The 2002 film, The White Oleander, tells the story of the teenage girl Astrid. Astrid has been raised without a father by her free-spirited mother, Ingrid. One day Ingrid is taken away from her daughter to be imprisoned for being accused of murdering her boyfriend, Barry. As a result, Astrid is put in a series of foster homes. During this time she struggles with her identity as she lives with differing foster parents and people while still in contact with her mother in prison. The White Oleander presents a wide variety of psychological principles. Two notable psychological principles in the film are post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the authoritarian parenting style.
Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post- traumatic stress disorder is defined as “an anxiety disorder that develops through exposure to a traumatic event, severely oppressive situations, severe abuse, and natural and unnatural disasters” (King pg. 537). It is caused by events that cause intense fear, helplessness or horror such as rape, a flood, fire, physical abuse, and war. When people usually experience traumatic events they will initially have a difficult time with adjusting and overcoming the event. However for some people, the adjustment is not so easy, as they experience worsening symptoms for duration of time as a result of the event. It is in cases where symptoms may begin to disrupt one’s life that PTSD occurs (Post-traumatic stress disorder). Symptoms of PTSD may occur immediately after the exposure to the event, or they may occur months or years later. In most cases of PTSD symptoms are prevalent after a couple weeks after the event (King). Some symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, or reliving the event, feeling emotionally numb, memory problems, trouble concentrating, anger, trouble sleeping, being easily frightened, and hallucinations (Post-traumatic stress disorder). The symptoms of a person usually increase for duration of time before decreasing. However if symptoms continue to persist for a great duration of time, it may be characterized as chronic PTSD (King) Rachel Yehuda explains in The New England Journal of Medicine that there is still research concerning why some people experience PTSD after an event and others do not. Researchers have found that people who experience PTSD have increased levels of norepinephrine in the brain as well as increased activity of the adrenergic receptors. This has been linked with an increase in thyroid hormone levels as well. Other studies have found alterations in the brain activity of patients with PTSD in the amygdale and hippocampus, the fear and memory components of the brain (Yehuda). An important component for treating people with PTSD is educating them about their symptoms and how they represent a psychological disorder. Education helps patients better see their need for therapy. This is important because people with traumatic disorders are often hesitant to seek help on their own. Therapy is usually done in a structured format and focuses on reducing the levels of distress with associated memories. Besides therapy, medication can help people with PTSD. Such medicines as antidepressants can help alleviate the symptoms of PTSD (Yehuda).
Play to see Astrid's post-traumatic stress disorder
In the White Oleander, Astrid experiences PTSD early in the movie. One morning as she is lying in bed in her first foster home, she hears a banging in Starr’s bedroom which triggers a flashback. In the flashback Astrid remembers the traumatic event when Barry comes storming to the house threatening to strangle her mother. He breaks through the window and Ingrid stabs him. After the scene of the flashback the scene cuts back to Astrid lying in bed noticeably disturbed. The PTSD of Astrid is most evident by her flashback, an often linked symptom of the disorder. Also the fact that Astrid is disturbed by the flashback shows signs of PTSD as well. It can be inferred in the film that Astrid’s flashback occurs a couple weeks after the event. This resembles PTSD as it is most commons for symptoms to originate a couple weeks after the traumatic event.
