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THE GAUSSIAN SPECTRUM OF LIVING

July 22, 2024 No Comments

THE GAUSSIAN SPECTRUM OF LIVING

An Axiological Thought Experiment

Transport yourself back to a Classical Athenian Symposium during the 4th Century BC and envision three fervent philosophers (A,B and C) converging to unravel the profound inquiries that shaped the essence of Ancient Hellenic society. These youthful intellectuals radiate a contagious intellectual vigour; their discussions flow seamlessly among the symposium’s participants, seemingly immune to the intoxicating effects of the wines swirling in their bronze goblets. Amidst the flickering torchlight and the scent of aromatic oils, their debates intensify, unravelling old answers while birthing fresh questions. With each exchange, they engage in a relentless pursuit of truth, challenging and refining each other’s arguments in a perpetual cycle of emergence and decay.

It is in these moments of rigorous inquiry, during symposia of classical Athens, that the true essence of philosophy reveals itself in its classical setting—a perpetual quest for an understanding that thrives on the tension between emergence and decay, continually reshaping its contours with each dialectical turn. The young philosophers, as guided by teachings of their masters, engage in a relentless pursuit of wisdom, refining and refuting each other’s arguments. However, though initially undeterred by the psychedelic properties of their beverages, after an hour of insightful debate the symposium reshapes its humble ambience descending into a hedonistic anarchy as each philosopher strips apart their chiton and explore the abyss of their bodily desires on each other culminating in a deep slumber that lasts till dawn when the philosophers are awaken and leave the scene without a single lexicon.

This analogy forms the foundation of the Gaussian Spectrum of Living, a simplistic philosophical model derived by 18-year-old Eurytus as he obsequiously observed the proceedings of that night, being awake throughout the symposium while not taking sip of the wine he was refused from drinking. Amongst the many axiological questions that emerged that night as the trio discussed and debated, Eurytus was most intrigued and drawn to the most basic yet complex question of them all “How to live one’s life?”. Through his eye-witness, he labels each philosopher with an ideological response to the question and draws what he believes is a diagram that applies the question and explicates it to the Hellenistic population he knew and lived amongst. The following is a summary of his record:

The Trilogy of Thought

At the start of the symposium, the three philosophers began with casual conversations about personal and political matters. As the night progressed, their discussions evolved into intense philosophical debates, sparking a continuous cycle of questioning and answering. Their shared goal seemed to be reshaping the Hellenistic world through logic and reason. Yet, this intellectual pursuit was short-lived. As they indulged in wine, their focus shifted, and the symposium transformed into a scene of extravagant sexual indulgence. Despite each philosopher encapsulating a different response to the question on how to live one’s life, the trio had unconsciously lived through each of their responses as they cycled through that night, To live as a realist, To live as an idealist or To live as a hedonist. Despite their paradoxical behaviour, each had his own intuitions, so one was a realist and the other was an idealist while the other one was a hedonist. Here they are described:

Philosopher A – The Idealist who slurped on a syrupy fluid of Mastika, He leads a school of thinkers that claims a minority equivalent to the holding of C. His embodiment of human life is a machine of change capable of unleashing his potential for either himself or the world by recognising and reconciling the power of his mind and intellect to actualise wonders that cure his soul and the souls of others. Through gradually climbing the ladder of life and by ameliorating our psyche, our body and soul we are pushed further to supreme heights of humanity whereby we realise our full potential and change the ways of the world, only for the greater good. We may die with a goblet of hemlock, an arrow pierced into our skin or a natural death on a tranquil bed but we know we have full filed our role as humans and not as animals.
Philosopher B – The Realist who slurped on a plain goblet of wine, He leads a school of thinkers that claims more students than those of A and C. His embodiment of human life is cycle of debts that gradually troughs and peak as we progress through stages. These debts are commitments, obligations and duties that one must satisfy and complete in his lifestyle without overdoing or underdoing. Through gradually flattening what he refers to as our ‘debt curve’ and through conforming to the norms, constructs and expectations of the social fabric we humans are freed from the complexities of existence and our obligations to society and become part of the population that dies a peaceful death in a tranquil bed.
Philosopher C –The Hedonist who relished the aged wine, leads a school rivaling A and B combined. He views human life as an unrestrained celebration of pleasure, rejecting societal norms and moral constructs. For him, true fulfillment comes from indulging in all forms of gratification—be it sensory or sensual. According to Philosopher C, the essence of human existence lies in maximizing personal enjoyment without the constraints of societal expectations. He advocates a life free from moral obligations, where happiness is found in the immediate pursuit of pleasure. By embracing desires and passions unapologetically, he believes individuals can achieve the highest state of happiness and fulfilment.

