Primal Fear – Psychology Connections

? Psychology 101 Spring 2010 Midterm Please behave the following questions based on the information contained in the exposure and place in the drop misfortune no later than 1159 p. m. on FRIDAY 03/12/10 The film, Primal consternation is a psychological courtroom crime drama based on William Diehls novel of the same name. Steve Shagan and Ann Biderman wrote the delineations adapted screenplay, which was brought to life by director Gregory Hoblit and released in 1996. Richard Gere stars as Martin Vail, a famed self-abnegation attorney who volunteers to represent a young boy accused of take out.Edward Norton plays the char make outer of Aaron Stampler, a teenage convert boy charged with the gruesome murder of Archbishop Richard Rushman who is portrayed by Stanley Anderson. Assistant District Attorney (and ex-girlfri halt of Martin Vail) Janet Venable compete by Laura Linney, is assigned to prosecute Aarons murder case. Frances McDormand is cast as Doctor Molly Arrington, the Psy chologist who disc all overs that Aaron suffers from treble Personality Disorder and has an flip over spirit a violent sociopath who calls himself Roy.Supporting practiceances Alfre Woodard portrays Miriam piglet, the Judge who presides over Aarons trial proceedings. John Mahoney is cast as John Shaughnessy, Chicagos District Attorney. The love Archbishop of Chicago is brutally murdered in a gruesome manor viciously stabbed multiple times, with earn and numbers carved into his chest, his fingers chopped off and eyes gouged out. Aaron Stampler is found fleeing the scene of the crime, covered in the Archbishops blood. After an extensive chase, the police eventually catch and apprehend Stampler.Criminal defense attorney Martin Vail watched the resilient man hunt on television arresting an opportunity for publi urban center, Vail instantaneous met with Aaron and volunteered to represent his case. Vail questioned Aaron or so the events that occurred forrader he was charged with The Archbishops murder. Aaron claims that he discovered the mutilated body of the deceased Bishop Rushman while attempting to pay a book to Rushmans library. Aaron also saw saw someone standing over The Archbishops body, who then attacked him the last event he recalls before his memory blacked out.Nicknamed The Butcher Boy by the media, it appears that Aaron is already presumed guilty by the public. Martin Vail immediately starts the preparation of Aarons defense by gathering information near Aaron Stampler and Archbishop Rushman Vail also orders a full psychiatric evaluation of Aaron. Assistant District Attorney Janet Venable is appointed to the criminal prosecution Aarons case on behalf of the state, she charges Stampler with first degree murder and seeks the death penalty as punishment. Janet Venable is non only the prosecuting attorney in Aarons trail, but also Martin Vails ex-girlfriend.Upon Vails investigation of The Archbishop, he discovers that Rushman invested money on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church which resulted in large losses of money to the citys most powerful people Vail also learned of the numerous death threats that were made to The Archbishop. In an attempt to find the exact cause of his black out and memory loss, Psychologist Molly Arrington performs a exhaustive psychological evaluation of Aaron. She discovers that years of abuse have caused Aaron to develop multiple personality disorder Roy, Aarons alter ego is introduced to the audience.Martin encounters anformer(a) of Rushmans Altar boys, who accuses The Archbishop of familiar abuse and claims that such events can be proved by video recording this uncovers the sinister truth of Rushmans demonic secrets. Vail discovers the video in The Archbishops home the tape displays Rushman forcing Aaron, his girlfriend Linda and the other Altar boy to participate in odious sexual acts. Vail rushes to the jail cell, confronts Aaron with his discovery, and accuses him of hiding the truth Va il violently unspeakablegers Aaron, attempting to force a confession of guilt.After free burning harassment from Vail, Aaron snaps, causing his alternate persona Roy to surface and fight back against Vail. We learn that Roy killed The Archbishop and Aaron is truly insane. Martin Vail cannot counterchange Aarons trial plea from not guilty to guilty by reason of mental frenzy, Vail must come up with evidence that will prove Aarons innocence. During the trial proceedings, witnesses are questioned and Aaron is puzzle examined by Martin Vail and Janet Venable. Martin attempts to evoke Aaron with the hope that it will trigger the appearance of Roy.After no success, Vail is finished sceptical Aaron and Venable begins to ask him about his involvement in The Bishops murder. Aaron becomes enraged with Venables questions and attitude, he loses control of his anger and Roy replaces Aaron while on the witness stand. Roy curses at Venable, jumps from his seat and attacks Janet threatening to break the A. D. A. s neck. The court incumbents eventually pry Roy from Venable and she is free from harm. Roy is handcuffed, taken from the courtroom and locked back into his jail cell.Judge Shoat pronounces Aaron Stampler medically ill and the trial is declared a mistrial. Martin Vail goes to Aarons cell and relays the good news he will not be convicted of murder or face the death penalty and will rather be placed in a mental health facility. Upon leaving the jail cell, Vail is questioned by Aaron, who wonders if Ms. Venables neck is ok, and wants Vail to tell her hes sorry for trying to harm her. Vail nods, and begins