Psy 230 - Motivation Evaluation: Sandra Bullock

Motivation Evaluation: Sandra Bullock

PSY/230

Sandra Bullock is known for being a Hollywood actress and celebrity. However, in my opinion, she is someone who symbolizes success in the face of adversity. Not only is she multi-talented, she seems to be someone who really cares about the well-being of those around her and those throughout the world. Through discussing Sandra Bullock through the structures of the three motivational theories, it may bring about a deeper insight as to what motivates Bullock to continue persevering throughout her life, ad make the choice to divorce her husband and raise an infant child on her own at the age of 46.

The Psychoanalytic View

According to Sandra Bullock's childhood, she was born in the United States as the daughter of immigrant parents, her mother being a successful opera singer and voice teacher. Bullock spent most of her childhood between Europe and the United States, sometimes performing in her mother's theatre productions. In my opinion, this upbringing laid the unconscious foundation in Bullock to succeed. According to the psychoanalytic view, the unconscious works to repress threatening impulses, thoughts, and feelings while developing a defensive approach to life (McAdams, 2006). Because of Bullock's upbringing she may have unconsciously felt like an outsider as a young person when dealing of people in her peer group. This may have resulted in her ability to hone in on her talents at a younger age than most because she had to rely on herself at a younger age than other people did at that age. Through the years, her this self-reliance was balanced by her id, ego, and superego. From traveling with her parents, she was able to identify many different personalities and moral structures of other environments, leading her to be much more comfortable in her own skin, than others, and much more likely to stand her moral ground when faced with adverse life decisions, such as divorcing her husband, and adopting and raising an infant child alone.

The Humanistic View

According to the humanistic view of motivation, "The motivational force exists to actualize and fulfill the self" (McAdams, 2006). In addition, self-actualizing tendencies are based on the need for safety, security, love, and self-esteem (McAdams, 2006). It is also understood in humanistic psychology that motivated behavior does not necessarily encompass rewards. Based on these elements, I think that Bullock has created her life to incorporate her need to feel loved, feel safe, and feel as though she belongs to someone; which in-part, may have lead to her decision to become a mother, even if it meant becoming a single parent. Even though Bullock has attained material wealth, she seems to use it toward creating