The Schools of Living: The Gaussian Spectrum

Despite the tumultuous events of that night, the three philosophers articulated their distinct arguments in a manner that profoundly addressed the question of “How should one live one’s human life?” Yet, what reveals a paradox within their thinking is how each philosopher embodies aspects of the others’ schools of thought through their behaviours on that night. Initially resembling B, the realist, they discussed practical obligations and societal norms. As the symposium progressed, their discourse elevated to resemble A, the idealist, emphasizing change and human potential. However, as the influence of alcohol grew, they eventually descended into the hedonistic perspective of C, indulging in sensual pleasures.

This progression mirrors the complexities of the Hellenistic world, where individuals grappled with varying approaches to life. The realist perspective, akin to Philosopher B, resonated with those who sought stability through fulfilling social obligations and duties. The idealist viewpoint, akin to Philosopher A, appealed to those driven by aspirations of personal and societal transformation. Conversely, the hedonistic outlook of Philosopher C catered to those who prioritised immediate personal gratification over societal norms and moral constraints. Eurytus used the infamous, Normal Distribution curve, as we now know it, to embed the Hellenistic population into these schools of though as denoted by the philosophical trio. They yield a fascinating insight that maybe akin to how the current world’s population fits into these schools of thoughts as described below:

A (10%) – Amongst us humans, there exists only a minority that goes onto questioning and challenge societal systems, hierarchies and constructs with an intrinsic aspiration to better mankind through whichever endeavour it maybe. They may comprise a mere 10% of the population and are bold risk takers who maybe targeted for the ideas or values they introduce. These people reciprocate the ideology of Philosopher A (The Idealist). Eg: Socrates
B (80%) The majority of us fit into B who live by the flow by conforming to social norms, constructs and hierarchies and do not intend to go further in advocating change or progressing mankind. They may comprise 80% of the population and are ambivalent beings. These people reciprocate the ideology of Philosopher B (The Realist). Eg: Athenian Free Women
C (10%) – Finally, there exists another minority that goes onto challenge societal systems, hierarchies and constructs with a more self-interested aspiration which maybe to pursue pleasure in either way, be it good or bad. They may comprise another mere 10% of the population and are often characterised as non-altruistic and selfish for having echoes pleasure as their highest virtue. These people reciprocate the ideology of Philosopher B (The Hedonist). Eg: Aristippus

Written by: Mineka

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The Indulgence of Italian Imagery: Lyrical Analysis of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Salvatore’

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The Indulgence of Italian Imagery: Lyrical Analysis of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Salvatore’

This song evokes the memories of an American city girl, once naïve to love, as she reminisces about the intimate, passionate, and sensual experiences she shared with her lover during an Italian summer. As she descends into a state of mild depression, she mends her depressive and nostalgic thoughts in an ethereal manner by finding magic, passion, and beauty in her sadness. She almost indulges in and delves into her personal misery in an enigmatic yet mystically magical way. The following analysis unveils these insights.

