Who is Antwone
Fisher?
The 2002 film, Antwone Fisher
highlights the plight of a U.S. Navy enlisted sailor who is at risk of
receiving a dishonorable discharge due to his behavior and unsuitability to
serve in the military. With the help of a Navy psychiatrist, which was part of the
Court Martial ruling, a reluctant Antwone is able to start opening up and
sharing the secrets he has kept inside for the majority of his life.
Antwone discloses that he was born
behind bars, to a mother who never claimed him after her release, and his
father was killed two months before he was born. Antwone grew up in the foster
care system, where he witnessed his foster brothers being physically abused by
their foster father. Antwone also experienced abuse as well, but from his
foster mom as well as sexual abuse by another female figure in the house by the
age of six years.
The lashing out and excessive
physical aggression, combined with running away from issues has been Antwone’s
motive operandi in the past. These coping mechanisms may have evolved from
childhood experiences and may have been instrumental to his survival during
traumatic experiences; however, they prove to be problematic as an adult.
Trait theory
evaluation of Antwone
A common evaluative tool used among
trait theorists is the Five-Factor Model, developed by Robert McCrae and Paul
Costa, which include neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and
conscientiousness (Schultz & Schultz, 2009). According to the model,
Antwone would score high in neuroticism due to his aggressive displays when
receiving a perceived threat, however, he would also score relatively high in
openness, as he took it upon himself to learn Japanese and hone his drawing
abilities, indicating a level of creativeness within his tough outer shell he
shows to those in his life. Trait theorists posit that people who score high on
a trait are able to manifest the trait-related behavior with little situational
stimulation (Marshall & Brown, 2006). Such a belief would support the
placement of Antwone in the neuroticism category, as the smallest perceived
slight by another would be enough to elicit an aggressive response.
A contributing factor to Antwone’s
maladaptive behavior may lay in trait aggressiveness, which refers to a
disposition to behave aggressively across various situations, with the latter
being key, as trait theorist suggest that one’s personality is relatively
stable and life-long. Aggressiveness has been evaluated with the use of a
questionnaire (Young Schema-Short Form), and addresses 15 different aspects of
life, with five relating in particular to the behaviors exhibited by Antwone.
These categories include abandonment/instability (the perception of instability
or unreliability of significant others for providing support and concern),
mistrust/abuse (the expectation that others will hurt, abuse, humiliate, cheat,
lie, manipulate or take advantage and the perception that the harm is intentional
or due to negligence), emotional deprivation (the expectation that emotional
support in the form of nurturance, empathy, and protection will not be provided
by others), defectiveness/shame (the feeling that one is defective, bad,
unwanted, inferior, or invalid or unlovable to significant others if exposed),
and insufficient self-control/self-discipline (difficulty or refusal to
exercise self-control, frustration tolerance, and excessive expression of
emotions and impulses).
The
analysis of the data provided by the questionnaires revealed that mistrust was
significantly related to aggression (Tremblay & Dozois, 2009), which would
also be applicable to Antwone’s case, considering the events of his childhood
in which he was unable to trust those who were supposed to care for him.
Aside
from Antwone’s aggressive outbursts, he also experiences insecure attachments
to those in his life, both personal and professional. He has a small group of
peers with which he surrounds himself with, which is reminiscent of his childhood
years, in which he made friends with peers in order to guarantee his physical
safety. The abandonment by his mother, abuse by his foster parents, and sexual
abuse by a female caregiver may have contributed to his insecure attachment.
Some researchers have suggested that such an attachment style is also related
to a high level of neuroticism (Neustadt, Chamorro-Premuzic, & Furnham,
2006).
A
social-cognitive examination of Antwone
One of the main tenants of the
social-cognitive theory is that most behavior is learned through both direct
experience or through observing others, or vicarious reinforcement. While
Antwon’s developmental years were full of abuse (physical, emotional, and
sexual), he was able to resist modeling those specific behaviors later in life.
Instead, he avoided the development of intimate relationships, preventing
others from learning the horrors of his past. Such self-isolation may have led
to the development of ineffective coping skills and while technically not a
virgin due to the sexual abuse he experienced, Antwone was an intimate virgin,
therefore, he did not experience adolescence the way his peers may have,
including healthy sexual relationships (Schultz & Schultz, 2009).
