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The Accidental Tourist (1988) (USA). Psyc 362
Essay Instructions:
I can attach lecture notes if needed.
The only source is the movie.
DO NOT summarize movie. and do not include personal feelings about the movie, but rather theory behind their close relationship.
Psyc 362 (2011-3)
Paper Requirements – Movie Analysis
Your assignment is to analyze one of four specified movies (see movie options). The goal of this assignment is to apply and integrate material covered in the class. In your analysis, you will not simply focus on describing the relationships that you observe in the movie. Rather, you will take the concepts discussed in lecture and in the readings, and apply them to a movie.
In your movie analysis, you should focus on one or two adult close relationship, perhaps comparing the relationships portrayed. Don't try to discuss every relationship shown in the movie in your paper! Such an approach would likely result in a superficial analysis of the relationships. At the outset of the paper, you need to make clear which relationship(s) you will be analyzing.
In your analysis, consider how the various theoretical perspectives and other key ideas in the course (attachment, self-expansion, interdependence theory, cognitive processes, communication, etc.) may help in interpreting the characters' relational behaviour. You will not be able to consider all material covered in the course; rather, choose the topics (within the guidelines described below) that are most relevant and useful given the movie and relationship(s) you are analyzing.
You are required to integrate the course material. You may find that the same relational behaviour can be interpreted from different perspectives. You also may find that different stages of a relationship, or different experiences and challenges in a relationship, lend themselves to interpretation from different perspectives. You could take the strategy of contrasting two or more theories – what explains some relational behaviour better? Attachment theory or self-expansion? Are they complementary? Do they explain different aspects of the relationship? Do they each provide different explanations for the relationship behaviour you observe?
In some cases, you may be able to use course material to predict the future course of a relationship or to analyze characters' relational choices. In some cases, different theories may lead you to different conclusions or predictions about the course of the relationship, and, in other cases, interpretations from different perspectives may converge. Where appropriate, feel free to point out aspects of the story that lack psychological validity. In other words, are the characters' behaviours believable given what you know about theory and research on close relationships?
Please keep in mind that the goal is to demonstrate your ability to apply and integrate the course material. We are not interested in your personal feelings and ideas about the movie unless these are supported by theory and research in close relationships.
You can assume that the TM who marks your paper will have seen the movie; therefore, you do not need to give a detailed description of the plot. As well you can assume that the TM knows the course material at least as well as you do; therefore, you do not need to explain the theories or research that you apply in your paper.
Additional research is not required, although you may choose to do additional reading on a specific topic. If you do choose to do additional reading, references should only be from legitimate academic sources. If you are in doubt about what constitutes a legitimate academic source, please consult with the TM.
Required paper elements
At the beginning of your paper, briefly introduce the movie you have chosen and indicate which relationship(s) you intend to focus on in your analysis. This should take no more than one paragraph. Here's a rough guide for the first paragraph: 1) briefly describe the premise/plot of the movie (1-2 sentences); 2) indicate what relationship(s) you will be focusing on (1 sentence); 3) overview what material/theories you will be covering (1-2 sentences).
Although you are free to draw on any material presented in this course, you must consider the relationship(s) from:
1) An attachment and/or a pair bonding perspective. The normative material will likely be most helpful.
2) Self-expansion theory
3) Communication. You could talk about how the characters deal with conflicts of interest, as well as other relevant processes such as how they support each other and how they communicate affection, trust, empathy, forgiveness, etc. You may want to bring in concepts from face management theory and/or discuss various communication patterns (e.g., demand/withdrawal, negative reciprocity). In your discussion of the characters' communication, you are encouraged to use quotes from the movie to illustrate the processes you are discussing.
4) At least one other perspective, either interdependence theory or some aspect of cognitive processes.
It is essential that you explicitly integrate the theories you have chosen, as they apply to the relationship(s) in the movie. Be sure to draw parallels or highlight contradictions between/among different approaches. You can approach the task of integration one of two ways. You could first apply the various perspectives and then integrate them in a section at the end. Alternatively, you may incorporate the integration with the application, with theories being compared and contrasted throughout the paper (possibly as a way to transition between theories).
Grading criteria
Brief introduction to movie, relationship focus made clear 1 point
Application of course material to the movie 10 points
Integration of various theories/research 8 points
Composition
Organization, coherence, grammar, sentence structure,
spelling, etc 5 points
APA format 1 point
Total 25 points
Format of paper
- 8-10 pages text, not including title page & references (approx. 2,500 to 3,000 words text)
- material beyond 10 pages of text or 3,500 words (whichever comes first) will not be read and will not be considered in the grade
- typewritten and double-spaced, with 12 pt. Times New Roman font and 1” margins
- Follow APA style for citations, references, and writing style. You are expected to correctly cite the sources you draw upon – most often lectures and readings.
