A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO INTERNAL CONFLICT IN J. K. ROWLING’S HARRY POTTER SERIES

Abstract

 As humans, we are inevitably confronted with circumstances in which we must decide whether to make an easy or challenging decision. This is due to factors that might lead to the emergence of the individual's inner conflict, which then prompts the manifestation of psychological conflict. In literature, conflicts are what generally make a plot develop and progress. Thus, the primary focus of this article is the internal conflict which can be defined as a psychological struggle that develops within the self. The paper aims to investigate main characters, Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Voldemort, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy of Rowling’s Harry Potter novels by analysing their internal conflicts and how those conflicts affect their decision making. For this purpose, Kurt Lewin’s classification of internal conflicts will be used to identify the type of inner conflicts each character encounters. In this way, a better understanding of the aforementioned characters can be formed.