(Erikson, 1980) Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development theory are in my opinion one of the best ways to look at Will Hunting’s changing personality and behaviour in the movie. ANALYSISĮrik Erikson’s theory says that as individuals we progress through eight psychosocial stages, we as individuals must overcome the conflicts in each stage during our lifespan failure to do so delays development. Many psychological concepts apply to the film “Good Will Hunting” such as Freud’s Defense Mechanisms, Ainsworth’s Attachment Theory, and Erikson’s theory of Psychosocial Stages of Development. Will incorporates many of Freud’s defense mechanisms to cope with his anxiety and fear. Due to the physical abuse, while it is never directly told to the viewer what is the exact disorder Will Hunting has, due to his behaviour and actions it seems that Will developed many psychological disorders straining from mood disorders to personality disorders. Will Hunting had a troubled past, his foster parents didn’t care for him and physically abused him, which left him physically and emotionally scarred. Macguire and Will begin to bond due to their similar troubled past. Will Outsmarts many of the therapists, which forces Lambeau to go to his last resort, college friend and psychology teacher Sean Macguire (Robin Williams). Professor Lambeau makes a deal with the judge when Will is incarcerated to be on parole under Lambeau’s supervision and Will is ordered to see a therapist once a week.

Will solves a complex math problem, which leads to him being discovered by professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) as a genius.

Will is an orphan with a criminal record of Assault, grand theft auto, assaulting a police officer, etc. The film “Good Will Hunting” follows the story of Will Hunting (Matt Damon) a self-taught genius who works at one of the most prestigious technology schools MIT, as a janitor.

Good will hunting synopsis