Scholars and researchers in human psychology have for a long time attempted to develop principles and theories that would explain most of the observable behaviors in human beings. Some important advances in human psychology have been made over the last few decades, and the modern theories in psychology have resulted from combined efforts of various people at different times and different places (Ward 71). Among the major advances in psychology is the development and application of psychological principles in the field of psychology and psychiatry. Psychological principles are diverse, and are used to explain various observable human behaviors. To show how psychological principles are use to explain human behaviors, a real life experience that exposed some kind of human behaviors associated a young boy and his family has been considered in the analysis (Ward 72).
Sometimes ago, there was some event that took place at Biscayne Bay, Miami. The case involved a sixteen-year old boy named Nicholas Harrington, who had an endeavor in video career. The young lad, with an ambition in arts and video, undertook an action that would expose him to the attention of the media and the public. A baby grand piano had turned up on sandbar in Miami was said to have been brought there by various people or groups of people, as rumors had it. Although there were several people who claimed to have witnessed the real actors in the action of placing the piano at the position, none had given the media enough witness that would make the public believe. Some people had claimed to see some choppers and television persons hovering around the place at one time, but all these were actually theories. Other persons claimed to responsible for the brave act, but nine seemed to show the truth.
Then, out of nowhere, the sixteen-year-old appeared on the local media to claim responsibility of the action. He had his endeavor in video, and that is why he had done the act to attract the media and a certain time in his life. The boy explained that he wanted to leave a mark on the Miami seascape to emulate one Cristo in early 1980s that draped eleven small islands in Biscayne with a hot pink fabric. In this case, the boy Nicholas wanted to get a position into one of the prestigious artistic schools in Miami or in any other place in America. In addition, he said that if the action would earn him a position at the Manhattan Cooper Union College would be good for him.
Speaking to the associated press, Nicholas Harrington said that he had been eager to create a whimsical surreal experience in the region. He described it to be a movement rather than a being thought a prank. That is why he, with the help of his older brother Andrew an two neighbors had taken the action of hoisting the piano from a boat they had hired and placed it on top of the sandbar. According to this high school student, he and his three companions had hoisted the piano from a tree, a height of about twenty-two feet. He further explained that he had gotten the old piano from his grand mother’s old garage, and he was sure it had spent years lying idle in the old garage. The piano is one of the old movie propos used in the early days of video technology, and must have run out of use.
Nicholas said in the interview with the Associated Press that he had grown up in a family that appreciated arts and architecture; therefore, his parents had supported him in this fame-gathering project. The piano had been laid down in the bay for some days, but still nobody seemed to care much about it until one woman, Suzanne Beard went on her boat to have a look at the thing. She took pictures of the thing with a number of pelicans hovering around it. This seemed to be a mystery, and her picture ended dup in the national geographic studios soon after her visits to the piano. From this point, people seemed to have forgotten about the grand old piano instrument until the sixteen-year-old boy hoisted it on the 22 feet sand bar. He said, in the interview, to have wanted to remain silent as the people go on claim responsibility, but use some of his pictures on his college application letters.
From this action, one can applies the psychological theories to explain the behavior of the boy, and to an extent, the family and the people who claimed to have seen or be involved with the persons who had done the famous act. The theory of identity applies much in thus case. This theory tries to explain why people assume some behaviors while other try to cause or make some thing that will make them seen by other people. According to this theory, human beings have a sense of identity build in them. They want to be recognized by other, and for the other to know who one is (Kosslyn 82). People also want to make other understand where they come from or their families. According to this theory, the human sense of identity increases by belonging, success and the esteem of others (Kosslyn 87).
When other people pay attention to who one person is, then the others. People may also try to associate themselves with others, colleagues or any other person in order to make them recognized. This is common where people tend to associate those selves with renowned persons, especially those who have succeeded in some way or the other. People also tend to associate themselves with a group of people or an organization in order fort other to realize who they are, and recognize their positions in the society. In this case, people tend to use slogans, others know company brands, family names and other symbols that may make someone’s identity. This could be done with colors, slogans, messages, logos, and other services or benefits. According top this theory, the identity can also be overdone.
In this case, the teen,
Nicholas, is affected to some extend by the need to make his identify known. By doing an action that has amazed people how an why it was done, the teen hopes to develop some sense of suspension among the people, and then, when all people have failed to comprehend, he appears in public (Kosslyn 48). If the theory of identify is applied in this case, it is evident that the both did not want to remain silent, but rather he wanted to come out of his silence and describe his study once every one has stopped the speculations and lies. By appearing for the first time in the made, the boy wants a large number of people to know that he understands arts and that his family is supports and appreciates the career. In addition, he hopes that this will win him a position at a prestigious arts school (Ward 102).
Another theory applicable in this case is the theory of stimulation. This theory explains why people behave in some way that other may not. When people are stimulated by a certain event or thing, they become very active and very productive than before. The theory elaborates that the states of arousal are a real, and does not necessarily have to be caused by the work the person is doing. The environment around them, to an aextent of doing the work at hand a number if times then they could have expected, could stimulate people (Kosslyn 48).
In this case, the boy Nicholas is stimulated by the need to join a prestigious college once he is out of his high school. The dire need to take an art or architectural course has stimulated him, to an extent of influencing the parents support him in his brave and sight catching actions, just to gain an entry to the schools of his dreams. In addition, the boy is stimulated but the fact that he is a good artist, and his family is art and architecture oriented, and therefore decides to take an action that will make him move to the next step without much difficulty.
Works Cited
Kosslyn, Stephen M. Clear and to the point: 8 psychological principles for compelling PowerPoint presentations. London: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.
Ward, James. Psychological Principles. New York: Lightning Source Inc, 2007. Print.