All the lights in Miami begin to gleam– The brightly shining lights of Miami serve as a memento, retrieving the grandeur of memories from that Italian summer she shared with her Romeo. Their gleaming power may be symbolic of the Italian summer sun and its role in dispersing the intimate energy that radiates across the Mediterranean region.
Ruby, blue and green, neon too – Colour imagery reflects and resonates the colours of Italy with ruby-coloured houses and hamlets, blue bodies of water and green cypress trees that ornately embellished the neon green meadows of Tuscany.
Everything looks better- Hyperbole to reflect her deep sense of appreciation towards the beauty of Italy from above my king Allusion to her enigmatic lover indicating their patronage of an elegantly rich and almost regal relationship in Italy.
Like aqua marine, ocean’s blue – While the colour symbolism maybe an extended metaphor to elongate the ethereal and enchanting beauty of Summer Italy, it may also be symbolic to the onset of her depressive symptoms where blue elicits an unconscious sensation of desolation as the nostalgia she experiences is met with a silently sweeping desperate sense of longing and despair triggering mild depression.

Ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah – Onomatopoeic lexical choices evocate the passionate flow of her thought as she continues to reminisce the delightful and nostalgic memories while simultaneously experiencing the coincident feelings of grief and desperation as a result of her train of thought. In one lens, the words may mimic the sound of quivering as she deals with the perpetual loss of such nostalgic memories or, through another lens, it may envision her indulgence in misery as she savours the amalgamation of sadness and nostalgia rather than agonising it like most humans thus accepting her emotional states as pleasant or unpleasant as they are.
Cacciatore – Allusions to her lover, possible words she might have learned been thrown into the lyrics to illustrate the unsystematic randomness yet beautiful manner through which her train of though is flowing. Cacciotore meaning ‘Hunter’ is a symbolism of a person who provides and is adventurous which may reflect the nature of her lover and how she appreciates this manly quality.
La da da da da
La da da da da – Further onomatopoeic sounds and lexis that connects the flow of her thoughts by expressing her medley of feelings and emotions comprised of ecstasy, nostalgia, grief and dreaminess.
Limousines – She may have driven around Italy in her Romeo’s limousines which visually deconstructs the image of a rich and regal lifestyle which she lived through with her lover that Summer. These words are also expressions of freedom, in this case the freedom to spread apart in the space of a limousine, which maybe constrained or lacking in her current American life as opposed to that one Italian summer.

Ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah
Ciao amore
La da da da da
La da da da da
Soft ice cream – Visual Image of Ice cream connotes Italian gelato once again showing the random yet ethereal flow of her train of though as she jumps from one memento to another all weaves and knitted together with nostalgic, ecstasy and grief. The soft ice cream may further symbolise the sensual intimacy and voluptuous memories she would have shared with her lover from classic caressing, passionate pecks and many more.

All the lights are sparkling for you it seems – Structural change from gleaming to sparkling lights illustrates the transitioning from seeing Italy to her Lover in her visions. As she ponders upon the handsome, well-built and enchanting silhouette of her lover the lights of Miami sparkle in her mind as her eyes are lit and consumed by her attraction towards just as the first time they would’ve met in Italy.
On the downtown scenes, shady blue– Lexical Choices like “down” “shady” and “blue” lie in the semantic field of depression reinforcing that while she is consumed by the cerebral appearance of her lover and aesthetically pleasured by the beauty of Italy, she is still undergoing a concurrent feeling of misery and loss that she battles with by indulging in it.
Beatboxing and rapping in the summer rain
Like a boss – Simile of Talent and Experience , he sang Jazz and Blues – Transitioning from the materialisation of her lover she diverts her attention to his excellent skill in music. Musical lexis like “Jazz” and “Blue” coincidentally give birth to auditory images of romantic sounds in the rain signifying another passionate and intimate memory that means a lot to her.

Chorus (Repeat)

The summer’s hot – May have a multitude of meanings, maybe it is that the summer of Italy was hot bought in literal as well as euphemistic sexual terms as well as the summer she is currently expediting in Miami. However, the word “Hot” may be implicit symbol of another emotion that is growing within her which maybe anger and furiousness of having distanced with her lover and not being bale to relive these passionate memories.

