ERIC Number: EJ808824
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Mar
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1042-9670
EISSN: N/A
"The Matrix": An Allegory of the Psychoanalytic Journey
Mischoulon, David; Beresin, Eugene V.
Academic Psychiatry, v28 n1 p71-77 Mar 2004
Objective: "The Matrix" has been a huge commercial and critical success and has spawned a series of books and essays exploring the philosophical and religious themes in the story. Methods: The authors propose that "The Matrix" can be interpreted as an allegory for an individual's journey into spiritual and mental health, achieved by overcoming one's intrapsychic conflicts with the help of psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. Results: Neo's story parallels the journey undertaken by the individual who chooses to enter psychotherapy and illustrates several themes of analytic psychotherapy, its benefits, and liabilities. Conclusion: The movie may therefore serve as a teaching tool for psychiatric residents about the goals, functions, and intricacies of psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Descriptors: Psychotherapy, Films, Mental Health, Popular Culture, Figurative Language, Teaching Methods, Audiovisual Aids, Graduate Medical Education, Medical Education, Psychiatry, Medical Students, Graduate Students
American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. 1000 Wilson Boulevard Suite 1825, Arlington, VA 22209-3901. Tel: 800-368-5777; Tel: 703-907-7856; Fax: 703-907-1092; e-mail: appi@psych.org; Web site: http://ap.psychiatryonline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
