Expedition to Eupsychia An Exploration of Psychological Utopia in the Fiction of Ayn Rand

Abstract

Human life in recent times has become increasingly stressful; the economic prosperity that humans have achieved has not really made them peaceful or happy. People have realized that happiness has more to do with their internal state of mind, rather than with the external events in their lives. In fact, many psychologists have propounded that the extent of joy and meaning that individuals find in their lives is directly proportional to the degree of their psychological health. Psychologist Abraham Maslow branded human beings who enjoy a greater degree of mental health as eupsychians . Similarly, psychologist Karen Horney identified people with a lesser degree of psychological health as neurotics . The protagonists in Ayn Rand s novels possess certain virtues that are congruent with Maslow s self-actualized eupsychians ; similarly, the antagonists in Rand s novels are characterized by certain vices that are consistent with Horney s definition of neurotics . This dissertation is a study of the protagonists and antagonists in Rand s fiction from a psychological perspective. The aim is to discover how one ought to be and how one ought not to be and thereby strive towards a psychological utopia, in order to live a meaningful and happy life. Since mankind is constantly evolving towards an ideal society, it would also be worthwhile to study the political, economic, and social conditions that lead to eupsychia and those that do not. The objective of the study is to determine the nature of happiness experienced by eupsychians and the traits that define such people, so that the learning helps one to aspire for the same degree of mental fitness. At the same time, an exploration of the nature of suffering undergone by the neurotics and the characteristics that differentiate them from others, leads one to refrain from such neurotic tendencies and strive for perfection. The purpose of the study is to motivate people to work towards a eupsychian society. newline