PSY

A BEAUTIFUL MIND: PERSONALITY ANALYSIS OF JOHN NASH

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Personality Analysis of John Nash
A BEAUTIFUL MIND: PERSONALITY ANALYSIS OF JOHN NASH

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Personality Analysis of John Nash
Written by Akiva Goldsman and Sylvia Nasar and directed by Ron Howard and acted by
eminent actors like Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly etc, “A Beautiful Mind” can be
termed as a gem of American cinema. It is a “Biopic of the famed mathematician John Nash and
his lifelong struggles with his mental health” (“A Beautiful Mind”, n.d.). From a psychological
and sociological perspective this movie along with its central character, John Nash, can be
considered as a means of analyzing the personality theories of propounded by notable
psychologists.
The personality trait of John Nash, the central character of the move A Beautiful Mind
can be analyzed from the perspective of Alfred W. Adler’s personality theory. According to the
Adlerian theory of personality “individuals can control their fate. They can do this in part by
trying to help others (social interest). How they do this can be understood through analyzing their
lifestyle. Early interactions with family members, peers, and teachers help to determine the role
of inferiority and superiority in their lives” (“Adlerian Theory of Personality”, n.d.). Judging
from this angle it can be said that the personality of John Nash, as depicted in the movie A
Beautiful Mind, is an abnormal personality with traits of mental illness. Adler has suggested that
a positive or negative or a dilemmatic personality can be measured through a person’s social
interactions and through his/her lifestyle. The central character of the movie, John Nash, fails to
satisfy the social roles of a man. He is never good in social situations although being a talented
mathematician. Although being a genius in terms of solving mathematical complications, Nash
fails to show his care and concern for the welfare of the other individuals who surrounds him. He
is never a part of the society and this trait is noticeable from the initial stages of the movie. As
per Adler, within human beings, four types of personalities can be observed. The first is the
A BEAUTIFUL MIND: PERSONALITY ANALYSIS OF JOHN NASH

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ruling type and persons having this type of personality are “characterized by a tendency to be
rather aggressive and dominant over other. Their energy…is so great that they tend to push over
anything or anybody who gets in their way” (Boeree, 2006). The second type of personality, as
per Adler, is the learning type and people having this type of personality are “sensitive people
who have developed a shell around themselves which protects them, but they must rely on others
to carry them through life’s difficulties. They have low energy levels and so become dependent”
(Boeree, 2006). The third type of personality is the avoiding type and individuals having this
type of personality “have the lowest levels of energy and only survive essentially avoiding life –
especially other people. When pushed to the limits, they tend to...