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Humanistic Perspective.
A strong conception about human nature is expression in humanistic psychology. The path of self-actualization is reflected in the gradual rise of Gardner along the hierarchy of Maslows, i.e., the fulfillment of his needs of various levels and the effort to fulfill his potential. He also demonstrates the ability not to give up, to never give up on believing in the inherent worth of his life. Similarly, the aspect of unconditional positive regard, introduced by Rogers, can be applied to the concept of parenting: Gardner is steadfastly friendly and supportive to his son, thus, becoming one of the bright examples of how empathy and genuineness may contribute to the growth of a healthy psyche.
Cognitive‑Behavioral Perspective.
Gardner re-evaluates negative events in a positive manner throughout the movie. This repeated way of thinking falls in line with the cognitive model referred to by Beck where cognition plays a central role on the affective rather than behavior. Gardner would do the cognitive restructuring to think positively instead of self-destructive when things do not happen according to his expectations. The resulting mind troubles between expectation and practical conditions elicit the development of cognitive dissonance that causes him to put extra efforts until his behavior decisions hit the right cognitive standards. There is a feature like adaptive thinking which leads to perseverance, which can be seen through his positive self-talk and a systematic way of addressing problems.
Motivational Psychology.
Self-determination theory, which was argued by Deci and Ryan (2000), explains the views of Gardner towards independence, ability, and relatedness as the motivation factors. Gardner is a perfect example of an independent person who chooses unpaid internship even in the face of financial challenges. His ability is built up by the introduction into financial terminology and technical expertise. Gradually, Gardner shifts his attention away as an external drive of success like money to the internal one of mastery and self-pride.
Major Psychological Themes Resilience stands as the major theme. According to Southwick and others (2014), it is a kind of adaptive process, which occurs after a stressful event or long-term traumas. Gardner is an example of such endurance. He is not a pessimist, he is always seeking a way to escape and he is able to get emotional help by taking care of his son. The other major theme is parenting. Attachment security can assist Gardner and his son to resolve the issue of instability. Bowlby has found out that reliable emotional connections prevent panic and depression. This in turn gives Gardner hope, and a sense of responsibility making him even stronger willed by being a constant figure in the lives of his son. The condition of poverty imposes a psychological burden as was demonstrated in the movie. People may turn helpless with few resources. However, Gardner retains an internal locus of control- he feels that his actions have a difference. This attitude prevents him- or herself from sinking into depression and facilitates post-traumatic development, which according to psychologists makes people more prudent and robust after the unfortunate occurrence. The last scene is set where Gardner finds a job. This is individual gratification - not material wealth. It is a psychological breakthrough, which demonstrates that his potential can be fulfilled after a hard struggle over years. Integration of Theory and ResearchThere is reason to support the aforementioned ideas from the empirical research. In their experiment, Deci and Ryan (2000) found that those who had pursued goals for intrinsic reasons were more satisfied and were more persistent. Gardner's success embodies this show: he is continuing hard work even though the rewards for it are uncertain. Similarly, in Southwick et al (2014) optimism, self-control and social support are important in order to be resilient which is in display of Gardner.
His psychological growth could be explained in the humanistic theory. Maslow (1943) said that after the basic needs are fulfilled, there is a tendency for people to seek out creativity, morality and meaning. Gardner's act of bearing on just when despair is about to have him is an example of this inner drive. Together these theories have lead us to the deduction that happiness is not the absence of pain but the ability to view adversity as useful.
ReferencesBowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic Books.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396.
Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: Interdisciplinary perspectives. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 25338.
Muccino, G. (Director). (2006). The Pursuit of Happyness [Film]. Columbia Pictures.