Authoritarian Parenting
Authoritarian parenting is a parenting style in which parents expect very high expectations and levels of achievement from their children. Authoritarian parents focus greatly on discipline and setting limits while often neglecting expression and parental love. While the relationships between authoritarian parents and their children are often perceived as loveless, authoritarian parents do love their children. However the love is not unconditional, but rather equated with the children’s success and meeting of expectations (Bradley). Authoritarian parents often use blame, shame, coercion and punishment with their children. They expect their children to meet their expectations and desires with obedience and compliance without any questioning or negotiation (Authoritarian parenting style has long term drawbacks). An example of what an authoritarian parent might say to a child is, “You do it my way or else. No backtalk” (King pg. 125). The parenting style often leads to physical and/or emotional abuse when children fail to meet the expectations of the parents (Bradley). In the article “Parenting style and its correlates,” Nancy Darling explains that there are two different types of authoritarian parents. Nonauthoritarian-directive, are those who are directive, but not intrusive with their power, and authoritarian-directive, are those who are very intrusive with their power (Darling). A major problem with the children of authoritarian parents is that they have trouble finding love and comfort in times of need and guidance (Bradley). Children of authoritarian parents often feel bad about themselves, feel that obedience is the only way to receive love from their parents, and avoid inappropriate behavior in fear of punishment; not morals or values. As the children of these parents grow up they have a difficult time thinking and making decisions for themselves as they have always been under the control of their parents. (Authoritarian parenting style has long term drawbacks). The authoritarian parenting style has been found as not being very successful as the parents lack a healthy balance between expectations and love and affection for their children
Upon one of Astrid’s visits to the prison to see her mother, Ingrid becomes angered when seeing the cross around Astrid’s neck. She questions why Astrid is wearing it, and becomes even more disturbed when Astrid responds that it is from Starr, because she has accepted Christ as her personal savior at the Assembly of God. Here, Ingrid displays signs of an authoritarian parenting style as she responds, “Are you out of your mind?” She does not reason with her child about her choice in finding Christ, but rather gives her ridicule and criticism. Astrid responds to her mother angrily, “You raised me to think like you.” The scene ends with Astrid eventually obeying her mother’s authoritarian power as she takes off her cross when leaving. The authoritarian parenting style is evident in this scene as Ingrid exemplifies the idea, “You do it my way or else. No backtalk.” She refuses to openly discuss why her daughter has chosen to follow Christ. The fact that Astrid says she was raised to think like her mother, shows that she has lived a childhood in strict obedience to her mother. The end of the scene when Astrid takes off her cross further shows her obedience.
Play the first clip in this post at 8:40 and then this clip to see Ingrid's authoritarian parenting style
Post- traumatic stress disorder and the authoritarian parenting style are only two examples of psychological principles in the film, The White Oleander. Upon watching the film one can discover many more.
Post- traumatic stress disorder is defined as “an anxiety disorder that develops through exposure to a traumatic event, severely oppressive situations, severe abuse, and natural and unnatural disasters” (King pg. 537). It is caused by events that cause intense fear, helplessness or horror such as rape, a flood, fire, physical abuse, and war. When people usually experience traumatic events they will initially have a difficult time with adjusting and overcoming the event. However for some people, the adjustment is not so easy, as they experience worsening symptoms for duration of time as a result of the event. It is in cases where symptoms may begin to disrupt one’s life that PTSD occurs (Post-traumatic stress disorder). Symptoms of PTSD may occur immediately after the exposure to the event, or they may occur months or years later. In most cases of PTSD symptoms are prevalent after a couple weeks after the event (King). Some symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, or reliving the event, feeling emotionally numb, memory problems, trouble concentrating, anger, trouble sleeping, being easily frightened, and hallucinations (Post-traumatic stress disorder). The symptoms of a person usually increase for duration of time before decreasing. However if symptoms continue to persist for a great duration of time, it may be characterized as chronic PTSD (King) Rachel Yehuda explains in The New England Journal of Medicine that there is still research concerning why some people experience PTSD after an event and others do not. Researchers have found that people who experience PTSD have increased levels of norepinephrine in the brain as well as increased activity of the adrenergic receptors. This has been linked with an increase in thyroid hormone levels as well. Other studies have found alterations in the brain activity of patients with PTSD in the amygdale and hippocampus, the fear and memory components of the brain (Yehuda). An important component for treating people with PTSD is educating them about their symptoms and how they represent a psychological disorder. Education helps patients better see their need for therapy. This is important because people with traumatic disorders are often hesitant to seek help on their own. Therapy is usually done in a structured format and focuses on reducing the levels of distress with associated memories. Besides therapy, medication can help people with PTSD. Such medicines as antidepressants can help alleviate the symptoms of PTSD (Yehuda).
