Adlerian Analysis of Compensation Mechanisms in the Main Character of the Young Adult Novel Kakakarmaki

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer Department of Persian Language and Literature, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran and PhD student in Mystical Literature, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Foundations of Education, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

This study analyzes the main character in the novel Kakakarmaki: The Boy Whose Father Made Money based on Alfred Adler's theory of personality psychology and its related concepts. Adler, one of the founders of individual psychology, believed that social interest is inherent in all humans and is learned through family and school; however, if a person fails to perceive a sense of belonging and worthiness within their family, their social interest remains underdeveloped, increasing the likelihood of them becoming a socially undesirable individual. In the examined novel, the review of the protagonist's childhood and adolescence—namely, Kaka—depicts the motivations behind his actions and behaviors, as well as the conditions that planted the seeds of violent acts within him, with the character himself confessing to his personality complexes. Using a qualitative content analysis method of the deductive type, this study delves into textual evidence, the formation process of feelings of inferiority, inferiority complex, and compensation mechanisms in the main character. The findings indicate that Kaka's erroneous lifestyle has driven him toward superiority-seeking and gaining visibility at any cost.

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References

 
Maykut, P. S. & Morehouse, R. E. (1994). Beginning Qualitative Research: A Philosophic and Practical Guide. London, Washington D.C: Falmer Press.
Mayring, P. (2000). Qualitative Content Analysis [28 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(2), Art. 20, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0002204.

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