Walter+White

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Walter White is the middle-aged main character of AMC’s //Breaking Bad//. A relatively new television series, the show began in 2008 and will be airing its fourth season this summer. An underpaid and overqualified high school chemistry teacher, Walter is suddenly diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Having never smoked in his life, this came as a complete shock to Walter and his family. Struggling to afford his expensive series of treatments and surgeries, Walt “breaks bad” and turns to manufacturing methamphetamine in order to keep up with the accumulating bills. As his condition worsens, fearing the absolute worst, he teams up with a former student and “meth head,” Jesse Pinkman, to help distribute the extremely potent crystal meth around the Albuquerque, New Mexico region.=====

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All the while, Walter’s wife, Skylar, is nearing the due date of their unexpected daughter Holly, adding to the string of financial pressures. Walt is forced to lead a double-life, playing the loving husband and father to their son, Walt Jr., while maintaining a low profile as he produces some of the most chemically stable and pure meth the local addicts have ever encountered. Walt and Jesse are put in a number of compromising and illegal situations, but, unsure of what the future holds, Walt justifies his actions by attributing it all to the financial stability and well-being of his family.=====

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The Neo-Analytic perspective of psychology is an adaptation of Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory, however it focuses more on the “ego” and conscious aspects of personality rather then the sexually driven theories of Freud (Friedman, 113). The main contributors to the development of this theory were Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Karen Horney, and Erik Erikson, but only Jung, Adler, and Erikson’s views apply to the personality analyses of Walt (Friedman, 110). =====

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Carl Jung was a significant founder of the Neo-Analytic Theory, having studied among Freud for many years. Jung’s theory is compromised of three psyches: the ego, the personal unconscious, and the collective unconscious. One important component of the collective unconscious is a series of emotional symbols known as archetypes (Friedman, 113). These archetypes are believed to predispose individuals to reacting to particular recurring situations in a predictable pattern (Friedman, 114). Walt embodies the persona and shadow archetypes, which are opposing appearances. Until the second season of //Breaking Bad//, Walt exemplifies all the characteristics of a stereotypically loving father and devoted husband. He is popular among his students and faculty at the high school he teaches at. These qualities are all consistent with the persona archetype. He behaves in a socially acceptable manner in front of those closest to him (Friedman, 114). However, as Walt’s cancer progresses his outlook on life begins to sour and his interest in his family diminishes. He spends less and less time at home, leaving abruptly and returning without an explanation for his disappearance. It is at this point the shadow archetype begins to be more prominent. Walt struggles to maintain composure in frustrating situations, even getting himself in trouble with those in authoritative positions. In the third season Walt is arrested for yelling at a cop when he is pulled over and ticketed for having a large crack in his windshield, which the police officer deemed hazardous (Gilligan, 2010). Since he is living two different lives, Walt struggles between the two archetypes, and it becomes increasingly more difficult for him to differentiate between the appropriate behavior around his family, versus the criminals he increasingly associates himself with.=====

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The second component of Jung’s Theory is the two attitudes, introversion and extroversion, which describe the direction of psychic energy in the world (Friedman, 2009, 117). Extroverts focus this energy on the external world, while introverts focus it on the internal world (Friedman, 117). Walt is undoubtedly an introvert, he has trouble communicating his emotions to those he loves, preferring to keep to himself. After being diagnosed with cancer, Walt withdraws from his family even more, which causes Skylar to reach out to him. Instead of talking, Walt expresses his feelings through aggressive behavior, for which he never has an explanation. When he is too ill to teach at the high school, Walt resorts to producing even more meth as a means to feel “useful,” accomplished even.=====

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In the early 20th century Alfred Adler became another important figure in the evolution of the Neo-Analytic perspective (Friedman, 118). Adler suggested the concept of the aggression drive, that aggression was a response to perceived helplessness (Friedman, 119). According to this idea,, Walt’s increasingly unacceptable behavior is a result of his inability to exert any control on his medical condition. In the first episode of season one, Walt is told that the cancer is inoperable and that his only option is chemotherapy, which would give him a few years to spare, at best. Knowing this, Walt lashes out in social situations that would never warrant it. In the same episode, Walt and his family are shopping at a department store helping their son pick out new jeans. Walt Jr. has cerebral palsy, and as he walked out of the fitting room some teenagers nearby were mimicking his speech impediment and trouble walking. Initially Walt storms off, seemingly embarrassed. Instead he re-enters the store, kicking the boy who imitated his son in the leg, dropping him to the floor. He yells at the boy and attempts to engage in a fight, but the boys run out of the store (Gilligan, 2008). Ordinarily this would be completely uncalled for, but in light of recent news and in defense of his son Walt acts upon raw emotion, showing no remorse.======

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The final portion that applies to Walt’s personality analysis was suggested by Erik Erikson, ego crises. Erikson believed that personality development is an ongoing process that is shaped by eight stages, or conflicts, that occur throughout the course of an individual’s lifetime (Friedman, 135). If one finds they are stuck at any certain stage then there are implications that may hinder or affect personality growth, but if they successfully complete or resolve the conflict then they can transition to the next stage (Friedman, 136). After turning fifty and discovering he is terminally ill, Walt is faced with the eighth and final crisis, “Ego Integrity versus Despair.” He looks back on his life in the form of sporadic flashbacks, but it is in the episode “Gray Matter” that we discover Walt was the co-founder of a chemistry research center called Gray Matter. His old work colleague, Elliot, offers Walt a job at the company, mentioning the excellent health insurance coverage. When Walt realizes that Skylar told Elliot that he was sick, he refused the job and Elliot’s offer to pay for his cancer treatment. It is apparent that Walt is extremely intelligent and was once a profound chemist, but his abilities are barely recognized at his high school teaching job. Through the remainder of the season, the White family is offered donations by Elliot and his wife Gretchen, along with several other family members, but Walt adamantly refuses what he considers “charity” from anyone. It is at this point that Walt realizes he is definite about the plan to manufacture meth to support his family all by himself. Walt realizes that he may never live to see the birth of his daughter, or his son grow up, so he chooses to have the satisfaction of knowing he provided as much as he could in what he expects to be his last few years with his family.======

