"Psycho" Analysis of the Classics: Juno
Today we're going to start by zeroing in on a particular dynamic that occurs in the movie Juno. That dynamic, or phenomenon, is known by psychologists, family therapists, and other mental health professionals as "triangulation." Triangulation occurs when an individual member of a marital dyad reaches out to a third party, a third person, or a third experience or phenomenon, as a way of compensating for something missing in the marital relationship.
It's a desperate attempt to create homeostasis, or equilibrium in a relationship that is showing signs of disequilibrium or instability. But it becomes like a three-legged stool with two weak legs made of wood and one weaker leg made of clay that never hardens. As soon as you put pressure on it, the whole stool falls down, though it was already losing it's balance to begin with.
I hope I haven't utterly confused you with that metaphor. I know I've confused myself. If you're not confused, perhaps you could identify how this phenomena of triangulation is manifested in the movie, Juno, and then elaborate on your statement, all within the comments section.
In my world of psychological blog n roll, as I call it, I provide the topic and the tune, and you provide the talk. So, if you've seen the movie, it's time to talk. First, to prime your cognitive pump and trigger memories of the movie, here's your instructor singing one of the songs on the soundtrack, one that Barry Louis Polisar sings on the soundtrack:
Dr BLT cover
Posted by Bruce L Thiessen Ph D at 8/19/2009 8:36 AM 
Categories: movie analysis, Psycho Analysis of the Classics
Tags: psychoanalysis of movies juno psychology comes alive
Categories: movie analysis, Psycho Analysis of the Classics
Tags: psychoanalysis of movies juno psychology comes alive
It’s been awhile since I saw Juno and my recollection of the story line is a little hazy but I have seen and experienced the phenomenon of triangulation many times. In my opinion it is very difficult if not impossible to get everything you want out of a long term relationship. It seems there is always something that you want to change in the relationship or something that you would like to do (sexually or other) that your partner does not want to do or there is a lack of communication between partners that stifles any expression of unspoken desires. Many times these shortcomings in the relationship leads one or both parties involved to seek outside stimulation in order to compensate (have fun), but like the Doc said (metaphorically) this makes for a very weak stool. Perhaps, A more literal example of triangulation would be a husband who wants and needs more sexually from his wife who is somewhat frigid and non receptive to his advances, thus he seeks further sexual gratification through outside sources such as a mistress or prostitutes and in some cases public restrooms. In my opinion those who participate in this type of triangulation lack integrity and are putting themselves and their partners in jeopardy of losing way more than just each other.
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The movie Juno was an excellent portrait of a young girl,who ended up becoming pregnant and how she dealt with the consequences of her actions.
The triangulation sequences of the movie was between Mark,Vanessa and Juno.
At first glance the marriage as it was shown thru the want ads seemed to be a solid loving marriage. But as soon as we see the home and the way Vanessa seem to be ocd in her housekeeping ways, as well as how Mark has a small room in that giant house regulated just for his stuff.One can then see that there is a severe disconnect in this martial relationship.It appears that Mark is not willing to work on the marriage,Vanessa does all the work. including the ad in the paper for the baby to adopt. That their martial relationship is rocky seems to be more apparent as Juno keeps showing up and displays the person that she is actually is beyond her true age. Juno seems to have the same hobbies and taste in music, Mark and Juno play guitar and can communicate their likes and dislikes in music, movies. Mark seems to be drawn to Juno, as she seems to hold all the characteristics in a woman that he seems to have been looking for but, for some unknown reason he settled for Vanessa instead. Juno seemed to be the catalyst that Mark needed to break away, yet he was still not involved in the upcoming separation because he was not upfront and truthful to Vanessa about how he actually has felt all these years. Triangulations create the havoc one does not expect sometimes. Especially if they are not willing to take the blame for the failure of the relationships,or willing to work to make it better.
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I have to agree with Mr. Gill.A long term couple with an outside influence is difficult to keep together.The demands on couples today are great and just keeping two people happy is very hard.People get bored too easily and the grass is always greener.
The phenomenon of triangulation is prevelent these days because of the "I want it now" society. Couples do not want to work things out when times get really hard, they would rather move on to something not so difficult.In the movie Mark took to Juno easily because Juno and Mark had things in common that he and his wife did not. That phenominon happens all the time.
