Research Proposal

AN IN-DEPTH PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTER ANALYSIS OF

THE BOOK LORD OF THE FLIES

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to define man's nature through the characters Ralph, Jack, Piggy

and Simon, in the novel of William Golding, Lord of the Flies. It also intends to

 connect the characters of the novel to the psychological perspective of the nature 

of man in the book and real life.

Specifically, the study targets to answer the following questions:

1.) In the perspective of psychology, what do the characters represent on

man’s true nature?

2.) What environmental and social factors affect man’s decision and

actions in the book and in reality?

3.) Does physical appearance affect interaction between individuals based

on the book and in reality?

Primary Source:

Golding, W. (1954). Lord of the flies. London. Penguin Books Ltd.

Other Sources:

Research Papers:

Collins, M., Dutta, R., & Zebrowitz L. (1998). The relationship between appearance 


            and personality across the life span. Personality and Social 


            Psychology Bulletin, 24(7), pp. 736-749.

Bente, S., Fosterling, F., & Udo, R. (1998). What determines behavioral decision?

            Comparing the role of covariation and information and attributes. 


            Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 24(8), pp. 838-854.

McClean, J. (2010). Lord of the flies: A psychoanalytic view of destructiveness. South

            Australian Branch of the Australian Psychoanalytical Society. Available from

            http://www.aipsych.org.au/articles/

Tishkowski, D. (2005). A brief history of psychoanalytic thought: Freud and his

             psychoanalytic innovators. National Undergraduate Research Clearing 


             House. Available from http://www.webclearinghouse.net/volume/

Mccain, T. & McCroskey, J. (1974). The measurement of interpersonal attraction. Dr.

           James C. McCroskey. Retrieved from         

         

            http://ww/jamescmccroskey.com/publications/57.htm

Books:

Arkoff, A. (1971). Explorations in human behavior. United States of America:

          McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Dyal, J. (1967). Readings in psychology: understanding human behavior. USA:

           McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Fromm, E. & Xirau, R. (1968). The nature of man. New York, NY: 


           Macmillan Company.

Mednick , M. & Mednick S. (1963). Research in personality. New York, NY:

          Holt, Rinehart and Winstone Inc.

Morris, D. (1994). The human animal. London: BBC Books.

Nash, J. (1985). Social psychology. Minnesota, MN: West Publishing Co.

Rychlak, J. (1981). Personality and psychotherapy. Boston, MA: Houghton

        Mifflin Company.

Sartre, J. (1968). The transcendence of the ego. New York, NY: The Noonday

        Press, Inc.

Tiryakian, E. (1962). Sociology and existentialism. United States of America:

        Prentice Hall Inc.

Wertsch, J. (1998). Minds as action. New York, NY: Oxford University

Sechrest, L. & Wallace, J. (1967). Psychology and human problems. Ohio: Charles E.

        

        Merrill Publishing Company.

Spungin, C. & Tallent, N. (1977). Psychology: Understanding ourselves and others.

         

        USA: Litton Educational Publishing Inc.

Hall, C. (1970). Theories of personality. Quezon City, QC: Phoenix Press Inc.

Internet Sources:

Fowler, J. (2000). Lord of the flies. Retrieved from

         

          http://lordoftheflies.org/img/credits.htm