Equus (The Movie)
Diego Avelar
Psychology Mini Paper #3
Nov. 19th, 2013
Dr. Kenneth Anich
The movie Equus by Peter Shaffer is psychological thriller, in which Freudian psychology is vividly portrayed; Self-Defense Mechanisms, interpretations of dreams, the pleasure principle, and death drive (Thanatos). The main character, 17-year-old Alan Strang, is sent to psychiatrist Martin Dysart, after he gouges out the eyes of 6 horses. Throughout the movie, Dysart struggles with the possibility of curing Alan, stripping him of the zeal that gives meaning to life.
Alan begins therapy by behaving uncooperatively to the doctor and using defense mechanisms. Denial of Reality: Alan refuses to address inquisitions about the dream and his childhood, and he persistently ignores the therapist. Fantasy: Alan uses his creative imagination to live out sexual moments of ecstasy with Equus. This is also a nonproductive wish-fulfilling activity. Compensation: on the negative side, Alan beats himself and masturbates as a form of worship to Equus. Identification: chides the Dr. Dysart because he can identify values that the doctor is missing in his personal life. Regression: Alan escapes with the horse at night to recreate the “sexy moment” he lived in his childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Strang show defense mechanisms throughout the movie. Mr. Strang displays Denial of Reality in the way he does not fulfill the role of a good father. Sigmund Freud said, “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” Mr. Strang refuses to mature by going to porn theatres. Here Fantasy, Compensation, and Reaction Formation are most vibrant. Doth protest too much? As for Projection, both parents blame only Alan for his mistakes. The mother and father constantly use Rationalization to prove to Dr. Dysart that they are really great parents.
When it came time to film the imperative scenes of Alan in the beach, the director did not hire a six year old Alan actor on purpose. The scene
Psychology Mini Paper #3
Nov. 19th, 2013
Dr. Kenneth Anich
The movie Equus by Peter Shaffer is psychological thriller, in which Freudian psychology is vividly portrayed; Self-Defense Mechanisms, interpretations of dreams, the pleasure principle, and death drive (Thanatos). The main character, 17-year-old Alan Strang, is sent to psychiatrist Martin Dysart, after he gouges out the eyes of 6 horses. Throughout the movie, Dysart struggles with the possibility of curing Alan, stripping him of the zeal that gives meaning to life.
Alan begins therapy by behaving uncooperatively to the doctor and using defense mechanisms. Denial of Reality: Alan refuses to address inquisitions about the dream and his childhood, and he persistently ignores the therapist. Fantasy: Alan uses his creative imagination to live out sexual moments of ecstasy with Equus. This is also a nonproductive wish-fulfilling activity. Compensation: on the negative side, Alan beats himself and masturbates as a form of worship to Equus. Identification: chides the Dr. Dysart because he can identify values that the doctor is missing in his personal life. Regression: Alan escapes with the horse at night to recreate the “sexy moment” he lived in his childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Strang show defense mechanisms throughout the movie. Mr. Strang displays Denial of Reality in the way he does not fulfill the role of a good father. Sigmund Freud said, “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” Mr. Strang refuses to mature by going to porn theatres. Here Fantasy, Compensation, and Reaction Formation are most vibrant. Doth protest too much? As for Projection, both parents blame only Alan for his mistakes. The mother and father constantly use Rationalization to prove to Dr. Dysart that they are really great parents.
When it came time to film the imperative scenes of Alan in the beach, the director did not hire a six year old Alan actor on purpose. The scene