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Maybe the decline in marital longevity has more to do with choice. “These days” women have more freedom to leave a bad marriage. As recently as 50 years ago being a divorced woman was like wearing a scarlet letter. As far as triangulation is concerned, I believe that it happens more because people are attempting to stay together when they should not.
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I agree that both Juno and her unborn child are serving as the “clay leg” on this stool.
I wonder however, if Vanessa and Mark as a couple could also be considered a clay leg to the Juno/Dad stool. The couple is providing a sane solution to what can often be an insane experience. By offering themselves up as the solution to Juno’s problem, perhaps they are deflecting the brunt of the emotions that could have been experienced by Juno and her father. We see Juno’s emotional response when Mark decides he wants out. What we don’t see in the movie are her interactions with her father when that happens.
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Juno is a great movie to watch for those teenagers or younger who are contemplating serious adulthood actions such as sex and other adult like behaviors and responsibilities. In this movie we see a teenage girl who is overly smart, have to deal with the results of her curiosity and boredom. She has sex and becomes pregnant. Only sixteen years of age she is aware that she is not ready for a child and that her friend too is not able to deal with parenthood; therefore, she decides to give it up for adoption. She takes a pro active attempt in finding the perfect parents for her child, however, throughout her searching she finds out that although it appeared she had found the perfect couple, they were not so perfect after all. She was conflicted with the fact that "no one stays married together anymore". Mark tries to come on to her and she gets upset about that, because she feels Vanessa is a good person. Mark tells her that he enjoys her company and its nice to share his likes with someone else, since Vanessa doesn't like none of his hobbies. Juno gets really upset because not only is she coming from a broken family, but she is having to experience and re-live the breakup of her unborn child's parents. She immediately picks up on Mark's advances and gets disgusted by this, but then resolves that one parent who is ready and committed to this responsibility is worth much more,than having both parents and having one parent in and the other out.
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The movie Juno was a great illustration of how a mistake could have an effect on numerous of people in the individual circle of people. She appeared to be very independent in her decision of giving the child up for adoption. I thought it was courageous how she took it upon herself to find parents for her baby, and she never waver on rather to keep the baby or give it up. The triangulation occurred between the couple and Juno. The couple was not on one accord when making the decision to adopt a child. The woman was dead set on having a baby, but she did not consider her husband wishes. The husband was not ready for the responsibility of being a father because he had not accomplished his goal of being a musician. The couple triangle Juno into their issues because she wanted her friend into a stable environment for her unborn child. She was caught in the middle of their situation because she had to reason with them to stay together to have a two-parent home. She was emotionally hurt by their actions because it mess up her perfect plan. She did a great job with her stressor by having an emotional outburst, but not letting the circumstances persuade her to change her mind.
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In the movie Juno, it encompasses the aspect of the psychological viewpoint that Bowen reveals as triangulation. Triangulation is best described as a “three person relationship.” This is seen when a two-person relationship is unstable and a 3rd party is brought in to redirect the tension between the two-person relationship. Though, as a consequence with triangles, individuals who are left out, gain a sense of rejection as the other two individuals have formed an alliance, leading to clinically mentally and/or physically illness. Throughout the movie “Juno,” I depicted a triangulation between Juno, Vanessa and Mark by the dynamics played with all three characters. Juno is a teenage girl who reveals that she is pregnant and has made the decision that she would be giving up the baby for adoption. Juno finds a couple, Vanessa and Mark, who look to be this picture perfect couple, wanting to proceed with the adoption of Juno’s baby. As Juno begins to engage herself with the couple, she finds out the marriage is less from being perfect. Juno finds herself spending more time with Mark, while Vanessa is at work. She finds herself sharing the same love for music and movies as mark does and they begin to formulate a trusting relationship in which they begin to confide in one another. This is where the triangulation begins to evolve between Juno, Mark and Vanessa. Mark and Vanessa begin to engage in more frequent, high intense arguments, which lead Mark to triangulate with Juno about his marital conflicts. As a result to the triangulation experience, consequences were displayed by the divorce that proceeded from Vanessa and Mark.
