Psychological theories in literary analysis study cards

who created the psychoanalytic theory

sigmond freud

What are the key concepts of the psychoanalytic theory?

• The unconscious mind

• Id, Ego, Superego

• Defense Mechanisms

• Oedipus Complex

The Unconscious Mind

• Hidden desires, fears, and repressed emotions and influence behavior.

• Don’t think about it but, its there

Conscious Mind

“Thinking ahead”

Subconscious

Converts unconscious to conscious

Id

• Represents primal desires

• “the I center”

Superego

Represents morality and societal expectations

Ego

Mediates between the Id and Superego

Defense Mechanisms

• Denial, Repression, Projection, Displacement

• Putting up walls to avoid experiencing trauma.

Oepidus Complex

Power struggles and parental relationships.

What would be an example of defensive mechanisms in we hunt the flame?

Zafira having her hunter identity to hide and repress her true self.

Which character in We Hunt the Flame is having trouble with their Id, Ego, and Superego?

Nasir is having trouble between his Ids (personal desires) and his superego (loyalty and duty to his father).

Jungian Psychology and Archetypes was made by who?

Carl Jung

what is the jungian psychology and archetypes?

• We all share tendencies

• all human beings experience some sort of unconscious understanding

What is the Collective Unconscious?

Shared symbols and myths across cultures.

What are the different archetypes?

• The Hero

• Shadow

• Wise Mentor

• Trickster

• Individuation

Hero

Faces trials and grows (ex: Zafira)

Shadow

Dark hidden side of a character (ex: Nasirs assassin persona)

Wise Mentor

Guides the protagonist

Trickster

Creates chaos or challenges norms

Individuation

A characters journey to self-awareness and completeness

Trauma Theory contains what?

• PTSD

• Repressed memories

• Coping Mechanisms

PTSD

• Status of the brain when it cannot function normally after experiencing trauma

• Emotional, Mental and physical responses to past trauma

• Can be triggered

Repressed Memories

Traumatic events that characters subconsciously suppress.

Coping Mechanisms

Avoidance, dissociation, self-destruction, resilience

Attachment Theory was created by who?

John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth

What are the key concepts of attachment theory?

• Secure attachement

• Insecure attachment

• Avoidant attachment

• Anxious attachment

• Disorganized attachment

What is secure attachment?

• Healthy Relationships

• Trust in others

• ex: when a child needs something it is given and they form a secure attachment knowing someone will always be there to get something for them.

Insecure Attachment

a relational pattern where individuals feel insecure and struggle to form healthy, lasting relationships due to early experiences with caregivers, potentially leading to difficulty trusting others and managing emotions.

Avoidant Attachement

• Fear of closeness, emotional detachment

• Negative response

Anxious Attachment

• Clinginess

• fear of abandonment

• Does not know what to expect

• Inconsistency

Disorganized attachment

Mixed signals, often due to past trauma

What kind of attachment style foes Nasir have?

Avoidant attachment style

• Closes themselves off due to past abuse from father

What kind of attachment style does Zafira have?

Anxious attachment style

• Fearing losing those they loves

Existential Psychology

Psychology of life and death

What are the key concepts of existential psychology?

• Freedom vs Fate

• Meaning and Purpose

• Death anxiety

Freedom vs Fate

Do characters have control over their destinies?

Meaning and Purpose

The search for identity and meaning

Death anxiety

Fear of mortality influencing choices

What is Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Certain expectations of outcomes

Key concepts of Cognitive Dissonance Theory

• Conflicting Beliefs

• Rationalization

Conflicting Beliefs

When a characters actions contradict their values

Rationalization

• Justifying behaviors to reduce discomfort

• Trying to make it sound good instead of bad

• Negative feedback loop

What is social psychology

How one interacts in social situations

What are the key concepts of social psychology

• Conformity vs individuality

• Deindividuation

• Moral disengagement

Conformity vs individuality

Do characters follow society’s expectations or rebel?

Deindividuation

Loss of personal identity in a group setting

Moral Disengagement

Justifying immoral actions in extreme circumstances