Audrey Hepburn and Personality Theories

Audrey Hepburn was born in 1929 in Brussels Belgium during a time of economic hardship and personal strife. Her life took an amazing twist from her once food deprived, fatherless, war frenzied, childhood and adolescent years by becoming a 20th century icon. She withheld perseverance for life that drove her into the Land of the Free and ironically into the luxurious world of film-making by becoming one of the most wanted actresses in Hollywood.

Through her trials, tribulations, heredity and the surrounding environments this paper will explain how they contributed to molding her personality and what made her such a unique individual. Audrey had very little emotional support or family influence as a child. Her father left her, bother and mother when she was six years of age. Her mother was forced to raise two children on her own in a time of war with ample ways in which to concentrate on emotional ties or even fundamental ways to nurture the children. Audrey once quoted that after her father left that she was “devastated and had no one left to cuddle with. (Flonder, 1998) Being that it was such a difficult time in history Audrey and the influences around her where forced to work harder than the average person does in a life time. She was raised morally by her Mother in that they worked hard for what they needed in order to survive. Once the war was over her and her family even made geographical moves in order prosper and achieve their goals. It was also documented that during the war she was a messenger for her allies against the enemies reflecting that she was culturally influenced at an early age to fight for those that she trusted and believed in.

Although there was opportunity to steal and pillage her and her, family and friends went so hungry at times that “they ate tulip bulbs in order to stay alive. ” (Flonder, 1998) There are several theories in the study of psychology that suggest how a personality is formed and what creates it’s unique characteristics in which drive a person to act a particular way in certain environments and while interacting with others. In Audrey Hepburn’s case the Objective Relation Theory and the infamous Sigmund Freud theory of Psycho-dynamic best fit her characteristics and actions by what is recorded of her life history and personal quotes.

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Objective Relation Theorist focus on the ways in which people cope with their feelings (defenses) and adapt to reality while trying to fulfill their needs (ego-centric). (Kowalski & Weston, 2011) It also suggests that people whom develop their personality in this way by environment and life events have an extreme inability to trust relationships. It is a progressive movement toward a more mature relatedness to others. (Kowalski & Weston, 2011) The personality of Audrey Hepburn is reflected in this theory in several ways.

Her two divorces might have stemmed from the desertion of her father or the result the enemies and horrors that she encountered during the war. The two divorces suggest signs of maladaptive interpersonal problems by having conflicts with others. The two divorces may also be the way that she coped with not having trust for the men in her life and a short lived childhood. She once mentioned that she had “very little youth, few friends in the usual teenage way and no security. Is it no wonder I became an interior sort of person? I think I was older in those days than I am now. (Flonder, 1998) As mentioned above the Objective Relation Theory also focuses on a person’s ego or how much one thinks of oneself. Audrey was a very giving person in the literal sense. She was said to be a fantastic mother of two boys and quoted “all that I ever really wanted to be was a mother”. (Flonder, 1998) As a way to pay it forward to those that helped feed her during the war she also gave tirelessly to children of other countries by becoming the Ambassador to the United Nations International Children’s Fund. Therefore, she could give to others effortlessly although she suffered from signs of ego-centrism and self- preoccupation.

With the events of her past she yearned to be loved and even with great success by the worlds view as an Academy Award winner she continued to search for the truth behind true internal happiness. The Psycho-dynamic Theory concludes that people are motivated by wishes and fears which Audrey had many of and displayed openly that they both drove her in many ways. She actually changed her name to Audrey as to not face the name of her past as well as by wishing for a better life with her new identity. Audrey quoted “Edna had been through enough already. ” (Flonder, 1998) This theory also places emphasis on how ne’s personality takes formation during early development and is highly affected by the role of their parents. (Burton & Davey, 2006) Audrey clearly had an early physical and loving attachment to her father to state that “she had no one to cuddle with” once he was gone. (Flonder, 1998) Without this early attachment achieved her recognition of autonomy and self conscious freedom would have been meaningless. (Kowalski & Weston 2011) At this early stage of her development with her father she was able to form such strong desires to love and care for her children beyond what her Mother could honestly provide.

She also showed a strong desire to have close harmonious connections by being very socially active as well as caring for those in needs. As well, in her latter stages of life she did eventually fall in love and stay in a committed relationship up until her death in 1993. (Flonder, 1998) In all, the Psycho-dynamic Theory best describes the personality of Audrey Hepburn. Although she faced many challenges during her life in the face of adversity through the progression of her life she did overcome them in healthy ways.

And although the desertion of her father left her unable to trust and searching for love she was able to form some loving bonds with people throughout her life. To support this theory as well one of her most famous quotes is “people need to be loved, restored and redeemed. Never throw out anyone. ” (Erwin & Diamond, 2006 ) Audrey Hepburn had a multifaceted personality due to the relationships that she had as child and established during adolescent but she stayed true to her morals and was striven for answers that would improve her as to overcome her past.

She appeared to be kind and loving towards the people that meant the most to her in her life. Those that encounter her briefly also suggest that she was a “giving and elegant spirit” (Erwin & Diamond, 2006 ) simply working towards a better life for herself and mankind.

References

1. Kowalski, R. & Weston, D. (2011). Psychology (6th ed. ) Hoboken, NJ: Whiley. 2004 Flonder, P. Biography.
2. The Immortal Audrey Hepburn Aug98, Vol. 2 Issue 8, p46. 8p. 19 Larsson, P. Counseling Psychology Review, Vol. 27, No. 1, March 2012
3. Erwin, E. , & Diamond, J. (2006). The Audrey Hepburn Treasures . New York, New York: Simon & Schuster, inc.

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