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In the movie Juno there is obvious triangulation between her, Mark, and Vanessa. Although, it seemed that Mark and Vanessa had a stable relationship when they first met Juno as the movie played it became obvious that their relationship was plagued with relational issues. As Mark began to get better acquainted with Juno he began to use Juno in the triangulation with Vanessa. He began to compare his likes with Juno’s like and the differences he and Juno had from Vanessa. Mark used this tactic to push Vanessa away and no longer communicate with her is true feelings about their marriage and adoption of Juno’s child. Eventually, both Juno and Vanessa became aware that the triangulation was occurring and the dynamics of the entire relationship between all three members changed. It was great to see that even though the triangulation occurred the needs were met of all members that were serious about the adoption; Juno got to give up the baby to a great family, Vanessa go the child she always wanted, and the baby got a more than suitable home.
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This was the first time I saw Juno and the first time I heard the term "triangulation", but I did see evidence of it in the movie. Unknowingly Juno was placed in the middle of the married couple's marital issues and the husband began using Juno's visits as a way to escape his unhappiness with his wife. The husband sees qualities in Juno that he may wish his wife had and feels a sense of freedom with her. The wife is hoping that Juno's unborn child will make her husband grow up and give her something she feels her marriage is missing. The wife is counting on Juno because she feels that Juno is her only hope at keeping her marriage together. Once the truth of the marriage is revealed to Juno, Juno leaves the "triangle" and the "triangle" collapses (Juno stops going to visit the husband and wife and the couple end up separating). Juno still decides to give her child to the wife, however, because she realizes the wife will be the best loving mother she can be.
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The song I am writing about is "Going out with the Tide" by Freddie Fender. The hypothesis of the song is when a couple breaks up does the break up creates such a deep depression that it brings on suicidal idealtions?” If it does then one needs to look in the past history of the client. Does the separation and the depression stem from issues of abandonment due to attachment disorders? Also one needs to also look at the history of the couple. Does it seems that they have a cycle of violence and she leaves him but as soon as she walks away he threaten to kill himself and she returns because to her she cannot have him hurt himself. But underneath she feels so well loved and special as there is some one who loves her so much that he wants to kill himself for her love. One will need to look at the dynamics of both of the individuals. Serious issues.
The second song is “If the world had a front porch” by Tracey Lawrence. The hypothesis of this song is if the world had a front porch there would be less young gangster violence in the world. The front porch represents the warmth of a family and the traditions and morals and customs that is handed down from one generation to another. A front porch represents steady family life for the younger generation. Keeping them out of trouble and keeping them home and not wandering the streets, living in the streets or foster homes or juvenile halls, and the using drugs, and creating havoc through the violence that they encounter or create.
The pop song I am using is by Bronco a Spanish band. “Por Retenerte” the hypothesis of the song is the chance encounter of an old flame a form of triangulation? If the old flame seems never to have died out and was just simmering, and now does the chance meeting create the flame to rekindle? What happens to your current relationship and will the meeting of the old flame also create issues for the other person? Did one or both of the couple in the old relationship never have come to feel closure of the old relationship? What paths do this lead to? Is it just a momentary wild fling or is it still serious enough to terminate the other relationships?
The other pop song is by Enrique Igelesias “ Cosas del Amor” the hypothesis of this song is that love is all enclosing and that one cannot live with out this type of love. That life is not worth living if one can be with that person. This song represents a severe obsession by the person towards some one else. That they need to feel that they are a slave to that person otherwise they feel that hey have no value. Sever issues with relationship and boundaries. One would needs to ask what kind of childhood this person had in order to feel this way. Abuse, sexually, physically, attachment disorder, to what extent do they have these severe issues and to feel this way. How were they able to survive?
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In my opinion, Vanessa and Mark used to have the same taste in music, films and so on when they met. I've noticed that by the 'ALICE IN CHAINS'dirty t-shirt Vanessa was wearing during the baby nursery's refurbishment. Mark was still wearing bands t-shirt whilst Vanessa seemed to be in another level, ready for the next step in their marriage= having kids and a family. Mark, on the other hand, was still looking for his adolescence left behind due adult life's responsibilities. Juno's represented to Mark the adolescent he was inside. Having kids would be a huge responsibility and he would also become really far from his 'self'. Greetings from Brazil!
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