Sibling Order and Its Effects

Sibling Order and Its Effects

  • Submitted By: dbdannel
  • Date Submitted: 12/07/2008 8:16 PM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 807
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 676

Stewart Griffin Complex

The youngest of three and the son of an incompetent fat man, it is no doubt that little Stewie Griffin of Family Guy is filled with rage. Sigmund Freud would normally propose that such rage is due to an internal conflict of aggressive and sexual urges. But it is hard to diagnose this theory to a prepubescent toddler who doesn’t know what sex is. Alfred Adler would agree that the theory is a bit far-fetched in explaining Stewie's personality. Adler believed that human personality is shaped by the motivation of striving for superiority. Since he is still in diapers and needs someone to change him, it is very possible Stewie feels helpless and inferior to others. He is mostly surrounded by adults, which may explain his highly advanced vocabulary and intellect for his age. Adler would say Stewie is motivated to acquire new skills like fencing and chess to compensate for his vulnerability as a toddler to feel superior over these adults, hence constantly calling everyone a dimwit or idiot followed by a slap on the face. Carried around by his mother, he acts like he hates her since she is the one who does everything for him and that embarrasses him. Instead of looking like the helpless one he makes his caretakers look like his servants. In this case of excessive compensation for his shortcomings, it can be recognized that Stewie has an inferiority complex. This would be why he stuffs his diaper with a baby powder bottle before the babysitter he has a crush on comes over. He wishes he were bigger than he really is. Freud and Adler would agree with each other in that another reason for Stewie's inferiority complex may be neglect by his family. He always has a lot to say and could be considered a trophy child but his dad and siblings rarely acknowledge his feats or even the fact he is in the room. His mother just talks to him like a little baby even though he defeated Osama Bin-Laden, has weapons under his crib, and campaigned for governor....

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