- abstract not required
Remember, the quality of your writing will impact each aspect of your mark. Anything that makes your writing unclear (e.g., poor sentence structure, grammatical errors, typographical errors) will also lower your mark for application and integration of the theories.
How to reference and cite movies and lectures
Movies:
- Smith, B. B. (Producer), & Black, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of movie [Motion picture].
Country of Origin: Studio.
- In text: (Smith, Year)
Lectures:
- Bartholomew, K. (Year, Month). Title of lecture. Lecture conducted in Psychology 362.
[Lecture notes]. Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
- In text: (Bartholomew, 2011) OR (Bartholomew, 2011a) OR (Bartholomew, 2011b) depending on how many different lectures you cite.
Submission of papers and late penalties
Papers are due 7 pm on Thursday, November 24th, 2011.
Papers are to be submitted via webCT as uploaded attachments. (If you use Wordperfect- or any program that doesn't save your document as .doc or .docx -- please save your paper in rich text format (.rtf) instead.). It is your responsibility to ensure that your paper is submitted via webCT on time. We recommend that you submit your paper well before the due date/time so that you have the opportunity to consult with webCT help if you run into any difficulties. Please do not submit your paper via email. Of course, you are welcome to submit your paper early.
Title of word document:
Please follow this format for naming the file: “lastname_shortmovietitle.doc”
For example, if Heather Jones writes her paper about The Accidental Tourist, the name of the file could be “Jones_tourist.doc”
Late penalties:
Late papers will be penalized 1 mark per day or portion thereof, including weekends.
Returning papers
To save trees, we do not print out the papers. We will provide you with a feedback sheet with your grade breakdown and a checklist of the strengths and weaknesses of your paper. Our goal will be to have the marking done by the final exam, though we make no guarantees. If you would like more in depth feedback, please contact us in the first week of the next semester. We will be happy to re-read your paper and provide you with more detailed feedback.
Essay Sample Content Preview:
The Accidental Tourist (1988) (USA)
Name of Student:
Date:
The Accidental Tourist (1988) (USA)
Introduction
In the movie ‘The accidental Tourist` is directed by Lawrence Kasdan and Frank Galati and written by Anne Tyler. From the movie, the role of Macon Leary is played by William Hurt who is a popular travel advisor in Baltimore. In the show Leary`s 12 year old son is murdered in a shootout at a fast food restaurant which causes him to pull out from the world, and consequentially his wife Sarah walks out on him. Leary becomes incapacitated as a result of a fall down his basement stairs. He then decides to live with his sibling-brothers Porter and Charles and sister; Rose who very weird habits. Macon then hires a dog trainer- Muriel Pritchett due to discipline issues he has with the dog considering that it was very unruly. He cannot part with the dog because it belonged to Ethan his late son.
Muriel is a quirky young woman who has an unhealthy son. Though she appeared brash and unsophisticated at first, Macon unconditionally finds himself spending most of his time with her and the son. He even takes the son for walks and does most of the shopping for her while spending nights at her shabby apartment. On discovering this, Sarah senses that she might lose him and so she comes back to win him back as her husband. Macon leaves Muriel to go back to his wife and soon they reorganize their house once more. This essay will focus on the theories behind the relationship between the three characters in the movie and their struggle with facing their new way of life and new found life. The theories to be discussed in this paper are attachment and self-exploratory theory (Kasdan and Galati, 1988)
1 The attachment theory
The theory gives an explanation of dynamics of a lifelong relationship among the human beings. In young children, it is one of the most significant requirements which are needed to be nurtured and developed in relation to at least one prime caregiver, for development of social and emotional tenets. This is very vital for normal living among the human beings. When Macon finds he is lonely after the departure of his wife, and considering that the only female icon near him is Muriel he slowly gets attached to her. The proximity of the two people makes them to spend more time together, shopping and the lonely nights. Muriel is a quirky woman who seems to be unsophisticated. At the same time she has a sickly son. Such situations will definitely propel her to concede to anyone who shows affection to her.