exiting the cell and comes to the true(a)ization that since the personality of Roy took over Aarons psyche while in court, he could not have known about his violent attack on Janet.Vail realizes that this means Aaron was faking his alternate(a) personas and he tricked everyone into believing his innocence. Vail questions Aaron who admits to the fabrication of his entire act and claims that he murdered Archbishop Rushman in cold blood and got away with it. Martin Vail realizes he helped Aaron get away with murder however he says nothing and slowly walks from the jail onto the street outside. Primal Fears master(prenominal) character is criminal defense attorney Martin Vail. Vail is a debonair, self-satisfied, swollen legal hotshot he flaunts his accomplishments, assumption and enjoys seeing his name in the headlines.When Vail discovers a high profile murder case involving the mutilation of an Archbishop, he races at the opportunity to defend Aaron Stampler, the teenage boy accused of the crime. Vails character flaws are instantly presented to the audience, initially portraying a narcissist whos only invested in defending Aaron for personal gain. After their interactions, Vail is degraded by his belief that Aaron is innocent. Martin Vail is rund into unselfishness by the purity of Aaron Sampler.We begin to see the complexity of Marta in Vails personality, and the multi-dimensions of his character. After indulging in hard liquor at a bar with a reporter, a candid conversation allows the audience to observe an extremely honest and ingenuous glimpse of the true virtues which motivate Martin Vail. During this vulnerable moment, Vail declares that he truly studys in the notion that all people are innocent until proved guilty, in the basic goodness of people and he has faith that not all crimes are committed by bad people, some very, very good people do some very bad things.Judging Martin Vails initial actions during the start of the movie would result in a negative assessment Vail we see him as selfish, cynical and corrupt. However, as Aarons story unravels and hidden secrets are revealed, we see Vails multiple personalities, and he evolves into a person with righteous morals and motives. Primal Fear has numerous victims who suffered because of the actions of other characters. The initial victim is Archbishop Ru shman who is the victim of Aarons murder.However, another perspective could claim that Aaron was the victim of Bishop Rushmans sexual abuse. Martin Vail could be seen as a victim of Aarons devious performance that tricked Vail and the court into believing in his insanity and innocence. Yet, the initial fame-loving behavior of Martin Vail and the selfish motives which encouraged his eagerness to represent Aaron Stampler was deceitful and Aarons top hat interest were exploited to better benefit Vail these actions victimize Aaron. Psychology is used in Primal Fear in numerous ways.The movies main characters develop with complexity and are multidimensional in their emotions and behaviors. The films tagline sooner or later a man who wears two faces forgets which one is real, explains this idea best. Our main characters all have multiple faces, and as the plot of Primal Fear develops, from each one character is faced with discoveries and revelations that change their ideas and alter the ir moral beliefs. Juxtaposition is literally exploding from every scene of this movie and psychology can help us understand the motivations behind the characters actions.Martin Vail is initially a self obsessed, fame seeking, egotistical hotshot lawyer who only does things that benefit him. As the film develops, events cause Vail to expose the more sincere parts of his motivations as the outcome of Aarons trial looks grim, Vail literally portrays another side of his personality and we see a man who truly believes in the innocence of Aaron. This belief encourages Martin to work for the benefit of Aaron, and not tinge himself with gaining any type of self profit.We see a transformation of Martin Vail as his actions go from selfish to selfless. The lamb and holy Archbishop Rushman is viewed as a savior and hero. When Rushman is found murdered, the media and people of Chicago paint image of Bishop Rushman as divine, righteous and saintly. Once again we discover information that change s our opinion of The Bishop from black to white. After Aarons comrade Altar Boy admits that Bishop Rushman had a dark, sinister secret and he secretly forced Aaron, his girlfriend and him to perform numerous sexual acts on film.The Archbishop went from being regarded as holy to sexually satanic. The character of Aaron Stampler best portrays the ideas of psychology. ab initio appearing weak and innocent, the stuttering Choir Boy illustrates a convincing story that causes the other characters and the audience to believe him. After appearing to have multiple personality disorder Aaron is taken over by his alternative persona Roy, a violent sociopath who admits to murdering Archbishop Rushman. Aaron and Roy are complete opposite in their demeanor, actions and behaviors.At the end of the film we find that Aarons mindset it really that of Roy, and he had faked his entire shuddering and weak alternate personality. Martain Vail discovers this information too, and although he knows Aaron i s a cold blood killer, he exits the jail and does not confess Aarons trick to anyone. Maybe Vail feels bad for Aaron because he was sexually abused, and he believes that Aaron killed the Archbishop because he terrorized his life Vail may not think Aaron is an evil person, just a good person who did a very, very bad thing.