Once Upon a Psychological Theory
Many parents read fairy tales to their children. Young people are able to use their imaginations while listening to these fantastical stories. Filled with dragons, witches, damsels in distress, and heroes, these tales stay in the mind children for years to come. However, these young listeners are getting much more than a happy ending. Fairy tales such as "The Goose Girl", "The Three Little Pigs", "Cinderella", and "Snow White" one can find theories of psychology. Erik Erikson's theories of social development as well as Sigmund Freud's theory of the map of the mind and his controversial Oedipal complex can be found in many fairy tales. Within every fairy tale there lies a hidden lesson in psychology.In 1963, psychoanalyst Erik Erikson developed one of the most comprehensive theories of social development. The theory centers around eight stages of psychological development. One of the stages, autonomy versus shame and doubt, occurs between the ages of one and a half and three years old. In this stage toddlers develop independence if freedom and exploration are encouraged. Autonomy itself means having control over oneself. "At any given moment, our behavior, including this sense [autonomy], is influenced by the outer e
However, the princess summoned the winds and would not allow the boy to touch her hair. He wandered around and was struck by a chariot containing his birth father. This tale deals directly with the ongoing battle between the id and the super ego. Heinrich Zimmer once said, "We can never exhaust the depths of myths and fairy tales- of that we may be certain; but then neither can anyone else. After having four children the city was plagued with famine. The prince wants to be the hero and save Rapunzel. The fairy tale of the "Three Little Pigs" centers around three pigs who are told they must live on their own. The oldest pig learned to behave in agreement with the reality principal or the super ego. The happy solution came about by the girl asserting herself and her dignity in not allowing the boy to touch her hair. They travel to the oldest pig's home, which is made of sturdy bricks. This can be compared to the life of Oedipus. The pigs must choose between the pleasure principal and the reality principal.
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