More than a Volleyball: Wilson and the Psychology of Object Attachment in Survival Cinema
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/ijrah.dyparts.18Keywords:
object attachment, survival cinema, trauma, psychological resilience, anthropomorphism, isolationAbstract
This research paper explores the psychological concept of object attachment in movie Cast Away (2000), focusing on Chuck’s profound emotional bond with Wilson, a volleyball that becomes his companion during isolation. Through psychological and trauma theory, the study shows Wilson as more than a survival tool- he symbolizes the human need for connection. The film reveals how, in extreme solitude, the mind creates emotional meaning, making Wilson a powerful cinematic representation of resilience and relational necessity.
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References
Bowlby, John. Attachment and Loss: Vol. 1, Attachment. Basic Books, 1969.
Hood, Bruce M., Paul Bloom, and Laurie R. Santos. “That’s Mine! Territoriality and Possessions in Young Children.” Cognitive Development, vol. 18, no. 3, 2003, pp. 347–68.
Kaplan, E. Ann. Trauma Culture: The Politics of Terror and Loss in Media and Literature. Rutgers UP, 2005.
Kaufman, Scott Barry. “The Psychology of Object Attachment and the Need for Meaning.” Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2012, www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-psychology-of-object-attachment.
Winnicott, Donald W. Playing and Reality. Routledge, 1971.
Cast Away. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, performances by Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt, 20th Century Fox, 2000.
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