With the assistance of the
psychiatrist, Antwone is able to realize that he does not have to relive the
past, but instead he can become an active part in his future. While childhood
experiences may shape an individual more than those that one experiences as an
adult, they can be unlearned later in life (Schultz & Schultz, 2009). With
the tools gained through his meetings with his psychiatrist, Antwone may be
able to break the cycle of social-cognitive transference, which would prevent
Antwone from basing future relationships on assumptions and experiences that
occurred in past relationships. Success in the realm of relationships may help
Antwone greatly, as significant others play a large role in the lives of
others, including the shaping of one’s personality and concept of self
(Andersen & Chen, 2002).
The importance of self-regulation in
the social-cognitive theory would apply to Antwone’s anger and aggression,
which is another skill that can mastered through effective practice. According
to Bandura, the founder of social-cognitive theory, the development of a
“self-system” is the result of self-regulation in one’s environment and
interaction with peers, which allows for individuation of self-control based on
the experience and outcome of such interactions (Funder, 2001).
Trait theory: A
brief overview
Personality traits allow one to
categorize individuals based on little information, leading to conclusions that
may or may not be true. Traits are thought to be enduring behaviors that are
constant across a variety of experiences and environments. One of the early
pioneers in the field of trait theory was Gordon Allport, who suggested that
traits actually trigger behavior and serve as a motivator to guide one to
achieve their desired goals (Schultz & Schultz, 2009). The belief that an
individual will react in similar fashion in one situation as they had reacted
in a past event, is a central tenant to the trait theory. While the past does
not necessarily always predict the future, researchers have discovered that
there is a moderate to strong positive relationship (r = .40) in determining
future behaviors based on those exhibited in the past (Funder & Colvin,
1991).
The Big Five categorization tool of
personality traits, developed by Robert McCrae and Paul Costa, is often useful
when describing behavior and motivation, and is comprised of extraversion,
neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience
(Funder, 2001). Each category is subject to influence from outside sources,
such as biological, environmental, and cultural or societal norms. Certain
traits, such as conscientiousness, are considered more desirable in Eastern
cultures, whereas extraversion is more common in Western cultures (Allik &
McCrae, 2004). Barring a geographical or cultural shift in one’s life, it is
believed that the personality traits associated with the Big Five categories
are quite stable, lasting for much of the duration of one’s life (Hampson &
Goldberg, 2006).
Trait theory
applied to Antwone Fisher
According to trait theory, Antwone
Fisher should have maintained his personality, which was influenced by his
physical, sexual, and emotional abuse experiences as a child. However, as both
advancing research and the evolution of Antwone Fisher’s personality suggest,
such traits continue to change over the span of one’s life. Upon conducting a
longitudinal study, researchers discovered that there was a statistically
significant change in 75% of personality traits in middle age (40-60) and old
age (60+), thus providing supporting evidence of a change in the once thought stability
of traits (Roberts & Mroczek, 2008). Antwone Fisher lands in the age range
(early adulthood), in which it is thought to be the most important time for
personality development and trait change, which is evident in the comparison of
his behavior prior to obtaining counseling, and after meeting with his
biological family.
Trait theory and
attachment
A contributing factor to personality
trait development can be traced back to Antwone’s attachment to his foster
parents, where he experienced a problematic attachment style, as indicted by
the abuse and lack of supportive atmosphere. Such an attachment style with an
adult figure has been linked to high levels of neuroticism later in life
(Robinson, Wright, & Kendall, 2011). Antwone’s adult attachment is indicative
of the events he experienced as a child, which is characterized by being
fearful of intimacy and social avoidance (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991).
The sexual abuse that occurred in his past may have led Antwone to being weary
and/or fearful of pursuing a romantic relationship.
The attachment style experienced as
a youth can also influence emotions as an adult. Antwone adult attachment style
can be defined as an anxious-ambivalent style, which consists of insecurity
regarding the actions of others, along with a high fear of rejection
(Mikulincer, 1998). Based on this hypothesis,
Antwone’s anger may be an attempt at pushing others away before they
have a chance to reject. The anxious-ambivalent attachment style can also
contribute to the expression of anger, as persons in the category often exhibit
higher anger-proneness, when compared to a more secure attachment style. A high
degree of proneness to anger is associated with the perception of more
situations as anger eliciting and displaying of anger in dysfunctional ways,
including a lack of anger control and a high level of rumination over anger
feelings (Mikulincer, 1998). Antwone’s explosive anger is an example of how his
dysfunctional anger expression affects both his military and civilian areas of
his life.