And I’ve been waiting for you all this time – Signifies that she has been waiting for his return but never satisfied her desire indicating possible perpetual loss and distance from her lover? A growing sense of anger?
I adore you, can’t you see – Direct Address to Lover, questions his common sense and consciousness as it changes the tone of these lyrics from a light-hearted to a more defensive, furious and distressed tone indicating her increasing mental pain and pressure., you’re meant for me?
Summer’s hot but I’ve been cold without you – Juxtaposing images of coldness and heat adds to the combination of both her grief and growing sense of frustrating fury towards him for not returning to her.
I was so wrong not to tell, I’m in regine, tangerine dreams – Returns from frustration to a delightful tone as she remembers how she has entered an internal state of mind and that although her visons and dreams deliver a medley of both happiness and sadness, their product is an ultimate state of comfort and pleasure that she consumes and digests through her intricate recollection of memories. Nevertheless, the erratic changes in tone portrays the bipolarity of her emotional states which is common in case of mild nostalgic depression.

Catch me if you can – Rhyming pattern of couplets develops as she now systematically jumps from one final set of memories to another, a possible vison of them playing an athletic game by the seaside,
Working on my tan – Images of her sensually sunbathing in the light of helios while its energies gently craft a tan on her sun-kissed skin.
Salvatore – Saviour, first allusion and reinforcement of title signifies how her lover may have had almost Jesus (God-like) qualities and the importance he would have served in saving her from a previous mental trauma or memory and that she still respects him for that.
Dying by the hand – Death is symbolic to a passionate death or death of ones depressive emotions and the onset of more exhilarated ones referring to a deeply sexual memory.
Of a foreign man – A reference to her lover not being American like her but Italian?
Happily – Isolated word in structure…sums up the experience between him and her in Italy
Calling out my name
In the summer rain- More passionate and intimate memories deduced… this one illustrates how hearing the very acoustic sound her would have melted her heart and given her a sense of sensual pleasure.
Ciao amore- A line that has being repeated throughout the chorus but only at the end does it make sense as she recollects and complies all her memories in her mind she now begins to release that her aspiration for his return are a hopeless dream and that she says Goodbye to her lover thanking him for everything she has done and appreciating the beauty of every memory she has with him with core memories being in the chorus.
Salvatore can wait – Fragmented statement… Salvatore can wait in Italy signifying she no longer expects his return deducing a tone of finality.
Now it’s time to eat
Soft ice cream– An image of her returning back to the present and to a normal life sitting and eating ice cream indicating her resignation from the mental utopia we deconstructed above. In another perspective, as argued the soft ice cream symbolised intimate and deeply sensual memories but, in this context, ‘eat’ would mean partially deleting these memories from her memory system in attempt to completely eradicate the memories of that Italian Summer in preparation for a new love strory.

Ah ah ah ah – Onomatopoeic lexical choices evocate the passionate flow of her mind and soul as she continues to reminisce the delightful and nostalgic memories while simultaneously experiencing the coincident feelings of grief and desperation as a result of her train of thought. In one lens, the words may mimic the sound of quivering as she deals with perpetual loss of those nostalgic memories or in another lens may elicit a vision of ecstasy where she indulges in her own sadness and enjoys its presence rather than agonise them.
Cacciatore – Allusions to lover, possible words she might have learned been thrown into the lyrics to illustrate the random yet beautiful manner through which her train of though is flowing. Cacciotore meaning ‘Hunter’ is a symbolism of a person who provides and is adventurous which may reflect the nature of her lover and how she appreciates this manly quality.
La da da da da
La da da da da – Further onomatopoeic sounds and lexis that connects the flow of her thoughts by expressing her medley of feelings and emotions comprised of ecstasy, nostalgia, grief and dreaminess.
Limousines – She may have driven around Italy in her Romeo’s limousines which visually deconstructs the image of a rich and regal lifestyle which she lived through with her lover that Summer.

Ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah
Ciao amore
La da da da da
La da da da da
Soft ice cream – Visual Image of Ice cream symbolises Italian gelato once again showing the random yet ethereal flow of her train of though as she jumps from one memento to another all weaves and knitted together with nostalgic, ecstasy and grief. The soft ice cream may further symbolise the sensual intimacy and voluptuous memories she would have shared with her lover from classic caressing, passionate pecks and many more.