Play to see Astrid's post-traumatic stress disorder
In the White Oleander, Astrid experiences PTSD early in the movie. One morning as she is lying in bed in her first foster home, she hears a banging in Starr’s bedroom which triggers a flashback. In the flashback Astrid remembers the traumatic event when Barry comes storming to the house threatening to strangle her mother. He breaks through the window and Ingrid stabs him. After the scene of the flashback the scene cuts back to Astrid lying in bed noticeably disturbed. The PTSD of Astrid is most evident by her flashback, an often linked symptom of the disorder. Also the fact that Astrid is disturbed by the flashback shows signs of PTSD as well. It can be inferred in the film that Astrid’s flashback occurs a couple weeks after the event. This resembles PTSD as it is most commons for symptoms to originate a couple weeks after the traumatic event.
Authoritarian Parenting
Authoritarian parenting is a parenting style in which parents expect very high expectations and levels of achievement from their children. Authoritarian parents focus greatly on discipline and setting limits while often neglecting expression and parental love. While the relationships between authoritarian parents and their children are often perceived as loveless, authoritarian parents do love their children. However the love is not unconditional, but rather equated with the children’s success and meeting of expectations (Bradley). Authoritarian parents often use blame, shame, coercion and punishment with their children. They expect their children to meet their expectations and desires with obedience and compliance without any questioning or negotiation (Authoritarian parenting style has long term drawbacks). An example of what an authoritarian parent might say to a child is, “You do it my way or else. No backtalk” (King pg. 125). The parenting style often leads to physical and/or emotional abuse when children fail to meet the expectations of the parents (Bradley). In the article “Parenting style and its correlates,” Nancy Darling explains that there are two different types of authoritarian parents. Nonauthoritarian-directive, are those who are directive, but not intrusive with their power, and authoritarian-directive, are those who are very intrusive with their power (Darling). A major problem with the children of authoritarian parents is that they have trouble finding love and comfort in times of need and guidance (Bradley). Children of authoritarian parents often feel bad about themselves, feel that obedience is the only way to receive love from their parents, and avoid inappropriate behavior in fear of punishment; not morals or values. As the children of these parents grow up they have a difficult time thinking and making decisions for themselves as they have always been under the control of their parents. (Authoritarian parenting style has long term drawbacks). The authoritarian parenting style has been found as not being very successful as the parents lack a healthy balance between expectations and love and affection for their children
Upon one of Astrid’s visits to the prison to see her mother, Ingrid becomes angered when seeing the cross around Astrid’s neck. She questions why Astrid is wearing it, and becomes even more disturbed when Astrid responds that it is from Starr, because she has accepted Christ as her personal savior at the Assembly of God. Here, Ingrid displays signs of an authoritarian parenting style as she responds, “Are you out of your mind?” She does not reason with her child about her choice in finding Christ, but rather gives her ridicule and criticism. Astrid responds to her mother angrily, “You raised me to think like you.” The scene ends with Astrid eventually obeying her mother’s authoritarian power as she takes off her cross when leaving. The authoritarian parenting style is evident in this scene as Ingrid exemplifies the idea, “You do it my way or else. No backtalk.” She refuses to openly discuss why her daughter has chosen to follow Christ. The fact that Astrid says she was raised to think like her mother, shows that she has lived a childhood in strict obedience to her mother. The end of the scene when Astrid takes off her cross further shows her obedience.
Play the first clip in this post at 8:40 and then this clip to see Ingrid's authoritarian parenting style
Post- traumatic stress disorder and the authoritarian parenting style are only two examples of psychological principles in the film, The White Oleander. Upon watching the film one can discover many more.
Great blog. Some repetition in writing and some confusion in APA citation style but otherwise good job!
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