Trait
Aggressiveness
Similarly to anger, aggression is
considered a trait-related behavior, and can be influenced from outside
sources. However, among those who score high in aggression are often prone to
displays of a behavior (associated with aggression) with little influence from
situational factors (Marshall & Brown, 2006). Similarly to the traditional
trait theories, aggressive behavior can be predicted by examining experiences,
with situations that provide just enough provocation to trigger the
trait-related response. It is also believed that the disposition to react
aggressively is constant across various situations and stable over time
(Tremblay & Dozois, 2009).
Triggers for those who score high in
aggressiveness include observing media violence, hot temperatures, pain, and
provocation. The last item is the most varied among individuals, as some
require a vast quantity of provocation to become aggressive, whereas those who
score high in the specific trait will exhibit aggressive behavior with the
slightest amount of perceived situational provocation (Marshall & Brown,
2006).
The development of maladaptive
schemas in association with trait aggressiveness is evident in Antwone’s
behavior and exhibition of dysfunctional anger mechanisms. Measurement of the
maladaptive schemas is often conducted using a Young Schema Questionnaire,
which consists of 15 different scales, which based upon Antwone’s actions,
would score high in at least five key categories including
abandonment/instability (the perception of instability or unreliability of
significant others for providing support and connection), mistrust/abuse (the
expectation that others will hurt, abuse, humiliate, cheat, lie, manipulate or
take advantage and the perception that the harm is intentional or due to
negligence), emotional deprivation (the expectation that emotional support in
the form of nurturance, empathy and protection will not be provided by others),
defectiveness/shame (the feeling that one is defective, bad, unwanted, inferior,
or invalid or unlovable to significant others if exposed), and insufficient
self-control/self-discipline (difficulty or refusal to exercise self-control,
frustration tolerance, and excessive expression of emotions and impulses), if
he were to answer the questionnaire truthfully (Tremblay & Dozois, 2009).
However, while Antwone would score
highly on the Young Schema Questionnaire, through effective therapeutic
intervention methods, which placed much of the responsibility upon Antwone, as
opposed to other methods that use a more direct approach, Antwone is able to
overcome what trait theorists once believed to be a doomed future.
Social cognitive
theory overview
Influenced greatly by Albert
Bandura, the social cognitive theory consists of three defining principles,
including the idea that individuals interact with their environments as opposed
to living in a sterile lab environment, personality is developed through these
experiences, and personality is a complex and changing system, as it reacts to
changes in the environment (Cervone, Shadel, & Jencius, 2001). Learning
through one’s environment, either through modeling, vicarious reinforcement, or
experiencing an event personally, the way one’s environment can influence
behavior and personality can lead to changes in the future.
One key aspect to the social
cognitive theory is the occasional discrepancies between relational schemas, or
the comparison between who an individual thinks they are and who they believe
they should be in life. When the two schemas clash in a disharmonious manner, a
plethora of emotions occurs, including a perceived failure, anxiety, and fear.
Such an imbalance between schemas may be associated with changes in emotional
reactivity, retrieval of memories, and reaction time (Funder, 2001).
In addition to schemas, another
important aspect to the social cognitive theory includes the existence of a
self-system, which according to Bandura, occurs because of the interaction
between an individual and their environment. The self-system is thought to
include self-reward and self-punishment behavior, which suggests a possible
model of moral development (Funder, 2001). Through the establishment of
individual moral constructs, standards are erected that one holds themselves,
and others at times, for their conduct (Bandura, 2002). Self-efficacy is also
an important aspect to the social cognitive theory, as a perceived level of
control and mastery can lead to a change in their perceived self-system, with
self-efficacy playing a key role in a variety of personality realms, including
phobias and depression (Schultz & Schultz, 2009).
Social cognitive
theory applied to Antwone Fisher
Antwone’s childhood environment
provided a unique learning experience, where he often observed his foster
brothers being physically abused, which he then experienced himself. He often
had a clash of schemas, as he was constantly told that he was useless, a
failure, and a social reject, which conflicted with his own self-schema.
