Jim Holden Personality

There are many arguments as to what defines personality, though a majority of psychologists might agree that personality comprises a collection of characteristics, traits and tendencies that ultimately shape an individual’s behaviour (Maddi, 1972.) Personality is often argued to be used by an individual as a front when dealing with various social situations as a means of controlling stability and continuity in their personal lives (Ewen, 2003). It is the aspects of the human psyche, such as emotion, that have encouraged psychologists to argue from a variety of theoretical standpoints as to the nature and effect of personality on an individual’s personal and social self. As such two of these theories will be used in the following analysis:
Holden’s experience through the novel “Abaddon’s Gate” (2014) sees him engage in several events that not only put himself and his crew, a member with whom he is in a romantic relationship, in the epicentre of danger, but also results in an interesting development in his personality from an extroverted, group oriented individual to a more secluded and self-destructive person. It is such a development, as well as the interaction and social attachment of his group, that bring out a variety of characteristics as he deals with potentially life changing
As a reward for having earned a large payment for successfully preventing wanton destruction, Holden takes his crew on a month-long binge of gambling and drinking. As the group continues to make the most of their reward before another assignment, Holden looks to each member of his crew and is thankful to have them near him. “All he wanted was to keep these people for a few moments longer. On every other ship, hitting port was a chance to get away from the same faces for a few days. Not with this crew.” (Corey, 2014. PP. 14 -