Michael Jackson: The Man in the Mirror

It was a sad day, June 25, 2009, when I heard the news that Michael Jackson had died...
There are no words to acurrately describe who MJ was as a person and as an entertainer...
I recently had the privilage of writing a short essay on the Psychological Development of Michael Jackson...an essay that I am going to continue adding to...




Michael Jackson: The Man in the Mirror
written by: Kelly L. Hunter

Psychological development is essential in shaping the personalities, behaviors, and morals of human’s. Many factors influence the development of an individual’s psychological makeup; including heredity and environment. Michael Jackson is quite possibly the most famous person to live during the 21st Century. Born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana to struggling middle-class parents, Michael learned all too quickly the reality and price of being famous. Although the world adored him from the moment he was a small child as a member of the Jackson Five and throughout the rest of his life, it was difficult to ignore the obvious changes to his physical appearance and peculiar behaviors. In order to understand who Michael Jackson was as a person and as an entertainer, one must acknowledge and understand what his life was like from childhood on. The many negative forces surrounding him had an enormous impact on his psychological development both morally and emotionally.
Michael Jackson’s childhood was not like the average American child’s. He began performing with his older brothers by the age of five and by eight they were famous, especially Michael. Childhood proved to be nonexistent in young Michael’s life and being managed by an overbearing father did not help. Joe Jackson is a man who raised his children the way his father had raised him. Jackson’s father is said to have stood with a belt in his hand ready to punish the boys if they missed a beat or step during rehearsals. Michael once stated during a documentary “he would tear you up if you missed—not only were we practicing, we were nervous rehearsing” (Bashir, 2003). During this conversation, his sadness is apparent as his voice changes pitch while he covers his face and begins to cry. “We were terrified of him—terrified” (Bashir, 2003). He went on to discuss how he would “regurgitate” and oftentimes faint when his father would walk into the room. Physical abuse was not the only form of abuse Michael endured as a child, he also experienced emotional abuse.
According to Jackson, his father would tease him about his skin and say that he must get it from his mother’s side. Diagnosed with a rare hereditary skin disorder (from his father’s side) known as Vitiligo, Michael’s life changed forever. Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of the skin, hair, and eyes (Mayo Clinic, 2009). Jackson claims this is the reason that he is not the same skin tone he was as a child. Puberty proved to be a difficult time for Jackson and his father’s cruel remarks about his “fat” nose and skin weighed heavily on his self-esteem and self-image. “I would never look at myself in the mirror, I’d turn off all the lights ‘cause I had pimples very badly and it was just difficult to face the public” (Bashir, 2009). Michael discussed how he would have been much happier wearing a mask (referring to going on stage). Jackson claims to have had two operations to reduce the size of his nose. He denies claims made by tabloids that he has had multiple reconstructive surgeries to change his appearance.
Michael has also stated in past interviews that he was exposed to sex early on in life when his father would book shows at gentlemen’s clubs and when his brothers would bring girls back to their room. Never having a traditional childhood proved to be one of the reasons behind his unusual childlike persona. From the beginning, he was unable to participate in normal childhood activities not only because of his grueling rehearsal schedule but because it was unsafe. Where ever he went, paparazzi and fans would swarm him. Having to stay behind guarded walls caused Michael to withdraw and become introverted. “I remember precisely--going to Motown studios to record and right across the street from the studio was a park and I could hear the roar of the little league team, kids playing soccer, football, and volleyball, and they were playing baseball and I remember a lot of the times looking back and really hiding my face--crying…I wanted to play sometimes and I couldn’t..” (Bahir, 2003).
Because he was unable to go into public places, Michael purchased a vast amount of land. He created a place where he could enjoy the things he was unable to as a child. “I can’t go to the park—so I created my own park at Neverland, my own water space, my music theater, theme park—that’s all for me to enjoy” (Walters, 2007). Occasionally, Jackson would invite underprivileged and ill children to his property to play and have fun. In his eyes he was being kind to those who inspired him most; however, the tabloids took it even further. During an interview with Barbra Walters, Michael discusses the death of Princess Diana and how he too had been running for his life from the paparazzi for as long as he could remember. Jackson states that “You feel like you are in prison…people deserve their privacy” (Walters, 2007).
Jackson discussed how the paparazzi would stop at nothing to get a picture of him, even planting cameras in bathroom stalls. When asked how the tabloids made him feel over the years, Michael states “Wacko-Jacko—where does that come from? An English tabloid…I have a heart and I have feelings and I feel that when you do that to me. It’s not nice. Don’t do it! I’m not a wacko” (Walters, 2007). Jackson once said, “People don’t stop and think about what they are saying sometimes and the affect it can have on a person” (Bashir, 2003). The media scrutiny had serious affects on Michael’s mental and emotional state and his every move became front page news causing him to become even more isolated than he had been in the past.
Jackson is a self proclaimed “fantasy fanatic” who enjoys the “escapism” of being on stage. “I’m not so crazy about the reality of everything—I like a lot of fantasy” (Walters, 2007). In everyday life, Michael Jackson was a shy individual; however, on stage, he was anything but. Typically introverted in his personal/public life, Michael Jackson’s personality can be described by the Five Factor Model (FFM). Possibly, Michael had more than two sides to his personality. FFM theory lists common personality traits for Neuroticism, Extroversion/Introversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. Jackson displayed most if not all the traits for each personality type depending on his environment and comfort level.
Object Relations theory could also be used to describe Jackson’s personality and psychological development. This theory focuses on the interpersonal disturbances and the mental processes that underlie the capacity for relatedness to others (Kowalski & Westen, 2005). This theory best describes Jackson’s psychological development. I chose this theory because of Michael’s inability to relate to others off the stage and his questionable behaviors throughout the years. He was awkward in front of cameras during interviews and had difficulty sustaining eye contact with individuals he did not know well. He would go from being childlike and animated to quiet and withdrawn within moments during conversations.
In conclusion, Michael Jackson was an iconic figure like no other who from early childhood experienced internal and external forces unimaginable to the average person. The physical and emotional abuse endured by Jackson played a large role in his psychological development. The constant media attention and negative claims published in tabloids across the world also hindered his chance at leading a normal life. Being unable to experience childhood and the lack of peers outside of the entertainment industry may also explain his obsession with fantasy and childlike activities. Only a celebrity could know and understand the damaging effects of this lifestyle. Michael Jackson died leaving many unanswered questions and speculation as to whom he truly was. What is known is this, despite his abusive upbringing; he managed to inspire millions through his music and humanitarian efforts. Although he seemed strange to the average person, his friends and family describe him as loving, caring, passionate, and above all giving. A wealth of knowledge is to be learned from the life and behaviors of Michael Jackson. Perhaps psychologists will be able to better understand how heredity and environment can affect an individual’s psychological development through studying Michael Jackson’s own experiences.




















Reference(s)

Bashir, M. (2003). “Living With Michael Jackson.” Granada Television. Retrieved July 11, 2009.

Kowalski, R. and Westen, D. (2005) “Psychology.” (4th ed.). Retrieved July 12, 2009.

“Vitiligo.” (2009). Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Retrieved July 12, 2009. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitiligo/ds00586

Walters, B. (2007). “Interview with Michael Jackson.” NBC. Retrieved July 11, 2009.