However, instead of developing depression or phobias, which are often
associated with such staunch differences, Antwone held true to his self-schema,
eventually developing a healthy self-system. The ability for one to emerge with
a positive self-image from such an unhealthy environment is commendable. While
Antwone did not escape his childhood without scars, his explosive anger,
aggression, and fear of intimacy, and eventual changes in these areas, are a
testament to the human desire to change.
Social cognitive
theory and self-efficacy
The belief in one’s capabilities and
likelihood to achieve success is a benchmark in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory,
and one that touches several areas of life, including health, anxiety, phobias,
depression, drug abuse, and even physical activity. The higher the perceived level of
self-efficacy, the higher the motivation to achieve the desired goal,
regardless of setbacks and delays in achievement (Bandura, 1997). Antwone’s
self-efficacy is evident in his graduating from high school without
experimenting with drugs and his mastery of the Japanese language.
Antwone’s self-efficacy prior to
joining the military, despite the traumatic experiences of his youth may have
served as a protective mechanism. Individuals who report a high level of
self-efficacy in an abusive relationship are often more likely to leave the
environment in which the abuse is taking place (Benight & Bandura, 2004),
just like Antwone did when he fled to his friend’s house after he was sexually
assaulted. A high level of self-efficacy is also associated with an increased
likelihood of recovery after a traumatic experience.
Prior to obtaining treatment from
the psychiatrist, Antwone displayed low self-efficacy in the domain of
emotional regulation, as he did not desire to change or master his outbursts,
and had even stated during his Court Martial that he would not mind being
discharged. Upon receiving treatment, Antwone changed his outlook, and was
motivated to master his emotional regulation, and with support from his
psychiatrist, girlfriend, and newly reacquainted family members, he believed
that he would be able to attain his goals.
Social cognitive
theory in a cultural context
Antwone is surrounded by a vast
array of cultural influences, ranging from his ethnicity and growing up in the
foster care system, to the strict world of the military, with each playing a
role in the development of Antwone’s personality. One does not exist separate
from their environment nor culture, but are rather enmeshed and influenced by
what surrounds them. Diversity amongst individuals leads to unique learning
opportunities, which is evident in the examination of Antwone’s personality.
Growing up in the foster system offered a transient and unstable environment,
one in which Antwone was exposed to a variety of individuals, including a
family that was both extremely religious and physically and emotionally abusive
at the same time, an unlikely dichotomy.
The military offers another unique
culture, in which Antwone doesn’t experience a sense of belonging, as his anger
and aggression cause negative outcomes when interacting with his fellow
shipmates. Antwone is considered to be part of the outgroup, cast aside by the
ingroup due to his behavior in social settings (Bandura, 2002), which is
undesirable in a collectivist culture such as the military. The outgroup
phenomenon is strengthened by the idea that a collectivist culture cannot
achieve their goals with members who are experience self-doubt or report low
levels of self-efficacy (Bandura, 2002).
Conclusion
Although
there are some overlapping areas between the trait and social-cognitive theory
schools of thought, there are some stark differences. Personality is less
concrete and more open to change in the social-cognitive theory, whereas trait
theorists posit that such change is difficult to bring about in an individual,
as personality is constant, long lasting, and permeates every facet of one’s
life.
While
trait theorists may regard personality as permanent, a growing number is
starting to reconsider such a staunch view, allowing for a little plasticity in
the development of personality. Social cognitive theory allows for the
influence of one’s environment to be taken into consideration, along with
biology and culture, into the fluid development of personality. Antwone Fisher
can be effectively viewed through these contrasting views, as they do have some
commonalities, and with further broadening of the breadth of research into
these two theories, they are becoming more similar than they are different.
Change is possible, regardless of theory.
Antwone’s
counseling, which was a result of his inappropriate behavior in the military,
may have been able to help him even more if he sought help during his
adolescent years, shortly after experiencing the trauma. However, by utilizing
the skills and techniques provided by his psychiatrist, Antwone was able to
grow and change. The counseling style, a combination of both traditional talk
therapy, along with some rather untraditional methods (which at times could be
considered to be in the grey area of the doctor-patient relationship), is a
reminder that therapeutic interventions work best when they are individualized
for the client.
**References available upon request**
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