Macon being a travel tour advisor goes to Paris for research on a travel guide. Surprisingly, it turns out that besides Muriel being on the same flight, she is also residing in the same hotel; information she had accidentally found in Macon`s travel guide. Muriel makes a suggestion that they should both have their good time as if they were on a vacation, nevertheless, Macon is resolute that he is in Paris for business and business alone and nothing else. From this scenario it can be deduced that although their meeting was accidental, the proximity of their residence during this time, sparkles what was left unfinished back at home. Muriel has fully gotten attached to Macon such that she sees this is an opportunity to have him all alone during the vacation. She needs attention and affection. She wants to enjoy herself and in this case, it should be with Macon whom she has gotten attracted to as the only man who ever showed affection to her in her days of misery.
When Macon becomes confined to bed due to back pain he is experiencing, Sarah takes a flight to Paris to take care of him in the interests of the rejuvenated relationship. This is with intention that her husband should finish his travel research. Nonetheless, Macon makes up his mind to get back to Muriel whom he had gotten attached to despite the efforts by Sarah to get together as before. There seems to be a growing sense of affection between Macon and Muriel to the point that he finds her more attractive than his wife Sarah. This sparkle of affection continues to an extent that when Macon was taking a cab to the airport, he notices Muriel making attempts to grab a cab while struggling with many suitcases and shopping bags at her feet. He commands the cab driver to pull over, in which case the couple exchanges smiles.
In adults, attachments are identified in four styles which include; fearful -avoidant, dismissive avoidant, secure and anxious-preoccupied attachments. Adults who are securely attached have a tendency to posses` positive ideas about themselves, their partners and their affiliations. Such adults normally feel okay with balancing intimacy and autonomy. On the other hand, adults who are anxiously-preoccupied search for high levels of intimacy, appreciation and receptiveness from spouses hence becoming excessively reliant. They have a tendency to be less trusting, have less positive thoughts about themselves and their spouses and may show high level of receptiveness, fret and impetuosity in the their relations. In the movie, Macon and Muriel begin developing a secure attachment towards each other. Macon feels comfortable in balancing intimacy and independence as illustrated by the way he emphasizes to Muriel that he was in Paris for business alone.
Though in the movie, he shows signs of consent from Muriel`s suggestion that they enjoy their time as if they were on a vacation, he still wants to maintain his autonomy by completing his research work with minimal interference. However when the business trip is over, he spies Muriel struggling to get a cab while dragging shopping bags on her feet, he quickly orders his cab driver to pull over so that the Muriel can travel with him. Into the bargain, the couple has positive views about themselves and towards each other.
The other styles of attachment are dismissive-avoidant adults who are those adults that have desires for high level of autonomy and from time to time appear to keep away from attachment. Such adults normally view themselves as self-reliant, indestructible to attachment emotions hence do need desire close relationship. They have a tendency to hold back their emotions, dealing with rejection by creating a gap from their spouses whom they always have low opinion. Lastly the fearful-avoidant adults are those with mixed feelings concerning close relationship. Both normally desire and feel uncomfortable with close relationship. Such couple tend to distrust their spouses and they feel unworthy about themselves hence they have a tendency to seek less intimacy while repressing their emotions. As reiterated before, the type of intimacy or attachment in the movie begins as secure attachment then advances to the level of anxious-preoccupied.
At the stage where Macon and Muriel become anxiously-preoccupied, they search for high level of intimacy, appreciation and receptiveness from each other and in the end becoming overly dependent unto each other. Macon soon finds himself having the urge to be with no one else but Muriel which shows signs of over reliance on each other. What`s more, the fact that he no longer desires his wife Sarah who is making all efforts to win him back while he only wants to be with Muriel, reveals the lev...
Name of Student:
Date:
The Accidental Tourist (1988) (USA)
Introduction
In the movie ‘The accidental Tourist` is directed by Lawrence Kasdan and Frank Galati and written by Anne Tyler. From the movie, the role of Macon Leary is played by William Hurt who is a popular travel advisor in Baltimore. In the show Leary`s 12 year old son is murdered in a shootout at a fast food restaurant which causes him to pull out from the world, and consequentially his wife Sarah walks out on him. Leary becomes incapacitated as a result of a fall down his basement stairs. He then decides to live with his sibling-brothers Porter and Charles and sister; Rose who very weird habits. Macon then hires a dog trainer- Muriel Pritchett due to discipline issues he has with the dog considering that it was very unruly. He cannot part with the dog because it belonged to Ethan his late son.
