Up In The Air Psychological Analysis

There are numerous theories within psychology that discuss how an individual’s personality develops. For example, Trait Theory discusses how an individual’s personality is formed based on how they fall along a continuum of various defining traits. In order to analyze Ryan Bingham’s personality in the film, Up in the Air, it is necessary to use a mix of Humanistic, Psychoanalytic, and Behavioral/Social Learning theories of personality. These theories explain Ryan’s the detriments and benefits to his personality. Ryan has the potential to become a Self-Actualized individual, but his avoidant personality style inhibits his chance to truly reach his full potential.
Ryan is presented as a character who is confident in his abilities and lifestyle; …show more content…
Not only does he constantly have to travel, but he also is the catalyst to other individual’s grief and distress. In order to protect himself from the anxiety that is caused by feeling guilt towards these individuals, Ryan has allowed himself to become detached from his own emotions. It is known that Ryan recognizes what he desires when it comes to achievement, but when it comes to his emotional needs, he fails to recognize his desires. For example, it is a desire of his to reach ten million miles, but he cannot respond to Alex when she prompts him to explain what he wants out of their relationship. In correspondence with Ryan’s constant requirement of traveling for his occupation, he most has likely intellectualized his ideology that it is better to wake up with nothing connecting him to a “home” (such as objects and even people) in order to protect himself from experiencing the depression/anxiety that coincides with homesickness or a lack of personal connection. It is also possible that Ryan is utilizing reaction formation as well as intellectualization as a function of his personality. It is shown through Ryan’s relationship with Alex that he may potentially desire a family and home life with someone – as he invites her to his sister’s wedding and shows up at her doorstep. Therefore, his claims that he doesn’t want to be married, have children, and settle down may simply be lies that he tells himself to convince him that the lifestyle he is living is the one that he truly desires. As a result, his personality provides an explanation for his lifestyle, making it ego-syntonic to some degree because it protects him from experiencing distressing