i WINSTON CHURCHILL’S ‘BLACK DOG’: A PSYCHOBIOGRAPHICAL CASE STUDY FOR DEPRESSIVE REALISM by Samantha Human Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OFARTS in the subject of Psychology at the University of South Africa (UNISA) Supervisor: Christine Laidlaw Date: January 2015 i ii PHOTOGRAPH OF SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL Churchill’s “V Sign” Source: richardlangworth.com (14 July 2012) iii iv STUDENT DECLARATION Student Number: 3116 500 1 I, Samantha Human, declare that the aforementioned dissertation: Winston Churchill’s ‘Black Dog’: A psychobiographical case study for depressive realism, is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. The aforementioned dissertation has also not previously been submitted for assessment to another university or for another qualification. ________________ _________________ Signature Date (Ms) Samantha Human v vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this study would not have been possible without the support, guidance and encouragement of several individuals to whom I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude: Ms Christine Laidlaw, my supervisor extraordinaire, without whose advice, input, guidance and encouragement, this study would not have been completed on time and to the highest standard. My husband and family for all of their support, encouragement and patience when stress levels mounted and deadlines were imminent. In particular, my husband, for his unconditional and unwavering support and whose interest in the subject of the study was a constant motivation. Most importantly, his help in guiding me around the internet to order academic reading material was invaluable! My parents, who gave me the grounding and support to further my academic studies and to the memory of my father, whose own esteemed academic career continually serves as an inspiration for self-discipline and self-development. vii viii TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTOGRAPH OF SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL .................................................................................................... II STUDENT DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................ IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................................. VI TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................... VIII SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................. XVIII CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM STATEMENT ................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Chapter Preview ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2. General Orientation to the Study ............................................................................... 1 1.3. Problem Statement ..................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1. Rationale for Utilising a Case Study Methodology.......................................................................... 5 1.4. Adlerian Theory of Individual Psychology................................................................ 6 1.5. Background of Sir Winston Churchill ....................................................................... 9 1.5.1. Churchill’s ‘Black Dog’ ................................................................................................................... 11 1.6. Brief Overview of Depressive Realism ................................................................... 14 1.7. The Value of Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology to the Life of Sir Winston Churchill .............................................................................................................................. 16 1.8. Rationale for the Research Study ............................................................................. 19 1.9. Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................ 20 1.10. Relevance in a South African Context ..................................................................... 21 1.11. Structural Overview of the Study ............................................................................ 23 ix CHAPTER 2 ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 PSYCHOBIOGRAPHY AS CASE STUDY RESEARCH: AN OVERVIEW ................................................................... 25 2.1. Chapter Preview ....................................................................................................... 25 2.2. Qualitative Research ................................................................................................ 25 2.3. Case Study Research in the Qualitative Paradigm ................................................... 30 2.4. Psychobiography as Case Study Research ............................................................... 38 2.4.1. Psychobiography, Biography and Narratives ................................................................................ 40 2.5. Overview of Psychobiographical Research ............................................................. 42 2.5.1. Historical Progress ........................................................................................................................ 42 2.5.2. Defining Psychobiography ............................................................................................................ 50 2.5.3. Psychobiography and Related Concepts ....................................................................................... 53 2.5.3.1. Autobiography, Biography and Psychobiography ............................................................................... 53 2.5.3.2. Life Histories and Life Stories .............................................................................................................. 55 2.5.3.3. Life Narratives ..................................................................................................................................... 58 2.5.3.4. Psychohistories, Historical Psychology and Historiographies ............................................................. 59 2.5.3.5. Personality Assessment and Psychobiography ................................................................................... 61 2.5.3.6. Case Studies and Case Study Research ............................................................................................... 62 2.6. Benefit of Utilising a Case Study Approach with a Psychobiographical Focus ...... 64 2.6.1. The Uniqueness of the Individual Case within the Whole ............................................................. 64 2.6.2. The Socio-Cultural Context ............................................................................................................ 65 2.6.3. Process and Pattern over Time ..................................................................................................... 65 2.6.4. Subjective Reality .......................................................................................................................... 66 2.6.5. Theory Testing and Development ................................................................................................. 66 2.7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 67 CHAPTER 3 ..................................................................................................................................................... 69 ALFRED ADLER’S THEORY OF INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY ................................................................................ 69 3.1. Chapter Preview ....................................................................................................... 69 x 3.2. Introduction to the Adlerian Theory of Individual Psychology ............................... 69 3.2.1. Early Beginnings ............................................................................................................................ 69 3.2.2. Fundamental Concepts of the Theory ........................................................................................... 71 3.3. Theoretical Foundation of Individual Psychology ................................................... 72 3.3.1. Basic View of Human Nature ........................................................................................................ 72 3.3.2. Basic View of the Person ............................................................................................................... 74 3.4. Personality Development ......................................................................................... 75 3.4.1. Goal-Directed Behaviour and the Striving for Superiority ............................................................. 75 3.4.2. Inferiority and Compensation ......................................................................................................