The Electra Complex
The scene starts with Bruce, an attractive blue-collar worker, sitting at the dining table, cracking his knuckles in deep thought. He's gazing at a picture of his deceased wife, who passed away unexpectedly from an illness two months ago, leaving their family in shambles. His step-daughter Laurie, once a cheerful girl, has turned into a cold, bitter stranger.
He's anxious for her to come home, but she's tardy. She's two hours late for their counseling session, which Bruce arranged in light of his wife's passing. When Laurie finally arrives, Bruce stands to confront her, but before he can utter a word, she launches into a tirade.
She insists he's not her real dad, he can't control her anymore, she's 18, a grown woman, and she can leave anytime she wants. They rapidly spiral into a heated argument in the lounge, where Bruce attempts to reason with Laurie while she hurls insults and strikes him. Ultimately, he's forced to restrain her, to halt her fit of rage.
They lock eyes, panting heavily, their faces mere inches apart. He firmly tells her they're going to therapy, and it's not up for negotiation. She spits in his face in response.
Outraged, Bruce seizes her wrist and escorts her to the car. The scene shifts to a tidy, well-furnished office. A therapist is engrossed in her laptop when there's a knock on the door.
She opens it to find Bruce, looking dejected, and his furious, tearful step-daughter. He's still gripping her wrist. "Apologies for our tardiness," he says as they're ushered in.
The father and step-daughter take their seats as the therapist commences the session. She informs Laurie that she's been providing counseling to Bruce since her mother's untimely demise and they both agreed it was crucial to involve Laurie in the sessions. She prompts Bruce to express his feelings since the funeral to Laurie.
Bruce confesses his grief, particularly about the growing estrangement from the girl he raised as his own. He feels as though he's lost not just his wife, but also his daughter. Their limited communication and her constant anger are tearing him apart.
The therapist invites Laurie to share her feelings. At first, Laurie is reticent but after some reassuring words from the therapist, she breaks down and admits to blaming herself for her mother's death. Bruce is shocked.
He tries to console her, assuring her she's not responsible for her mom's illness. But Laurie, in tears, reveals that she doesn't blame herself for her mother's passing, but rather for the fact that she wished her mother was gone. She wanted her mother out of the picture so she could have Bruce all to herself.
The therapist, calmly jotting down notes, returns to her bookshelf and pulls out a book. "This makes sense now," she says. "Are you familiar with the Electra complex?" The stunned family remains silent.
"It's a Neo-Freudian psychological theory, proposed by Carl Jung, about a girl's psychosexual rivalry with her mother for her father's attention. " Bruce stands up, attempting to end the conversation, labeling it as inappropriate. The therapist insists he sit down and continues her explanation.
She describes how during the course of female psychosexual development, a young girl initially bonds with her mother. However, when she becomes aware of her father (or father figure) and the differences between their bodies, she develops a sexual attachment to him, leading her to subconsciously desire to eliminate her mother and be with her father. Laurie starts laughing nervously.
The therapist asks her about the source of her laughter. Laurie admits that she finds the situation uncomfortable. When asked to clarify what exactly is making her uncomfortable, Laurie glances at Bruce defiantly before telling the therapist that the suggestion that she sleeps with her step-father is what's causing her discomfort.
The therapist grins and walks over to Bruce, sitting on his lap and affectionately caressing his face. Laurie immediately leaps up and grabs her. The therapist steps back, smiling, noting that Laurie's reaction just confirmed her theory.
This is a clear case of the Electra complex. She instructs Laurie to sit down and pay attention: they're going to focus the session on a specific exercise. To help Laurie work through her resentment towards her mother and her anger at Bruce, the therapist suggests that Laurie role-play as her mother.
"Put yourself in your mother's shoes. Bruce will remain himself. And I will take on your role.
".
He's anxious for her to come home, but she's tardy. She's two hours late for their counseling session, which Bruce arranged in light of his wife's passing. When Laurie finally arrives, Bruce stands to confront her, but before he can utter a word, she launches into a tirade.
She insists he's not her real dad, he can't control her anymore, she's 18, a grown woman, and she can leave anytime she wants. They rapidly spiral into a heated argument in the lounge, where Bruce attempts to reason with Laurie while she hurls insults and strikes him. Ultimately, he's forced to restrain her, to halt her fit of rage.
They lock eyes, panting heavily, their faces mere inches apart. He firmly tells her they're going to therapy, and it's not up for negotiation. She spits in his face in response.
Outraged, Bruce seizes her wrist and escorts her to the car. The scene shifts to a tidy, well-furnished office. A therapist is engrossed in her laptop when there's a knock on the door.
She opens it to find Bruce, looking dejected, and his furious, tearful step-daughter. He's still gripping her wrist. "Apologies for our tardiness," he says as they're ushered in.
The father and step-daughter take their seats as the therapist commences the session. She informs Laurie that she's been providing counseling to Bruce since her mother's untimely demise and they both agreed it was crucial to involve Laurie in the sessions. She prompts Bruce to express his feelings since the funeral to Laurie.
Bruce confesses his grief, particularly about the growing estrangement from the girl he raised as his own. He feels as though he's lost not just his wife, but also his daughter. Their limited communication and her constant anger are tearing him apart.
The therapist invites Laurie to share her feelings. At first, Laurie is reticent but after some reassuring words from the therapist, she breaks down and admits to blaming herself for her mother's death. Bruce is shocked.
He tries to console her, assuring her she's not responsible for her mom's illness. But Laurie, in tears, reveals that she doesn't blame herself for her mother's passing, but rather for the fact that she wished her mother was gone. She wanted her mother out of the picture so she could have Bruce all to herself.
The therapist, calmly jotting down notes, returns to her bookshelf and pulls out a book. "This makes sense now," she says. "Are you familiar with the Electra complex?" The stunned family remains silent.
"It's a Neo-Freudian psychological theory, proposed by Carl Jung, about a girl's psychosexual rivalry with her mother for her father's attention. " Bruce stands up, attempting to end the conversation, labeling it as inappropriate. The therapist insists he sit down and continues her explanation.
She describes how during the course of female psychosexual development, a young girl initially bonds with her mother. However, when she becomes aware of her father (or father figure) and the differences between their bodies, she develops a sexual attachment to him, leading her to subconsciously desire to eliminate her mother and be with her father. Laurie starts laughing nervously.
The therapist asks her about the source of her laughter. Laurie admits that she finds the situation uncomfortable. When asked to clarify what exactly is making her uncomfortable, Laurie glances at Bruce defiantly before telling the therapist that the suggestion that she sleeps with her step-father is what's causing her discomfort.
The therapist grins and walks over to Bruce, sitting on his lap and affectionately caressing his face. Laurie immediately leaps up and grabs her. The therapist steps back, smiling, noting that Laurie's reaction just confirmed her theory.
This is a clear case of the Electra complex. She instructs Laurie to sit down and pay attention: they're going to focus the session on a specific exercise. To help Laurie work through her resentment towards her mother and her anger at Bruce, the therapist suggests that Laurie role-play as her mother.
"Put yourself in your mother's shoes. Bruce will remain himself. And I will take on your role.
".
Actors:
