Belonging is a fundamental
Belonging is a fundamental human desire
Everyone needs to belong, as belonging is a critical component of an individual’s wellbeing, personality and self-esteem. Whilst there are people in society who believe they need to belong more than others, everyone nonetheless needs to feel that they belong. This idea was suggested by Abraham Maslow and defined his hierarchy of needs. This idea of belonging and its necessity to wellbeing, character and self-esteem is seen in the film ‘Romulus, My Father,’ based on the memoir by Raimond Gaita. The film and Maslow’s research project explore journeys to belong, and the impact that both belonging and discrimination can have on the individual.
Belonging affects a person’s character and individual identity. When people feel that they belong to a certain group, place or culture, it impacts their own identity and outlook on the world. This impact that belonging has on a character is shown in the film ‘Romulus, My father.’ The most obvious example of this in ‘Romulus’ is Romulus’ connection and affiliation with his homeland in Europe, whilst he chooses to leave Romania, for the rest of his life he never feels that he truly belongs. To worsen the situation then, his trip home in the 1980’s only seems to make him more disconnected in that he believed he belonged in Europe, only to discover he did not feel at home there either. Romulus also tries to find his European sense of belonging in Australia by befriending Hora and Mitru as well as speaking to other migrants in their native language. Raimond on the other hand, however, is far more connected to Australia, which becomes his homeland.
During the early years of the Twentieth century, an American psychologist by the name of Abraham Maslow suggested that the need to belong was a major source of human motivation. He also suggested that not belonging could affect a person’s wellbeing leading to loneliness, mental stress and a strong desire to form new relationships. During the
Everyone needs to belong, as belonging is a critical component of an individual’s wellbeing, personality and self-esteem. Whilst there are people in society who believe they need to belong more than others, everyone nonetheless needs to feel that they belong. This idea was suggested by Abraham Maslow and defined his hierarchy of needs. This idea of belonging and its necessity to wellbeing, character and self-esteem is seen in the film ‘Romulus, My Father,’ based on the memoir by Raimond Gaita. The film and Maslow’s research project explore journeys to belong, and the impact that both belonging and discrimination can have on the individual.
Belonging affects a person’s character and individual identity. When people feel that they belong to a certain group, place or culture, it impacts their own identity and outlook on the world. This impact that belonging has on a character is shown in the film ‘Romulus, My father.’ The most obvious example of this in ‘Romulus’ is Romulus’ connection and affiliation with his homeland in Europe, whilst he chooses to leave Romania, for the rest of his life he never feels that he truly belongs. To worsen the situation then, his trip home in the 1980’s only seems to make him more disconnected in that he believed he belonged in Europe, only to discover he did not feel at home there either. Romulus also tries to find his European sense of belonging in Australia by befriending Hora and Mitru as well as speaking to other migrants in their native language. Raimond on the other hand, however, is far more connected to Australia, which becomes his homeland.
During the early years of the Twentieth century, an American psychologist by the name of Abraham Maslow suggested that the need to belong was a major source of human motivation. He also suggested that not belonging could affect a person’s wellbeing leading to loneliness, mental stress and a strong desire to form new relationships. During the