Biological Perspective: Dalinar
Kholin action according to this
perspective can be blamed on a
genetic predisposition. His issues
with anger for instance could be
blamed on having a small frontal
lobe. This could have an adverse
affect on his ability to manage his
emotions. His descent into
alcoholism could be due to a
genetic predisposition. He may
have inherited this trait from his
mother or father. His tendency
towards a more peaceful life in his
old age could be explained simply
as a byproduct of aging. As one
becomes older one has less energy
as a result now that he is older he
has less of a desire for violence.
Psychodynamic Perspective:
According to the Psychodynamic
Perspective of psychology
Dalinar's current behavior was
caused by some unresolved event
in his past. Maybe he was beaten
as a child and that left him
emotionally unstable. This might
explain the drastic shifts in
character he experiences in the
series. Perhaps he had to kill
another person in self defense and
that left him with the propensity
for violence. Perhaps he faced all
these memories and this is why he
is more peaceful in the current
part of the series.
Cognitive Perspective: According
to the cognitive perspective
Dalinar Kholin behavior is
influenced by the way he perceives
Dalinar Kholin
PICTURE OF CHARACTER
Outrageous Behavior
Alcoholism, extreme violence, turn
to pacifism.
Grew up as an althie prince.
During his life, he and his brother
Gavilar and several other allies
conquered the land of Alethkar.
During the fighting, he gained a
reputation for his brutality and his
sense of honor. After the fighting, he
grew frustrated with the lack of war.
During this time he was married and
he had two sons both of which he
neglected. Eventually, there was a
rebellion that he was sent to end. He
attempted to at the behest of his
wife end things peacefully. When
this failed he burned the rebelling
city to the ground killing his wife in
the process. Guilt-ridden he turned
to alcoholism. Due to his drinking he
could not save his brother from an
assassin. After this tragedy, he
decided to become a more peaceful
and responsible man. He modeled
himself after the Alethi Codes of
honor and pledged to support
Galivar’s son and heir.
Behavioral Perspective: According
to the behavioral perspective
Dalinar Kholin engaged in this
behavior because he learned this
behavior was acceptable. As a
youth, he was trained in
swordsmanship and fought other
similarly trained youths and was
praised for these victories. Later
when he went to lead his brother's
armies he was praised for his
military accomplishments and
rewarded with a magic sword and
armor. Later when he accidentally
killed his wife he learned that
violence had negative
consequences leading him to
become less violent. Additionally
his inability to save his brother as
result of his drinking may have led
him to quit drinking.
Humanistic Perspective: The
Humanistic perspective of
psychology would argue that
Dalanar acts in the way he does
out of his own free will in order to
meet his own needs. He commits
violent acts because he feels that
this helps him fill his need for
acceptance among his warrior
culture. His decision to live a more
peaceful life could be made in
order to help him reach a state of
self actualization.
Sociocultural Perspective: The
Alethi culture is one that focuses
on war above all else. This is likely
a factor that influenced his later
reality. Perhaps Dalinar is as
violent as he is because he is
excited by violence instead of
repulsed by it. Perhaps his turn to
alcoholism after the unfortunate
death of his wife was due to him
interpreting those actions as his
own fault. Perhaps his later
pacifism came as a result of his
cognitive process changing and
him becoming repulsed by
violence.
violent acts. Additionally, Alethie
culture has very pronounced
gender roles focusing on women
as scholars and mothers and men
as rulers and warriors. This not
only explains his propensity for
violence but also his later turn to
pacifism. It is likely that the focus
on men as leaders caused him to
see it as his duty to act as a leader.