Personality of Michael Jackson
Life Span and Personality of Michael Jackson
Christina Simkins
PSY/300
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tara Terry
Life Span and Personality of Michael Jackson
Discuss the influences of heredity and environment (including family and social support) on your individual’ psychological development. Be sure to describe specific areas of psychological development (moral, emotional, ect.).
The genes that Michael Jackson was born with had an influence on his behavior. His social environment including his family, friends, and music associates also influenced his behavior in many ways. Michael Jackson has stated in several interviews of having a very emotional and difficult childhood. When Michael was a young boy, his father pressured him and Jackson’s brothers to start a singing group called The Jackson Five. His father became very strict and cold. With his father acting with rejection for Michael, their parent-child relationship shaped Michaels personality pattern. Michael then felt rejected, misunderstood and constrained. Throughout his childhood, Michael struggles with his appearance. Michael was diagnosed with a rare hereditary skin disorder called Vitiligo. The American Academy of Dermatology (2009) website describes Vitiligo as a condition in which the skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of a person’s skin, hair and eyes. This rare skin disorder was also known in his father’s side of the family. Michael also was teased by his father about having a huge nose and discolored skins. In an interview with Martin Bashir, Michael stated “I never look at myself in the mirror, I had very bad pimples and acne and it was very difficult for me to face the public looking so ugly” (Bashir, 2009).
As Michael grew older and his music career took off, he was unable to have a life in the public. He then purchased several acres of land and he developed his own play land. His palace was called Neverland. Jackson spent most of his free time
Christina Simkins
PSY/300
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tara Terry
Life Span and Personality of Michael Jackson
Discuss the influences of heredity and environment (including family and social support) on your individual’ psychological development. Be sure to describe specific areas of psychological development (moral, emotional, ect.).
The genes that Michael Jackson was born with had an influence on his behavior. His social environment including his family, friends, and music associates also influenced his behavior in many ways. Michael Jackson has stated in several interviews of having a very emotional and difficult childhood. When Michael was a young boy, his father pressured him and Jackson’s brothers to start a singing group called The Jackson Five. His father became very strict and cold. With his father acting with rejection for Michael, their parent-child relationship shaped Michaels personality pattern. Michael then felt rejected, misunderstood and constrained. Throughout his childhood, Michael struggles with his appearance. Michael was diagnosed with a rare hereditary skin disorder called Vitiligo. The American Academy of Dermatology (2009) website describes Vitiligo as a condition in which the skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of a person’s skin, hair and eyes. This rare skin disorder was also known in his father’s side of the family. Michael also was teased by his father about having a huge nose and discolored skins. In an interview with Martin Bashir, Michael stated “I never look at myself in the mirror, I had very bad pimples and acne and it was very difficult for me to face the public looking so ugly” (Bashir, 2009).
As Michael grew older and his music career took off, he was unable to have a life in the public. He then purchased several acres of land and he developed his own play land. His palace was called Neverland. Jackson spent most of his free time
References: American Academy of Dermatology . (2009). Vitiligo. Retrieved from http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_vitilgo.html Bashir, M. (Interviewer). (2003). Living with Michael Jackson [Audio podcast]. Michael Jackson Interviews Through the Years. Retrieved from http://www.thewrap.com/television/article/michael-jackson-interviews-through-years-3967 Kowalski, R., & Westen, D. (2009). Psychology (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons, Inc.