A dangerous method - Based on carl Jung movie PDF

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Based on carl Jung movie...

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Xavier Fernandez PSYC 350 Professor Houser  November 6,   2017  A Dangerous Method A Dangerous Method is a film about two   p ioneers of Psychology.   It was based on  correspondence between the main characters in this film,   giving   emphasis on   the Sigmund  Freud-Carl Jung relationship; How it started, developed, and eventually declined. It also showed  the complex   alliances   that   Jung   had   with   the   people   around   him.   The film also   depicted   how  these psychologists   expanded their approach and beliefs about understanding people’s behavior.          The movie   began   with   a wealthy and educated woman, Sabina Spielrein, being sent out by her parents   to   Dr.   Jung   so   she   could   be   treated   for   the   odd   and   hysterical   behavior   that   she   has been having. As psychoanalysis was gaining traction, Jung wanted to experiment with Freud’s  method of using “talk therapy” and apply this to his new patient. Early during treatment, Jung decided to approach Freud for guidance about navigating his way through treating the young woman. He   and   his   wife   awaited   the   visit   to   Vienna   to   meet   with   the   founder   of   psychoanalysis.  In their first meeting, Jung and Freud   kick it off with a lengthy conversation about their own practice, their dreams they have been having, Jung’s patient-Spielrein their personal lives, and a lot more.   Since   then,   their   relationship   developed into a mentor-mentee bond,   and eventually to a father and   son   relationship.   Jung discussed with Freud   the   conversations   that he had with Spielrein that led them to uncover that the root of her frantic behavior can be traced back to her  childhood. When she was 4  years old, her father would   punish   her by beating her.   As   shown   in 

the movie,   spanking   and   those   that   remind   her   of   the   action became a fetish for the   woman.   Just as Jung   continued to treat Spielrein, he learned that the young   woman wanted to become a doctor. For the sake of her productivity, he proposed   that she would   be her apprentice and assist  him as he meets with   patients.             At one instance, Jung talked to Freud about his dreams and it was interpreted by the mentor that   there   is   a  sexual   attraction   between   Jung   and   Spielrein.   He   then   continued   had   an  affair with   her   while   he   was   seeing   her   as   a  patient.   As   portrayed   in the movie, Spielrein   was bragging about her relationship with the psychiatrist. When the word got out, Jung’s career was  in peril.   Many   thought that their involvement was improper and that Jung should never have let it  develop. Freud   was one   of those who were against the affair. Still, he tolerated it and became  interested in   it,   considering   that   it   was   said   to   be   the   reason   why   Spielrein   was   cured   from   her  hysterical behavior. The Jung- Spielrein affair lasted several years until she had to leave him to pursue her medical career.             As a woman, Spielrein faced challenges that not Freud, nor Jung have experienced. She did not have the opportunities and freedom that men have, especially in their context of time and place. Nevertheless,   she   persisted   through   medical   school   to   become   a  psychiatrist.   As   one   of   the  first female psychologists, she was interested in child behavior and became a pioneer of child  psychology. Toward the end of the film, her character showed doubts about venturing to this area of psychology. As both her and Jung were Freud fanatics, she mentioned that she was unsure if  Freud, even in his death, would   see the validity of child psychology.             Up until a certain point, Freud and   Jung   were   working  together to establish the capabilities of the unconscious and the Freudian theory. However,   the time came when Jung

revealed that   he   is not convinced that the root of all things has a sexual component to it. While Freud believed that people’s ultimate motivation is to seek pleasure, Jung knew that the origins of behavior are much deeper. Consequently, he tried to convince Freud   to explore other ideas  that would   make them   better   understand   these   abstract   concepts   of the psyche. The founder of psychoanalysis stood his ground and did not want to expand his theory to accommodate Jung’s  input. In   the end, the father and son relationship between them was broken off by their different philosophies and approach in psychology. Jung eventually developed his own concepts and  theories, yet   it did   not become as popular as the Freudian theory.           Although this movie is not the kind that I would typically watch on my own, I thought that it has   been interesting to watch. I saw the   film before   I read   about   Jung in the textbook and before he was discussed   in   lecture,   so   I did   not   know   anything about him, nor his theory when I watched it.   That   was   probably   not   the   best   idea   because   I wanted   to   be   introduced   to   who   he   was  in a  more   formal   way like   the   lecture   that   we   have   had   in   class.   Still,   it   was   somewhat   helpful that I knew a bit of information about him and his relationship with Freud before the lecture.             In terms of the story line, I thought it would be better if they discussed Jung’s theories deeper than they   did.   That is because the only time they mentioned his thoughts and philosophy  about psychology was when   he was having conversations with Freud and at times, with  Spielrein. Also, I did not recognize that the discussion about his philosophy was happening until I read some of his ideas in his Wikipedia page. Nevertheless, if the film’s main goal was to show  Jung’s relationships with the people around him and not so much his work, they did a great job on depicting it. Overall, I thought that watching the Dangerous Method was helpful for students like myself who   wanted to understand who Jung was and what his perspective is like.

References Cronenberg, D. (Director). (2011). A  D   Recorded   Picture   Company.   angerous M  ethod  [DVD]....