Written by: Mineka

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Cogito, Ergo Sum: Encapsulating Western Philosophy in a Single Quote

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Cogito, Ergo Sum: Encapsulating Western Philosophy in a Single Quote

Rene Descartes, a pioneering French philosopher of the 17th century, laid the foundational base for modern philosophy with his seminal proposition: “Cogito, ergo sum” or “I think, therefore I am.” This succinct statement not only encapsulates Descartes’ esoteric ideologies but also forms the bedrock of existential inquiry into the nature of humanity. Descartes challenged prevailing ideas through logical, rational, and mathematical proofs, establishing a methodological approach that prioritized reason and inquiry over dogma and tradition.

The Philosophical Foundations of “I think, therefore I am”

Descartes’ proposition is often interpreted as an epistemological starting point—a declaration of the certainty of one’s own existence based on the act of thinking. Descartes sought to establish a firm foundation for knowledge that was immune to scepticism and doubt. By starting from the indubitable fact of his own existence as a thinking being, Descartes aimed to build a system of knowledge that could withstand radical scepticism. This methodological scepticism led Descartes to doubt everything that could be doubted, including sensory perception and even the existence of the physical world, but he found that he could not doubt the fact that he was thinking. From this starting point, Descartes attempted to reconstruct knowledge about the world through reason alone, laying the groundwork for what would later be known as Cartesian dualism, which separates the mind and body into two distinct substances based off existence.

Philosophical Perspectives: The Existence of Man

The syntactical structure of Descartes’ proposition, “I think therefore I am” reflects his methodological rigor and philosophical depth. “I think” signifies a reasoned statement that responds to the observational assertion “I am,” demonstrating a systematic approach akin to scientific inquiry that relates cause and effect. Remarkably, this statement serves as concrete and conclusive proof of humanity’s existence according to Descartes. For him, the capacity to think with certainty provides irrefutable evidence of our existence as human beings.

Historic and Anthropological Perspectives: Humans vs. Animals

The interpretive richness of Descartes’ quote extends beyond his own philosophical framework into various disciplines, revealing alternative meanings and deeper insights. From a historic perspective, “thinking” can be seen as a symbol of curiosity—an essential human trait that has allowed us to unlock the truths of the world and make it our own garden of imagination. Descartes implies that our inherent inquisitive drive complemented by the spirit of inquiry is what defines us as humans in the living world. It shapes our collective existence through generations of exploration and discovery that are unities civilisations from Ancient Greece to empires states like the British that characterise the West.

Anthropologically, Descartes’ proposition raises questions about the essence of human existence and consciousness. The ability to think and reason distinguishes humans from other animals, highlighting our capacity for self-awareness and introspection. This intellectual prowess has shaped human culture, language, and societal structures, underscoring the profound impact of Descartes’ philosophical inquiry on our understanding of human nature.

Psychological Perspectives: Thinking and Self-Reflection

Psychologically, therapists and cognitive psychologists may interpret “thinking” as reflecting humanity’s propensity for rumination and introspection. This process, known as magnification, underscores how overthinking can lead to personal turmoil and existential crises. Yet, optimistically, thinking also embodies our capacity for creativity and innovation, distinguishing humans within the animal kingdom by our ability to conceive new ideas and possibilities—a hallmark of human identity.

Political Perspectives: Free Thinking, Liberalism and Individual Identity

In the realm of liberalism, Descartes’ quote advocates for free thinking and individual expression. It challenges constraints on thought and identity, suggesting that any attempt to suppress novel ideas or limit personal identity is irrational and undermines the essence of human existence. In contemporary debates, such as gender identity, Descartes’ proposition resonates, affirming the right to self-identify without imposed limitations—a testament to the enduring relevance of his philosophical legacy in the 21st century issues of identity.

Critiques and Contemporary Relevance

Critics of Descartes’ proposition argue that it reduces the complexity of human existence to mere rationality and overlooks the emotional, social, and embodied dimensions of being human. Postmodern and feminist critiques have highlighted the limitations of Descartes’ dualism, advocating for more holistic approaches that integrate subjective experiences and relational contexts into philosophical inquiry.

