Psychology In Nicholas Spark's Movie The Notebook

Psychology is prevalent in everything we do, how we grow, and how we act. It’s the basis for how we think and how our body develops. However, it is also very easy to see psychological concepts in other people in our everyday life as well as in fictional works like TV shows, books, or movies. In Nicholas Spark’s movie The Notebook, based off his book, many psychological principles are demonstrated and easily picked up by those with psychological knowledge. Young high schoolers Noah, a millworker, and Allie, a rich girl, fall in love quickly one summer despite Allie’s parent’s disapproval. When Noah goes off to war and Allie meets someone else, their romance seems to be over until one day when Noah moves back into the town they grew up in. Psychology …show more content…
30). When someone is encompassed in a passionate love, they tend to be preoccupied with thoughts of their partner all the time. They idealize their partner, try to please them, and make up excuses to be with him/her (Livermore, 1993, p.30). Hatfield also states that passionate love “is kindled by a sprinkle of hope and a large dollop of loneliness, mourning, jealousy, and terror” (Livermore, 1993, p. 30). In The Notebook, Noah and Allie demonstrate their passionate love for each other from the very first summer they meet. They are consumed in each other and passionate about the other despite their differences and what other people think. Noah and Allie are filled with adrenaline which makes their arousal for each other even higher, but also filled with terror that they won’t be able to be with each other anymore as they know the passion with another person wouldn’t be the same. When Allie is engaged to Lon, she knows deep down that their relationship is just not the same as her and Noah’s. When Noah and Allie are reunited many years later, their passionate love is rekindled as if they never stopped loving each other. David G. Myers (2011) challenges passionate love by acclaiming that the absorption in one another and romance thrill will eventually fade (p. 683). Elaine Hatfield also states, “as love matures it becomes a steadier companionate love -- a deep, affectionate attachment” (Myers, 2011, p. 684). Companionate love moves away from the intense, overwhelming passion and moves towards long-lasting, successful relationships that lead to children and family-life. Compassionate relationships rely on equity, both partners contributing equally, and self-disclosure, complete honesty, to be successful (Myers, 2011, p. 684). After Noah and Allie reconnect one weekend, Noah challenges Allie to choose him and not Lon, who would be the