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Walter has a complex personality that cannot be defined by a brief encounter with him. He is intelligent, organized, driven, and, as the series progresses, he shows a manipulative and controlling side. The Trait Approach is an effective measurement of Walt’s being because his personality can be easily described through adjectives and characteristics. This approach to personality uses adjective dimensions to explain an individual’s personal motivations and behaviors. There were a number of theorists who contributed to the expansion of the Trait Approach, but only the views expressed by Gordon Allport, Hans Eyesenck, and Henry Murray can be applied to Walt’s personality.=====

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The Big Five Personality Model is a scientific approach to personality, consisting of five trait dimensions that are exhibited universally, but in varying degrees: extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness (Friedman, 267). The Big Five is based off of extensive research, rather then theory, using factor analysis to correlate particular traits with the aforementioned elements. The Big Five Approach has been used and cited in countless research studies concerned with the analysis of personality and human behavior. The first dimension, extroversion, refers to how outgoing or social a person is. Walt is usually quiet, and for those times he must have a serious discussion with his family or friends, he is often awkward and chooses the wrong words to describe his feelings. He doesn’t open up to those around him, unless it is to lie his way out of a dangerous situation, or to persuade Jesse to do his dirty work. Agreeableness is characterized by how warm, cooperative, and friendly an individual acts. To his family, whom he cares for dearly, Walt appears to be high in agreeableness, but to his partner in crime, Jesse, Walt is hard and unforgiving. This is intriguing because Walt exemplifies the Person-Situation Interactionist Theory, which states that behavior differs depending upon environmental factors. Throughout the series Walt consistently exhibits all the traits associated with those who are extremely conscientious. He is both cautious and responsible, which is why he and Jesse manage to get away with cooking crystal meth, distributing their product, and even killing those who risk the pair’s exposure. Whenever Walt and Jesse are in a bind, it is always Walt who comes up with a well thought out and rational plan of escape. As far as neuroticism, Walt is generally very emotionally stable, even in the early onset of his cancer (although this is debatable because he may have just been in denial). When Skylar puts together Walt’s mysterious disappearances, second cell phone, and rapid accumulation of money he becomes paranoid and moody. As their marriage falls apart, Skylar forces Walt to leave the house and barely lets him visit their children. Walt’s neurotic behavior progresses along the third season, which can be attributed to the life changes that he is experiencing, as well as emotional flooding. The final dimension of the Big Five is openness, how willing, creative, and intelligent an individual is. Walt is high on the openness scale, when necessary he demonstrates the ability to come up with a plan of escape. In the seventh episode Walt and Jesse find themselves in a predicament where they cannot get a product essential to produce meth. With a few chemical changes, Walt rearranges the formula and substitutes for a different ingredient- creating a superior product (Gilligan, 2008).=====

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The motive-based study of personality focuses on the need to attain certain goals, and the ability to respond in a given situation (Friedman, 281). Henry Murray was the father of this approach, basing his ideas off of the Person-Situation Interactionist approach. Motives can be used to explain certain aspects of an individual’s personality as well as specific behaviors that are driven by needs (Friedman, 281). In his relationship with Jesse, Walt is dominant and controlling, expressing what Murray defines as a need for power (Friedman, 282). When Jesse and Walt decide to end their partnership, Jesse creates his own batch of “crystal” and presents it to Walt, looking for his approval of the product he cooked all by himself. Instead of congratulating Jesse, Walt calls it “inferior” to his meth and is angry at Jesse for using the formula that Walt created. Later in the season he admits to Jesse that they can cook on equal levels, but does not apologize for overreacting or offending him. When Walt and Jesse become partners again their relationship begins to slide back to its original nature. Being older and more intelligent then Jesse, Walt deems himself the leader of the partnership, treating Jesse like a child and critiquing him every opportunity that arises.=====

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At first glance, Walter White looks like an average fifty-year-old man, but upon looking further into his personality it is apparent that he is much more. For a significant portion of the series Walt lives a double life, and as his cancer progresses, his personality changes. He slowly transforms into a full-blown drug manufacturer, in denial of his criminal behavior. Walt justifies his actions by telling himself and Skylar that he did everything for his family, which is partially true, in Walt’s at least.=====

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The Neo-Analytic and Trait and Skill Approaches were ideal to analyze Walt’s personality because he is a deep character with a lot going on in his life. Walt can be categorized using the trait approach, but at the same time he has a darker side that requires picking through certain aspects of his personality, as well as the visage he puts on. As Walt’s endures chemotherapy, Skylar encourages him to talk to her about his feelings. Given the situation, Walt withdraws from her and, after making the choice to cook meth, he continues to push away from his family without even realizing it. However those around him see the changes in his personality, with Hank, his brother-in-law, attributing Walt’s strange behavior at home to the diagnosis. Even after the chemotherapy, Walt is bitter about his life, and by the time he decides to turn his ways around and reconnect with his family it is almost too late.=====

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While //Breaking Bad// is still relatively new, the fourth season premieres this summer, and is sure to add a new dimension to Walt’s character. It is ever-growing in popularity, and has been nominated for numerous awards ranging from the clever cinematography to best drama on television. The cliff-hanger endings and ironic interactions between characters is always engaging, but the unusual, and hypothetically possible, life of Walter White is what truly makes the show.=====