Psychological Health and
Treatment
- Commitment issues
- No established father/son relationship
- Lack of attachment to father
- Psychotherapy sessions to uncover repressed feelings and conflicts
- Humanistic client-centered therapy sessions to make him feel valued and just as important as everyone else
- Behavioral system desensitization sessions to help him get over his fear/hatred for commitment and help him understand that everyone settles down eventually
Barney Stinson
Psychoanalytic continued
- Could use the idea that Barney never really had a father figure as the root for his repressed childhood memories and his acts later in life
- No one to teach him how to do certain things and to know his limits
- His mom lied to him about most of the things he knew
"How I Met Your Mother"
Psychoanalytical Approach
- Developed a strong id after his girlfriend left him for another man- acted on impulses
- Always developed the craziest plans without thinking of whether or not he might hurt himself or others
- Made use of Freud's defense mechanisms specifically, repression, throughout the show to conceal his true feelings for Robin
The Playbook
- Barney created this playbook as well as the Bro Code to help outline proper etiquette for males or more specifically his "bros"
Psychological Characteristics
- Impulsive: Had a strong id meaning he was always one to base his actions off his impulses in the moment
- Repressive: Used this defense mechanism to conceal his true feelings about love
- Low self-esteem: Slept with all the women that he did in order to feel higher about himself
- Loyal: Always made sure to do the most for his friends and was always there for them in contrast to his dad not being there for him
Psychological Characteristics Continued
Narcissistic: He always praised himself as a result of his low-self esteem and his lack of belongingness
Overconfident: Another method he used to better his self-esteem and make himself feel like he belongs and is relevant
Loving: Another thing that his dad never was to him; he wants to be there for his friends like they are for him
Background info on Barney
- Was raised by his single mother Loretta and never knew his dad (believed it was Bob Barker)
- He hated how men treated women like objects
- Changed the way he dressed, acted, and became a womanizer from his previous hippie status
- Had 4 best friends, Lily, Ted, Marshall, and Robin
- Was the ultimate wingman
- Loves laser tag and wearing expensive suits (even pajamas)
Behavioral Approach
- Took after the man who stole his girlfriend, Greg, who told him that the key to getting women was having money and suits
- Changed his whole outlook on life, his attitude, his style, after watching how easy it was for Greg to take his girlfriend from him
- Slept with all the women that he did not only to raise his self-esteem but to also make up for losing his girlfriend, Shannon, to another man
Humanistic Approach
- Didn't have a very accepting environment that allowed himself to be heard and understood for who he is- Rogers
- Has difficulty reaching self-actualization because he hasn't figured out whether others have accepted him yet
- Had the choice of free will to change at any point of his life
- Didn't decide to do so until he met Robin
- Stuck in between Maslow's "Belongingness and Love Needs" and "Esteem Needs" phases