Heidi’s Imbalanced Personality and The Impact to Her Defence Mechanism: Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Approach in Johanna Spyri Novel Heidi

Abstract

Psychoanalytic theory is one of the most influential theories in psychology, developed by Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud. This theory suggests that human behaviour, including thoughts and emotions, is influenced by factors found in the unconscious. Freud's theory of psychoanalytic has been applied in a variety of fields, including psychotherapy, literary studies, and cultural analysis. Although controversial, his contributions to understanding the unconscious and human psychological dynamics have influenced the development of modern psychology and broadened insights into human complexity. The object of this research is novel written by Johanna Spyri entitled Heidi released in 1881. By applying Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, renowned for its insightful exploration of the unconscious mind, this study seeks to unravel the intricacies of Heidi's personality, offering a unique perspective on her actions, desires, and interpersonal relationships. This research study examines how Heidi's imbalanced personality and the impact to her defence mechanism through Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic portrays psychological complexities through its main character, Heidi. Additionally, it analyses the author’s perspective on personality development and defence mechanisms as viewed through the lens of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The results show that Heidi imbalanced personality happened because she is forced to love far away from Alps Mountain and it influences her defence mechanisms. Moreover, the character around Heidi appeared to be the main factor that made Heidi personality change from times to times.