Neo

=Neo= Ryan Helmerich

Biography
 Neo is the main character in the Matrix trilogy. Born, Thomas a. Anderson, he is a man living two lives. By day, he is a computer programmer for a respectable company. By night, he is a malevolent computer hacker who goes by the alias Neo. Neo has spent years questioning his existence and the answer to one question; what is the matrix? What he doesn’t know is the man he is looking for, Morpheus, has been searching his whole life for Neo. It was foretold to Morpheus by the Oracle that he would find “the one” and that this person will bring an end to the war between humans and machines. Morpheus informs Neo that the world he is living in is nothing more than an elaborate computer program and nothing in that world is real. In the real world, machines are harvesting human bodies for their heat while imprisoning their minds in this cyber computer program. Morpheus rescues Neo’s body from the machines and is on a campaign to unleash his full capabilities in hopes of ending the war. Neo must now choose his own path.

One way to examine personality within the trait and skill approach suggests that humans could be classified under five specific dimensions: Extroversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness. According to this approach, each human is unique based on their specific variation of these five dimensions of personality. Researchers also believe that the biological based origins of these five dimensions will someday be found.

Extroversion is one of the easiest traits to capture in a person. Neo is seen as someone who does not attract attention. He spends the majority of his time thinking of what he needs to do and stays within himself. Neo asks plenty of questions to Morpheus about the Matrix and what he must do but he doesn’t fall along what researchers would call sociable and talkative. Some may call him introverted, due to his under the radar type of approach. Neo tries to be the best he can without anyone knowing it. However, he is not submissive as he will stick up for himself and he does save the world from the machines. Therefore, Neo would be classified as somewhere in between extroverted and introverted.

Another trait within this approach is agreeableness. Neo would be considered to be moderate to high on levels of agreeableness. This is due to the trust he has for Morpheus and his crew. Neo has been with them a very short time but knows what is at stake and instills trust in them rather quickly. However, he knows what he must do and will disagree if necessary. An example of this is seen when he asks for a separate ship to go to the machine city in, the Matrix Reloaded. This is ridiculed by the other crew members but Neo knows what he must due.

The third dimension of this approach is conscientiousness. Neo would also be considered to have moderate to high levels of conscientiousness. This is due to his trustworthiness and overall dependability. Crew members aboard the Nebuchadnezzar trust Neo and he does not disappoint. However, you wouldn’t say that Neo is highly cautious as he takes many risks, such as going into the Matrix to save Morpheus from three agents considered to be the most dangerous threats to any human.

When looking at Neo’s level of neuroticism, it can be considered very low. Despite finding himself as the answer human kind is looking for to survive, Neo stays incredibly calm throughout the movies. There is plenty to worry about for Neo in these movies but he spends his time trying to calm everyone else down. Neo would be considered very high in openness. This is because of the situation he is put in. Most people, such as another crew member, may opt for the mind trick that the machines are playing which can be considered shallow. Neo however is very witty and picks up on this very quickly. He is the only person that has been rescued from the machines after his mind has matured which speaks to his level of imagination when thinking of such a dynamic situation.

The character of Neo fits well within the humanistic and existential aspects of personality study. The benefits of personal choice are emphasized by existential-humanistic theorists like Victor Frankl. Neo is asked if he would like to know more about the matrix and presented with a choice of two pills to take. Taking one will give him the answer and the other will allow him to wake up living in his old life. This challenge of the unknown produces anxiety for Neo. He is uncertain of whether or not he wants to make this monumental life decision. The previous couple years of his life were spent searching for the meaning to his existence in what psychologist Victor Frankl called, logotherapy. This existential struggle leads to triumph for Neo as he becomes, “the one.”

This act of self actualization is another key component these aspects of personality study. To become “the one,” Neo needed to believe that he could actually be that person. Morpheus, through his use of Rogerian therapy was key in making this happen. Morpheus is ultra supportive of Neo and keeps an unconditional positive regard for him. Also, Morpheus displays an empathetic understanding of Neo’s internal frame of reference and communicates this to him during one of their first encounters when he asks Neo if he believes in fate. Neo responds no, “because I don’t like the idea that I am not in control of my life.” (The Matrix). Morpheus responds like a Rogerian therapist should, “I know exactly what you mean,” before going on to explain to him what the Matrix really is. In addition, Morpheus keeps everything positive with Neo like when he fails to make a long jump that other characters in the movie thought he would be able to make.

Neo does not become self actualized until the end of the first movie when he has what Abraham Maslow would consider a peak experience. Neo finds himself stuck in a situation in which he has to fight an “agent.” These are computer programs within the Matrix that have killed any human that has ever stood to fight them. Rather than run, Neo begins to believe and he is able to defeat the agent in which he realizes that he is in fact, “the one.” During that scene Neo is shot and presumed dead. Through a miracle, he rises and is able to stop borage of bullets before killing the agent. The look on his face along with the way his mind was working in slow motion serve as proof that this was his peak experience (See youtube video 1). Since that point, Neo is able to develop a deep, intimate relationship with another character, Trinity. He also shows a great deal of love for human kind as he is willing to put his life on the line to stop the machines while not simply conforming to their society. These actions all represent characteristics of someone who is self actualized.

When looking for reasons that Neo has gone from ordinary software tech to “the one,” a good personality psychologist would examine many perspectives. A trait and skill favored psychologist would try to look at Neo’s personality in terms of the big five. On the other hand, a humanistic-existentialist view of personality would look at Neo’s meaning for life. He benefits from having Morpheus act as a Rogerian therapist to him. He is then able to have a peak experience at the end of the first movie resulting in him becoming self actualized.