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There are many fields which can be analyzed through psychology point of view such as the anxiety of new students, how dolphins communicate, the factors that
lead a person to be a criminal, and many more. Since psychology can be applied to almost every field of human life, it is possible to apply psychological approach in
literary works. Literary work is a mirror of human life. It reflects human life and experiences
which are adapted to a fictional or non-fictional literary work. According to Hake 2001: 2, literature is “a special kind of mirror in which we can see ourselves even
more clearly, more vividly than in an ordinary mirror”. It means through literature it is possible for people to learn and explore wider knowledge. Since literary work
imitates real life, applying psychological approach to analyze its content is possible. Using psychological approach in literature has been done since a long time ago.
Aristotle in Guerin, et al, 2004: 153 uses this approach in his Poetics when he tries to define tragedy as a combination of pity and terror to produce catharsis. The use of
psychological approach comes to its peak when Sigmund Freund 1856 – 1939 introduces his psychoanalytic theory as the part of psychological approach in the
twentieth century. During 19
th
century, there were many authors that changed the perspective of their writings from finding the culprit to the reason why the culprit does his actions.
Psychological approach becomes more popular since there are many things in literature which can be studied through psychological point of view. Moghaddam
2009: 507 states that literature can be used as source of psychological data. There
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are many events in literary works which can be analyzed by using psychological approach such as Hamlet’s Oedipus complex in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hucklebery
Finn’s rebellion in Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, Lavinia’s Electra complex in O’Neil’s Mourning Becomes Electra and many more. Psychological approach can also be used
to identify and analyze personality disorder of a character in literary work.
B. Personality
Personality is originated from Latin word “persona”. This word is used to refer the ancient Roman actors of Greek dramas who wore a mask to figure a role or
false appearance. Even though it is the root of the word “personality”, the meaning of the term is different when it is used by a psychologist. The definition of personality is
various. In general, personality is defined as kind of skill in representing oneself to others. Specifically, some psychologists have different definitions of personality.
Feist and Feist 2009: 4 state that personality is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics which give both consistency and individuality to a
person’s behavior. Kasschau 1980: 433 defines personality as the dynamic organization within an individual of those systems that determine his or her
characteristic behavior and thought. Both of the definitions are correct. They emphasize that personality can be seen by analyzing a person’s behavior.
In order to be labeled with certain personality, a person should show three elements: stability, consistency, and uniqueness Kasschau, 1980: 434. Firstly,
personality is stable. A man who talks a lot today will still talk a lot tomorrow and
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even the following days. This stability makes him labeled as a talkative person. Secondly, personality is consistent, without depending on the circumstances. A
talkative man might talk a lot when he meets either his old or new friends, when he is in restaurant, classroom, or other circumstances. The man will be talkative anytime
that it makes him judged as a talkative person. Lastly, personality is unique. Even though there are two men who are talkative, it does not mean that they have the same
personality. There will be other combinations of personality that make each of them unique. For example, the first man might be actually talkative but shy when he meets
a new circle. On the other hand, the second man is talkative but brave enough to greet new people. These three elements of personality can be seen as humans grow.
Since they were babies, humans develop personality. There are many factors which can affect the development of personality. Basically, the factors that affect
personality disorder are hereditary factors and also environmental factors O’Neil: 2006, par.1. According to O’Neil www.anthro.palomar.edu: 2006, par.2, hereditary
holds the most important role in developing personality because children inherit genes from parents. Therefore, it is more likely for the children to inherit their
parents’ personality. O’Neil www.anthro.palomar.edu: 2006, par.3 also states that the environment where people live also affects personality development. For
example, children who are raised in an well-organized family might have different personality from children who are raised by alcoholic parents. If both hereditary and
environment support one another, it is possible for the children to develop normal personality.
