Introduction:
The movie “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” depicts the experiences of Charlie, a
shy and introverted freshman in high school. Charlie is the central protagonist with a unique,
complex, and multi-faceted character development. This essay will employ the
psychodynamic personality theory to examine and Analyze Charlie's personality.
Psychodynamic Approach:
Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler are the developers of the psychodynamic theory
of personality. According to proponents of the psychodynamic approach, one's personality
comprises three distinct layers: the conscious, unconscious, and preconscious. Everything we
are now aware of falls under the "consciousness" category, whereas our repressed memories,
ideas, and desires comprise the "unconscious" category. The preconscious stage of thought is
the transitional phase between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind. The
psychodynamic theory argues that our unconscious drives and experiences from infancy
affect who we become as adults.
Charlie's Personality:
Charlie's conduct and relationships with others show his complex and multi-faceted
personality. Charlie has difficulty connecting with people because he is introverted, shy, and
uncomfortable in social situations. Charlie loves books and music; he is bright, imaginative,
and kind. The psychodynamic view holds that Charlie's upbringing and latent impulses
provide insight into his present-day personality. Charlie's upbringing was marred by tragedy,
most notably the loss of his aunt Helen, and this has left a lasting impression on his character
and how he acts as an adult (Perry, 2011). Charlie's grief and remorse over his aunt's death
are lifelong effects of his suppressed recollections of that day. Charlie's withdrawal and
introversion are symptoms of his buried memories. Charlie's upbringing was quite traumatic,
which has had a significant impact on his character.
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Charlie’s only friend and confidant, Aunt Helen, had passed away, and he was
devastated by her passing. The sudden passing of Charlie's aunt, who was extremely
important to him, was a source of tremendous distress. The guilt and shame he feels due to
his aunt's passing are the direct outcomes of memories that he has actively worked to
suppress. Because Charlie holds himself responsible for the death of his aunt, he has
overwhelming feelings of guilt and sadness. When the tragic event took her life, Charlie's
aunt was on her way to the shop to buy Charlie a birthday present. Since Charlie believes that
he may have been able to prevent the passing of his aunt, he experiences overwhelming
feelings of guilt and shame. Because of his conviction, Charlie has become increasingly
reclusive and emotionally aloof due to his inability to reconcile the sorrow and humiliation he
feels. As a result of the traumatic experiences he went through as a child, Charlie has had a
hard time connecting with others and keeping meaningful connections throughout his life.
Because he has a high tolerance for being turned down and rapidly loses people's interest, he
has difficulty gaining new acquaintances. Charlie has trouble connecting with others and
sustaining meaningful relationships due to his repressed memories and feelings of guilt and
shame.
The psychodynamic view, as outlined by Gabbard (2014), holds that an individual has
three distinct states of awareness. Therefore, a person's growth must deal with traumatic
experiences from their youth and incorporate previously suppressed memories and emotions.
Charlie's inability to get beyond the remorse and humiliation he feels due to stopping his
memories of his aunt's death hampers his development. Therefore, counseling and other
treatments may help Charlie overcome his difficulties with intimacy and build meaningful
relationships by addressing these suppressed memories and emotions.
According to the psychodynamic point of view, Charlie's actions are driven by his
unconscious wants, which serve as the underlying reasons. Charlie's conduct is significantly
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motivated by his desire to be loved, accepted, and validated, propelling him to seek new
experiences and connections. Charlie cannot completely engage with people or develop
meaningful connections because he is inhibited by his feelings of shame, remorse, and
rejection, which keep him from taking full advantage of social opportunities.
Charlie's Defense Mechanisms:
According to the psychodynamic point of view, our defense mechanisms are the
subconscious tactics we use to protect ourselves from emotional distress and worry.
Repression, projection, and sublimation are just a few of the coping techniques that Charlie
uses to deal with the anxiety and emotional suffering he experiences.
Repression: Charlie's protective strategy for dealing with the trauma of remembering his
aunt's death is repression. Because Charlie was too young to cope with the pain of his aunt's
death, he pushed the thoughts of her passing deep into the recesses of his mind. Charlie's
grief and remorse over his aunt's death are lifelong effects of his suppressed recollections of
that day. Because of his inability to process these feelings, he has become more introverted
and distant from others. These suppressed feelings profoundly impact Charlie's attitude and
actions, and he has little to no control over them. The impact of repression on one's character
may be either beneficial or harmful.
On the one hand, it may aid in the recovery from traumatic experiences and the prevention of
further emotional distress. Nevertheless, if feelings and memories are pushed down, they may
build up and cause psychological anguish and make it hard to create connections. Charlie's
difficulty forging connections with people and participating fully in social settings may be
traced back to his repressed emotions.
Projection: Charlie's protective method for dealing with his rejection anxiety is projection.
Charlie externalizes his fear of rejection by presuming that people will turn him down before
he can get to know them. Charlie's interactions with his classmates are a constant
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demonstration of his projection. For instance, he may worry that Sam and Patrick will not
like him because he thinks they are too hip for him. He projects his discomfort onto others
and so avoids participating in group activities. In addition, Charlie attributes Mary Elizabeth's
possible rejection to his inadequacy in expressing love interest in her. Because of his
projection, Charlie and Mary Elizabeth have a relationship that is less about finding common
ground than avoiding rejection. Charlie's family life is likewise a reflection of his tendency to
project. He misattributes his feelings of isolation to his loved ones and concludes that they do
not understand or care about him. Charlie's projection upon them drives him to retreat from
his family and go elsewhere for approval.
Sublimation: Charlie's anxieties and emotional distress are sublimated by employing the
defensive mechanism known as sublimation, which he channels into creative undertakings.
Charlie expresses his feelings and finds relief from his anxiousness through his love of
writing and music, both of which are his passions.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Charlie's personality is complex and multi-faceted, and it is conceivable that
the psychodynamic personality theory might explain this. Charlie's painful experiences as a
youngster, repressed memories, and unconscious urges have all contributed to the formation
of his personality and have impacted how he has behaved throughout his life. Charlie's
defensive mechanisms, which include suppression, projection, and sublimation, are the
unconscious coping tactics he utilizes to deal with his anxiety and emotional anguish. These
processes include sublimation. The psychodynamic method offers a helpful framework for
understanding and evaluating Charlie's personality, and it emphasizes the significance of
early childhood events and unconscious drives in character formation.
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References:
Gabbard, G. O. (2014). Psychodynamic psychiatry in clinical practice (5th ed.). American
Psychiatric Publishing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RA3q-RKyNI
Perry, J. C. (2011). Defense mechanisms in personality disorders. The Psychiatric Clinics of
North America, 34(4), 571–591. doi 10.1016/j.psc.2011.08.009