Muriel is a quirky young woman who has an unhealthy son. Though she appeared brash and unsophisticated at first, Macon unconditionally finds himself spending most of his time with her and the son. He even takes the son for walks and does most of the shopping for her while spending nights at her shabby apartment. On discovering this, Sarah senses that she might lose him and so she comes back to win him back as her husband. Macon leaves Muriel to go back to his wife and soon they reorganize their house once more. This essay will focus on the theories behind the relationship between the three characters in the movie and their struggle with facing their new way of life and new found life. The theories to be discussed in this paper are attachment and self-exploratory theory (Kasdan and Galati, 1988)
1 The attachment theory
The theory gives an explanation of dynamics of a lifelong relationship among the human beings. In young children, it is one of the most significant requirements which are needed to be nurtured and developed in relation to at least one prime caregiver, for development of social and emotional tenets. This is very vital for normal living among the human beings. When Macon finds he is lonely after the departure of his wife, and considering that the only female icon near him is Muriel he slowly gets attached to her. The proximity of the two people makes them to spend more time together, shopping and the lonely nights. Muriel is a quirky woman who seems to be unsophisticated. At the same time she has a sickly son. Such situations will definitely propel her to concede to anyone who shows affection to her.
Macon being a travel tour advisor goes to Paris for research on a travel guide. Surprisingly, it turns out that besides Muriel being on the same flight, she is also residing in the same hotel; information she had accidentally found in Macon`s travel guide. Muriel makes a suggestion that they should both have their good time as if they were on a vacation, nevertheless, Macon is resolute that he is in Paris for business and business alone and nothing else. From this scenario it can be deduced that although their meeting was accidental, the proximity of their residence during this time, sparkles what was left unfinished back at home. Muriel has fully gotten attached to Macon such that she sees this is an opportunity to have him all alone during the vacation. She needs attention and affection. She wants to enjoy herself and in this case, it should be with Macon whom she has gotten attracted to as the only man who ever showed affection to her in her days of misery.
When Macon becomes confined to bed due to back pain he is experiencing, Sarah takes a flight to Paris to take care of him in the interests of the rejuvenated relationship. This is with intention that her husband should finish his travel research. Nonetheless, Macon makes up his mind to get back to Muriel whom he had gotten attached to despite the efforts by Sarah to get together as before. There seems to be a growing sense of affection between Macon and Muriel to the point that he finds her more attractive than his wife Sarah. This sparkle of affection continues to an extent that when Macon was taking a cab to the airport, he notices Muriel making attempts to grab a cab while struggling with many suitcases and shopping bags at her feet. He commands the cab driver to pull over, in which case the couple exchanges smiles.
In adults, attachments are identified in four styles which include; fearful -avoidant, dismissive avoidant, secure and anxious-preoccupied attachments. Adults who are securely attached have a tendency to posses` positive ideas about themselves, their partners and their affiliations. Such adults normally feel okay with balancing intimacy and autonomy. On the other hand, adults who are anxiously-preoccupied search for high levels of intimacy, appreciation and receptiveness from spouses hence becoming excessively reliant. They have a tendency to be less trusting, have less positive thoughts about themselves and their spouses and may show high level of receptiveness, fret and impetuosity in the their relations. In the movie, Macon and Muriel begin developing a secure attachment towards each other. Macon feels comfortable in balancing intimacy and independence as illustrated by the way he emphasizes to Muriel that he was in Paris for business alone.
Though in the movie, he shows signs of consent from Muriel`s suggestion that they enjoy their time as if they were on a vacation, he still wants to maintain his autonomy by completing his research work with minimal interference. However when the business trip is over, he spies Muriel struggling to get a cab while dragging shopping bags on her feet, he quickly orders his cab driver to pull over so that the Muriel can travel with him. Into the bargain, the couple has positive views about themselves and towards each other.
The other styles of attachment are dismissive-avoidant adults who are those adults that have desires for high level of autonomy and from time to time appear to keep away from attachment. Such adults normally view themselves as self-reliant, indestructible to attachment emotions hence do need desire close relationship. They have a tendency to hold back their emotions, dealing with rejection by creating a gap from their spouses whom they always have low opinion. Lastly the fearful-avoidant adults are those with mixed feelings concerning close relationship. Both normally desire and feel uncomfortable with close relationship. Such couple tend to distrust their spouses and they feel unworthy about themselves hence they have a tendency to seek less intimacy while repressing their emotions. As reiterated before, the type of intimacy or attachment in the movie begins as secure attachment then advances to the level of anxious-preoccupied.
At the stage where Macon and Muriel become anxiously-preoccupied, they search for high level of intimacy, appreciation and receptiveness from each other and in the end becoming overly dependent unto each other. Macon soon finds himself having the urge to be with no one else but Muriel which shows signs of over reliance on each other. What`s more, the fact that he no longer desires his wife Sarah who is making all efforts to win him back while he only wants to be with Muriel, reveals the lev...
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