Psychology of personality development

The cognitive processes, biological and environmental factors, and self-efficacy influences personality development by changing thoughts, modeling behavior and enacting behavior competently. Personality psychology examines the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make an individual unique. Cognitive approaches to personality development emphasize on cognition and cognitive processes of personality. It focuses on people’s perceptions and interpretations of their social environments. Cognition is the mental processes involved in acquisition of behavior and perception of the social environment (Salazar, 2017). The film represents several instances of personality development through cognitive processes. Firstly, Susanna shows difficulty in the consistency and regulation of her mental processes. She is easily distracted and encounters hardships in differentiating her present reality from past encounters. In most cases, Susanna remembers her strong and vivid memories which lead her to lose her current reality.

Throughout the film, Susanna describes the moment of clear and sound cognition but often loses it and faces difficulty in holding on truth and making plausible decisions (Mangold, 1999). According to Friedman & Schustack (2012), when biological factors such as the evolutionary and hereditary factors and environmental factors are combined, personality can be impacted and shaped by the cognitive processes resulting from this combination. With reference to the Girl Interrupted, Susanna was raised in a prosperous middle- upper class family and as such, she was required to show decorum in her undertakings (Mangold, 1999). Just like most of the middle-upper class children Susanna was seemingly given anything she wanted during her childhood while on the other hand, she lacked parental affections and attention (Mangold, 1999). As a result, the upbringing perhaps led Susanna to attempt to commit suicide.

Based on the evolutionary, biological, and behavioral theories, parents can influence a child’s personality in various ways. Various parenting disciplinary styles, warmth and nurturing, communication techniques, and expectations of maturity and control can develop a child’s personality. For instance, in the Girl, Interrupted Film, Susanna’s parenting style led to the development of rebellious behavior (Mangold, 1999). It seems her parents just set rules and offered little support and guidance throughout the different stages of her development. The upbringing led her to refuse to do even the simple chores and refused to attend college. This defiance is further exhibited in their escape with Lisa to visit Polly, their fellow patient (Mangold, 1999). At the beginning of the movie, Susanna was not willing to commit to treatment which showed that she believed in her ability to change the situation by herself (Mangold, 1999).