of irritability, fear, sleep problems, and feeling of helplessness. Therefore, the character’s cryptic personality possibly resulted from the nature of the upbringing characterized by the lack of parental care.

Based on Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, human traits develop through a sequence of strategies marked by internal psychological conflicts. Mostly, at the early stage of development, a child’s growth and wellbeing are influenced by a combination of both the biological drives and social expectations (Barratt, 2015). Eleven inherited telekinetic attributes, and upon discovery of her skills, other people, including the scientists, aimed to utilize the knowledge for individual gain. There was an ostensible shift in the manner of care and treatment she was offered. Mainly, the scientists viewed her as a sample for further research, thereby denying her the proper protection and care. Using Freud’s assertions, it would be possible to explain that Eleven’s furtive personality emanated from the nature of the interactions she had during her childhood. Therefore, when raising a child, it is necessary to take into account the role of unconscious psychological conflicts and the implications on behavior.

Alternative Analysis of the Problem

Eleven’s personality signifies the existence of both environmental stimuli and genetic effects. Primarily, using Freud’s theory, Eleven had special skills that were nurtured further through experimental activities. Her personality was shaped by the complex interaction of various parts of the mind, namely ego, id, and superego (Barratt, 2015). Mainly, the unconscious elements of the mind influence how people perceive and relate to others. Throughout the television series, Eleven was highlighted as a young girl with extraordinary and superhuman skills. Similarly, she exhibited slow attainment of the developmental milestones with regards to speech and socialization. Perhaps, the delayed speech resulted from the fact that she was isolated from the family. Besides, at the research center, she never had the platform to interact with other human beings and learn basic communication skills.

Similarly, Eleven’s peculiar characteristics could have emanated from genetic factors. Possibly, the genes were modified during the trials, thereby making her display abnormal qualities. The approach relates to the argument that some traits are inherited. In addition, biologically gene mutations and modifications can cause an occurrence of an anomalous personality. The scientific experiments and extensive stay at the laboratory denied her the chance to realize the childhood dreams and go through the developmental stages. The training interfered with her ability to communicate and socialize.

Conclusion

Movie producers often use fictional characters to educate the public about important issues in society. Eleven is portrayed as a young girl with supernatural skills in Stranger Things. However, a closer look at her experiences and decisions depict she was suffering from an array of psychological complications (Barratt, 2015). Specifically, Eleven was separated from her mother at an early stage and taken to a laboratory for further assessments. The doctors isolated her from the public, thereby limiting his interaction with peers and adults. Furthermore, she was predisposed to serious traumatic experiences at the laboratory that affected her reasoning and decision-making skills. Nevertheless, based on different models such as Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, it is manifest that the environment helped to shape Eleven’s antisocial personality. Besides, she had challenges in making new friends and speaking her thoughts because she lacked the proper training. Stranger Things is integral in justifying that childhood is an essential phase in human development. It is important to take good care of the children and provide appropriate moral support to enable them to become responsible adults.

References

Barratt, B. (2015). Psychoanalysis and the postmodern impulse: Knowing and being since Freud’s psychology. Routledge.

Bisset, J. (2019, July 3). Stranger Things recap: Everything you need to know from season 1 and 2. Cnet. https://www.cnet.com/news/stranger-things-recap-everything-you-need-to-know-from-season-1-and-2/

Van der Kolk, B. A. (2017). Developmental trauma disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 401-408.