从心理学角度分析《喜福会》中的母女关系

A Study on the Relationship Between Mothers and Daughters in The

Joy Luck Club from Psychological Perspective

11040414 黄雅君

Thesis Statement: The paper aims at exploring the relationship between mothers and daughters by using psychological perspective, analyzing why the psychological theory exists and how it affects the whole novel.

1. Introduction

2. Related psychological theory and its embodiment

2.1 Post-traumatic stress disorder

2.2 The PTSD embodiment in The Joy Luck Club

3. The Reason of the PTSD embodiment

3.1 The traumatic memory

3.2 Psychological projection

4. The impact on relationship between mothers and daughters

4.1 Impact about conflicts

4.2 Impact about integration

5. Conclusion

1. Introduction

In today’s literature research field, psychological theory has really made a difference in literature study. Psychological theory help researchers solve millions of problems that are hard to be studied from other perspectives. In a manner of speaking, psychological theory is the indispensable part when doing researches.

I have seen many research papers about The Joy Luck Club, but most of them discusses intercultural conflicts and integration, few of them focuses on the psychological theory. In my opinion, I think the psychological factors is the root of emotion and behavior. Similarly, this is the root cause of intercultural conflicts and integration. Without exploration of psychological factors, there is no way to go further and deeper study.

The paper tries to make an exploration about the relationship between mothers and daughters in The Joy Luck Club from a psychological perspective. The study is seeking to identify the importance of psychological embodiment in the novel, and make an effort to dig out the deeper meaning of the story, uncover the real feeling of the characters.

The paper focuses on the psychological part of The Joy Luck Club, tries to explain the emotions and behaviors of characters, and the root of intercultural viewpoint. In this method, we can understand much better about the personalities of characters , and go much further to touch the main idea of the novel, finally help us get more familiar with the impact of psychological theory and the intention of the author.

2. Related psychological theory and its embodiment

Through the digging of the characters and the whole story, I discovered a main theory that can clearly explain the feelings of mothers and daughters -- Post-traumatic stress disorder.

2.1 Post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as an anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder may develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as sexual assault, fighting in a war, sustaining a serious injury, or the threat of death in which they experience intense fear, horror, or powerlessness (American Psychiatric Association,2013). The diagnosis may be given when a group of symptoms, such as disturbing recurring flashbacks, avoidance or numbing of memories of the event, and hyperarousal continue for more than a month after the traumatic event.

Trauma is generally considered to happen to the analysis and cure of Freud toward hysteria, and is gradually used in literature research.

Most people having experienced a traumatizing event will not develop PTSD. Women are more likely to experience higher impact events, and are also more likely to develop PTSD than men. Children are less likely to experience PTSD after trauma than adults, especially if they are under ten years of age. War veterans are commonly at risk to PTSD.

2.2 The PTSD embodiment in The Joy Luck Club

In the novel, four mothers all have experienced miserable trauma. And in some way, their daughters somehow suffered the similar experience as their mothers did.

Lindo is a strong woman whose daughter is smart and excellent. But as a girl, Lindo was sent to a rich family in the countryside of China. She tried to accept the fate and served for her feelingless husband and mother-in-law, but after being bullied