Kite Runner Essay

AP Psychology P6

The Psychology of Culture Paper

Movie: Kite Runner

Based on the best seller by Khaled Hosseini, the movie, Kite Runner, tells the story of a man’s journey for redemption for the deeds he has done as a young boy. The movie, through his journey, portrays many psychological changes in his character as a young boy than as a grown man looking back on his life.

Growing up, the main character, Amir, was raised in a rich family as the only son. Though his father was widowed and could not provide a loving mother for him, Amir was provided with everything he needed from his dad, a successful and an influential business man in his town. However, he had an unexpected sibling rivalry with his servant, Hassan, who his dad seemed to favor more at times. One day after a kite flying competition, Amir wins the competition and is finally able to gain his father’s love; however while Hassan is running to get the kite for Amir, he is harassed physically and sexually by a few boys. Watching the entire process, Amir does not do anything but run away from the scene, betraying his friend because Hassan was his servant and inferior in social status. Hassan could have run away because of the bystander effect. While the other two boys could have stopped Asseff, the boy that assaulted Hassan, they don’t protest but watch. With this diffusion of responsibility, Amir fails to help his friend. Few months later, war hits Afghanistan and Amir and his father is forced to flee to the U.S. in search for a refuge. For the rest of his life, he is able to lead a happy life in San Francisco living alone with his father. Many years later, he gets a call from friend in Afghanistan that tells him there is a way he can be good again. With this, Amir returns to his home country seeking redemption.

Amir’s actions can be defined by some of the seven perspectives of psychology, mostly by his cultural background and his environment. First, Amir’s personality as the book worm, quiet and shy...