Questions for the movie Precious

1. What were the factors that contributed to Precious having low self-esteem?
-The factors contributing to Precious low self-esteem were: child abuse, sexual abuse and rejection of her mother and of the public (i.e. Precious not having a boyfriend and her mother verbally insulting Precious). Other would be that she disconnected from the real world and she also isolated herself.

2. What signs of low self-esteem did Precious display?
-The signs that Precious display of low self-esteem were: she tried to be like someone she wasn’t (i.e. When she was not on her head by her mother she was dreaming that she was a famous model, also when she getting ready to go to school she saw a different person on the reflection of the mirror which she taught she was.) also, she kept quiet and she ate to much. She also disconnected from the world. (Refer to question 1)

3. What defense mechanisms did Precious use to avoid dealing with pain? Give examples.
-The defensive mechanisms that Precious used to avoid dealing with pain were displacement and reaction formation; for example, displacement, when she slammed the plate on the table, and reaction formation when she masked and disconnected from this world; for example, when her father raped her she masked though as if she liked it but it wasn’t so.

4. What neurotic needs did Precious over-use or display? Give examples.
-The neurotic need for affection and approval was which Precious displayed. For example, she always wanted to have a boyfriend who would like her as she is, and she was sensitive to rejection because she was fat. She feared anger and criticism from others. For example, when her mother told her that she was fat and ugly and that she wouldn’t learn anything in that teach one school.

5. What helped Precious increase her self-esteem?
-What helped Precious to increase her self-esteem was that she had to express herself and taking out the deepest emotions she had hidden. She expressed herself through writing stories about her own life; she also got help from specialist on those areas.

6. What signs of higher/increasing self-esteem did Precious display?
-She was happy, satisfied, and she felt good about it and herself. She had more confidence and persistence on herself.

7. What did you learn from the movie?
-I learn that anyone can be as good or as beautiful/handsome as others. Also, that no matter what we can be a better person, and we decide what we want to be.

8. Would you recommend the movie to others? Why or why not?
-I would not recommend the movie to no one I know, why not? Because it is sad and comic movie to many of us hater of the black race, and because many would laugh like how we did or we would even laugh at somebody who looks similar to “Precious.”