Good Will Hunting Identity Essay
Good Will Hunting Identity Essay
The identity theorist’s Erik Erikson and James Marcia were crucial contributors to the psychological interpretation of a person’s personality and social development. Erik Erikson is most famously known for his theories on the adolescent search for identity and his ideas regarding a person’s self-discovery. James Marcia expanded further on Erikson’s concepts through his proposal of the four identity statuses, which include moratorium, foreclosure, diffusion, and achievement, as well as the four human crises’. As psychology is becoming more and more developed in our modern society, it has become more socially acceptable to criticize or expose the issues psychology entails, particularly human identity, which often times can be the most controversial topic. In the blockbuster film, Good Will Hunting, the main character Will has natural genius capabilities but struggles to understand his place in the world due to a dramatic past and his tough exterior as an orphan from South Boston. Although it is arguable that Will appreciated his talent but preferred to live his life as it was before recognition, Will Hunting depicted the theories of identity through his relationship with Skylar and his guidance from Sean.
Even though Will enjoyed his life of literature and education behind closed doors, it was indeterminable whether Will was content with his life or eager to leave his comfort zone in Southie to challenge his intellect at the beginning of the film. For example, while working as a janitor at MIT Will solves a problem that the current students at the institute had yet to conquer, however Will would not admit to the professors that he had solved it. This shows that Will lacks aspects of self-realization because once the professors realize he is the genius, Will mocks the therapy sessions and mathematical lessons that the professors organized in order to help him reach his full potential. In addition to that, Will’s best friends
The identity theorist’s Erik Erikson and James Marcia were crucial contributors to the psychological interpretation of a person’s personality and social development. Erik Erikson is most famously known for his theories on the adolescent search for identity and his ideas regarding a person’s self-discovery. James Marcia expanded further on Erikson’s concepts through his proposal of the four identity statuses, which include moratorium, foreclosure, diffusion, and achievement, as well as the four human crises’. As psychology is becoming more and more developed in our modern society, it has become more socially acceptable to criticize or expose the issues psychology entails, particularly human identity, which often times can be the most controversial topic. In the blockbuster film, Good Will Hunting, the main character Will has natural genius capabilities but struggles to understand his place in the world due to a dramatic past and his tough exterior as an orphan from South Boston. Although it is arguable that Will appreciated his talent but preferred to live his life as it was before recognition, Will Hunting depicted the theories of identity through his relationship with Skylar and his guidance from Sean.
Even though Will enjoyed his life of literature and education behind closed doors, it was indeterminable whether Will was content with his life or eager to leave his comfort zone in Southie to challenge his intellect at the beginning of the film. For example, while working as a janitor at MIT Will solves a problem that the current students at the institute had yet to conquer, however Will would not admit to the professors that he had solved it. This shows that Will lacks aspects of self-realization because once the professors realize he is the genius, Will mocks the therapy sessions and mathematical lessons that the professors organized in order to help him reach his full potential. In addition to that, Will’s best friends