However, Descartes’ legacy persists as a cornerstone of modern philosophy, influencing subsequent thinkers and shaping philosophical discourse on consciousness, identity, and the nature of reality. His emphasis on reason and methodological doubt continues to inspire intellectual inquiry and debate, challenging us to reconsider our assumptions about knowledge and existence.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Descartes’ Proposition

In conclusion, Rene Descartes’ proposition, “I think, therefore I am,” continues to provoke profound contemplation and scholarly discourse across disciplines. It invites us to explore the complexities of human cognition, identity, and existence, offering a timeless framework for understanding the fundamental nature of humanity and our place in the universe. Descartes’ insistence on the primacy of rationality and self-awareness is one that characterises Western philosophy and contributed to our understanding of what it means to be human—a testament to the enduring relevance of his philosophical legacy in an ever-evolving world.

Written by: Mineka

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The Saviour From Hell? Psychological Personality Analysis Of Sienna Brooks (Inferno, 2016)

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THE SAVIOUR FROM HELL? PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSONALITY ANALYSIS OF SIENNA BROOKS (INFERNO, 2016)

This extended response is focused on scrutinizing the character of Dr. Sienna Brooks from the movie Inferno who serves as the lover and agent of a geneticist named Bertrand Zobrist whose ultimate task is to rupture the bag containing the Inferno virus that would force mass sterilization and subsequently annihilate population growth visioning that it would nurture humanity. Sienna though flamboyant and astute with a versatile skillset has been blinded by the forces of love and ambition to discharge the virus designed by her lover and achieve what she believes is self- actualization- “History will call us saviors!” (Brooks, 2016). Hence by gaining insights to her personality through established trait and humanistic conception, we can justify her actions and inactions and uncover her true character from her disguise as an agent.

TRAIT APPROACH (FFM)

It is confidently assumed that traits are personal characteristics that remain stable overtime that directly influence our behaviour as told by ancient philosopher like Aristotle who hypothesized that through actions dispositions develop that later effectuate further actions (Matthews, Deary and Whiteman, 2003). The Five Factor Model is one such framework that helps decompose personality into five distinct dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism (Costa &McRae, 1992). In fact, current theorists are at concord that the FFM constitutes the bass of all personality structures (Pervin,1994) making it appropriate model to factor the crucial variables of Sienna’ complex personality.

Openness is an intrapsychic characteristic that describes our willingness to new experiences (Costa &McRae, 199). Sienna throughout the movie demonstrates a superior level of openness through both linguistics and actions. For instance, when enduring the challenges to evade the WHO from seeking the virus with her companion, Robert Langdon she demonstrates a tone of voice that seems open to erratic and risky scenarios- “It’s worth a try, isn’t it? (Brooks, 2016). Evidence of openness can also be traced back to her teenage when she used volunteering ventures to battle her depression by reading and ladling soup to the blind. Afterwards she chose to live a diverse lifestyle balancing medical school, her acting career and caritative work as a strategy to help nurture the world. It is this same open-minded mindset that led her to meet a geneticist named Zobrist with who she shared a passionate relationship and concern for overpopulation accelerating her willingness to unleash Inferno which would counter overpopulation and save humanity. These insights conclude that being open to change and new ideas is a critical dimension within Sienna’s personality that allows her to be constantly engaged and active in life preventing any relapse of her teenage depression.

