Question

First, choose one theoretical perspective on child development such as Psychoanalytic, Behaviorism, Social Cognitive, Sociocultural, Ecological, etc. Next find a character from a book or television shows that is under the age of 18. From your selected theoretical perspective's point of view explain the development of your character.

Answer 1

Psychoanalytic theory

Sigmond Freud is known as the father of Psychoanalytic theory. This theory is mainly focuses on the concept of interconnection between a person's character and Unconscious mental process. According to psychoanalytic theory , there are three components of personality in a Human being. They are id, ego and superego. Id is working under pleasure principle, ego is working under reality principle and superego os working under moral principle. Sigmund Freud also proposed the development of Psychsexual stages in a child. Chilhood incidents might go to the unconscious level from the subconscious or conscious mind but it can influence the behaviour of the person still in the future.

The book: Good bye, Columbus.

Character: Brenda Patimkin

The book Good bye, Columbus is written by Philip Roth on 1959. He is awarded for National Book Award for the collection of stories( that includes Good bye , Columbus). Later on a movie was produced on basis of this story in 1969.

The main characters are Brenda Patmkin , a Jewish college student and Neil klugman. The story mainly tells about their relationship, Brenda's relationship with her parents and her attachment, specialty of Jewish culture.

Psychoanalytic theory and Brenda's behaviour

Brenda and Neil were lovers and oneday she invited him to her house . He came to her home and stayed with her family for some days and were having physical relationship with Brenda secretly. After somedays Brenda came back to Massachusetts, where she is doing her Under graduation. when they met each other for the next time, Brenda told to Neil that she cannot be the lover of him as her mother found a Diaphragm in a pile of clothes and both father and mother got responded negatively through the letters. Neil leaves her and his affair in the hotel and return to his work.

According to Psychoanalytic view Brenda's unconscious motive of getting her mother's attention, leads to the act of unconscious forgetfullness about the diaphragm and leaving it at home and coming to college. This theory states that most of the unnecessary behaviours that might damage ourselves arise from the unconscious motives in our mind, that grown within us from the childhood.