"Star Wars": Psychology of Anakin and Padme - 679 Words | Movie Review Example (2024)

Overview

The couple selected for this psychological analysis is Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala from the film Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Due to the nature of their jobs, their marriage must be kept secret from everyone, including people they consider close. The second problem is that Padme is pregnant, which threatens to reveal their secret. Also, Anakin is fearful that Padme will die during childbirth due to dreams that he is having, which is causing him to behave erratically and become distanced in their marriage.

Pertinent Information

It is important to consider several factors when treating the couple. Padme and Anakin met when both were young. Anakin was 9 years old and came from a life of labor and poverty, raised by a single mother until he had an opportunity to leave for his studies. Meanwhile, Padme came from a royal background, becoming a political leader at the young age of 14. After a brief adventure, they did not see each other for ten years until brought together in their line of work in the government, during which they fell in love and eventually got married despite it being forbidden.

Around this time, Anakin lost his mother after being away from her for such a long time. This propelled him into a sense of rage and guilt during which he secretly committed violent crimes. It should be noted that Anakin is an active soldier and veteran who went through years of combat.

Both individuals fulfill traditional gender roles in the family. There were no signs of mental illness or affairs. Lately, Anakin had become more emotionally abusive to Padme, blaming her for betraying his trust when in fact, she was seeking help, at which point he physically assaulted her by choking her. These issues should be addressed by focusing on safety planning and emotional regulation for the family. It is vital to help the couple without triggering a conflict that would translate into domestic violence. Limited confidentiality is also a strategy where the couple agrees to individual sessions as well as regular check-ups.

Theory

Evidence shows that the difficult childhood and trauma of losing his mother relatively early in life does lead to emotional dependence in clients. According to Anakin, he is fearful of losing Padme, and it is causing him extreme anxiety, during which he resorts to blindsided anger as a method of control. The object relations theory fits in this situation, arguing that the relationships form based on family experiences in childhood and mentally objectifying people to model similar patterns.

Therefore, Anikan, who lost his mother, expects to lose Padme in some sort of manner, either death or break-up, which makes him angry. Meanwhile, Padme, as a leader, maintains the attitude of caretaker of the vulnerable and internalizes Anikan as a victim who needs her even if he is displaying abuse. However, the theory may not fit in explaining why Anikan is distrustful of external help and Padme turning for help to their mutual friends.

Challenges

Anakin seems to be the irrational factor in this relationship. He is emotionally unstable and is constantly shifting blame during emotionally charged outbursts. During the sensitive period of therapy, the client may lose his temper. It is vital to address this calmly and acknowledge his feelings. Practicing active listening skills in the attempt to find a common understanding should be helpful to mitigate the situation. It is viable to use creative counseling by offering the client symbolisms for his anger, such as a fuse or a shield to control the situation.

Prognosis

The prognosis is moderate, with some optimism for improvement based on the variable that Anakin can change. Evidence does demonstrate that abusive relationships had recovered when the abuser understood the extent of his actions and psychological problems. Anikan must understand guilt, tolerate emotional injury, share his feelings in a healthy manner, and realize when his behavior is abusive. Therefore, despite his past trauma, he can acquire learned attitudes to manage his behavior. Meanwhile, Padme is extremely empathetic and willing to take the extra steps to help Anikan.