A key construct to Sienna’s personality is conscientiousness that describes our propensity to be self-controlled, responsible and hard-working (Jackson & Robert, 2017). Sienna demonstrates a diligent personality that is keen to be enlightened with knowledge. Her tone of intellectualism and alacrity exemplifies through her speech as she narrates the tale of Beatrice and Dante to

Robert and questions the museum curator further through inquisitiveness and the objective of decrypting the oath to seek the virus-“Who’s face was used in that mask??”(Brooks, 2016). Her hardworking capabilities are also manifested during her childhood when she is described as 208 IQ who pursued multiple fashions in interdisciplinary fields like biopsychology, theatre and symbology as she recounts on how she’s read Roberts books at just age nine-“I was crazy about puzzles” (Brooks, 2016). Unfortunately, her diligence combined with her love for Zobrist soon led to a deadly ambition in which she was committed to killing human lives so less dies in the future by releasing Inferno –“Doing nothing terrifies me!’ (Brooks, 2016). In fact, it is conscientiousness that allows her to formulate strategies and contingencies to seek the virus while strengthening her ambition to dust off the mission. It is this trait that made her decided to kill Vayentha and The Provost as they stood repelled as contrary forces to completing her mission.

The final construct to her personality is neuroticism which reflects our response and stability to environmental stress where high scorers are vulnerable to feelings of depression and dejection (Widiger, 2007). Sienna, during her childhood, used to be a high neurotic which explains her onset of depression as she felt threatened and stressed by her classmates who were not as bright as her. However, her emotional stability has ameliorated over the period as we she maintains a very calm and composed mindset throughout the movie despite the many exigent situations that she and Langdon encounter. For instance, she recovers quickly from the anxiety of having killed Vayentha by rationalizing it as an act of self-defense. Overall her low neuroticism helps protect the mission and prevent further anxiety that would inhibit the possibilities of Inferno being released.

HUMANISTIC APPROACH (MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS)

Humanistic psychology studies the person as a whole as it seeks to achieve self-actualization by which it realizes his/her true human potential (Buhler, 1971) rather than factoring personality into traits. Abraham Maslow was one such humanist researcher who proposed a five-tier model of human needs starting from physical survival to self-actualization. Practically the first thing that motivates our behavior is our strive for physical survival which is then followed by subsequent needs in the model (McLeod, 2007). However, motivations to satisfy needs are only determinants for behavior which can then be sued to formulate an individual’s personality at each stage.

Sienna has already satisfied her deficiency needs which are those whose need arises with deprivations comprising of physiological, security, social and esteem needs (McLeod, 2007). She owns an Italian flat while earning a comfortable income at a nearby hospital providing her with safety and security needs while her social needs are met by her lover Zobrist with who she shares a passionately bond through both ideas and desires which she sees as a phenomena greater than just love-“It’s not love, it’s beauty” (Brooks,2016). Her esteem needs were already met

during her childhood notably after she was title a drama prodigy after starring as a Puck in Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night dream at just age four.

In the movie, Sienna is motivated achieve self-actualization which is to save humanity but due to the moral conflict between her love for Zobrist and love for humanity, she ends up resorting to Zobrist’s extreme method of saving mankind which is to release a virus so less die in the future. Consequently, this ambition becomes her set pathway and motivation to attain self-actualization.

Sienna demonstrates certain self-actualizing qualities as prescribed by Maslow such as problem- solving capabilities sand resilience. For instance, upon releasing the strength and proximity of the WHO to contain Inferno, she quick-wittedly plans a new contingency to release Inferno – “I need to trigger an explosion to ensure its release” (Brooks, 2016). She also demonstrates resilience as she prevents any disruptors irrespective of their potential risk to achieving her target signifying how mission-focused she is- “I’m not afraid to act Robert” (Brooks, 2016). Overall these pointers conclude that Sienna is definably on a journey to achieve her variation of self- actualization despite the empathetic nature of her goal.

EVALUATION OF INSIGHTS

Conclusively, the simplicity of trait conceptions like the FFM helps structure personality logically (Costa& McRae, 1992) allowing is us to comprehend Sienna’s complex personality using only crucial variables like openness and neuroticism. However, it may appear less useful dues to its reductionism in reducing personality to just five variables meaning it does not represent a monolithic enterprise (Pervin, 1994). For instance, it could be that certain trait behind Sienna are like openness and neuroticism in a sense that Sienna uses change in her life to reserve a stabilized mental state. Furthermore, The FFM, only provides a summary of traits and does not take into account how trait might possibly deviate and change making it ambiguous on how Sienna converted from being a high to low neurotic.

On the contrary, humanistic method lack validity due to the research method used by Maslow which was meta-analyzing biographical accounts (McLeod, 2007) meaning the prescribed self- actualizing qualities deduced may be subjective to only those individuals he studied.

Furthermore, Maslow’s sample proportionately lacked enough females across different races (McLeod, 2007) meaning the same findings may not coincide with a young British-Italian woman like Sienna. Nevertheless, the sequential achievement of the needs seems consistent with her life and each motivation can be linked with her personality meaning the model is indeed useful in analyzing personality. I believe that the humanistic approaches are far better an uncovering personalities due to their holistic nature in which the characteristics of a person can be linked with their motivations to achieve needs making then dynamic contrasting with trait conceptions which suggest that personality is only a network of trait evading the fact that they can change with time.

CONCLUSION

Overall, through the analytics and deductions of this analysis, it concludes that Sienna is a dynamic, smart, quick-witted and resilient young woman on a pathway to achieving self- actualization. However, due to her being blinded by her love for Zobrist and dedication to do good to mankind, she is compelled to believe Zobrist’s virus can save mankind and dedicates her entire life to achieving this objective breaking her conscience and moral grounds.

Overall, the utilization of personality theory like the FFM and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was useful in uncovering the complexity of Sienna’s character making it an effective approach to personality analysis. Despite this we must note the specific weaknesses in each theory that such as their use in explaining the dynamism of characters and other issues that maybe inherent in the research methods that were used to construct such theory. Nevertheless, for the purpose of casual character analysis, these models are rich in their use and deduce meaningful insights that helps psychologically ground the behavior of its characters and their actions.

References

Buhler, C. 1971. Humanistic Psychology. American psychology Association. 26(4). (p.378)

Costa Jr, P.T and McRae R. R., 1992. 4 ways 5 factors are basic. Personality and Individual Difference 13(6) (pp. 653-665)

Jackson, J.J & Robert, B.W 92017). Conscientiousness. In T.A Widiger(Ed.). Handbook of the Five Factor Model. (pp. 113-147)

Matthews, G. Deary I.J and Whiteman, M., C, 2003. Personality trait (pp.03-05). Cambridge University Press.

McLeod, S., 2007. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. (1-18)

Pervin, L.A, 1994. A critical analysis of our current trait theory. Psychological Inquiry 5(2) (pp. 103-113).

Sienna Brooks from Inferno 2016. Directed by R. Howard. Hollywood: Sony Pictures Releasing

Widiger, T. A, Neuroticism In M. R Leary & R. Hoyle (Eds.) Handbook of the Five Factor Model. 13(6) (pp. 653-665).

Written by: Mineka

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THE GAUSSIAN SPECTRUM OF LIVING

THE GAUSSIAN SPECTRUM OF LIVING

An Axiological Thought Experiment

The Trilogy of Thought

The Schools of Living: The Gaussian Spectrum

The Indulgence of Italian Imagery: Lyrical Analysis of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Salvatore’

The Indulgence of Italian Imagery: Lyrical Analysis of Lana Del Rey’s ‘Salvatore’

Cogito, Ergo Sum: Encapsulating Western Philosophy in a Single Quote

Cogito, Ergo Sum: Encapsulating Western Philosophy in a Single Quote

The Philosophical Foundations of “I think, therefore I am”

Philosophical Perspectives: The Existence of Man

Historic and Anthropological Perspectives: Humans vs. Animals

Psychological Perspectives: Thinking and Self-Reflection

Political Perspectives: Free Thinking, Liberalism and Individual Identity

Critiques and Contemporary Relevance

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Descartes’ Proposition

The Saviour From Hell? Psychological Personality Analysis Of Sienna Brooks (Inferno, 2016)

THE SAVIOUR FROM HELL? PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSONALITY ANALYSIS OF SIENNA BROOKS (INFERNO, 2016)

TRAIT APPROACH (FFM)

HUMANISTIC APPROACH (MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS)

EVALUATION OF INSIGHTS

CONCLUSION

References

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