Introduction
The study of historical figures’ psychological characteristics is an exciting and valuable process. This is because, in this way, researchers can gain an understanding of what factors affected their formation and how they affected their activities. For me, a historical figure like Queen Victoria of England is of particular interest when compiling a personality study. Applying psychological theories to the analysis of Queen Victoria of England will explain her as a great ruler and a reliable personality.
Biography
Before proceeding to the analysis, it is necessary to gain knowledge about the biography of Queen Victoria of England. Victoria was born on May 24, 1819, in Kensington Palace, London (“Victoria,” n.d.). She was an only child, but at an early age, she lost her father and became heir to the throne (Kendall, 2022).
Research stated that “Queen Victoria is associated with Britain’s great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and, especially, empire” (“Victoria,” n.d., para. 3). The Queen was very secretive and did not like public speaking and showing her life, for which she was seriously censured by society. Two personalities particularly strongly influenced her reign: the first Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, and her husband, Prince Albert (“Queen Victoria,” n.d.).
Queen Victoria went through a severe shock and suffered from depression for a long time. Her achievements include the Second Reform Act of 1867, the Representation of the People Act of 1884, the Irish Church Disestablishment Act of 1869, the 1884 Reform Act, and the Royal Commission on Housing (“Victoria,” n.d.). Queen Victoria died in 1910, having ruled the country for 64 years, which made her one of the longest-reigning monarchs.
The Big Five
The Big Five personality traits are a theoretical approach based on a person’s essential characteristics. These features include extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. Queen Victoria would have high rates of openness to experience. This is due to her love of art; she loved to draw, dance, and enlighten herself by going to the theater.
However, she would have had a low degree of extraversion since the beginning of her reign; she preferred privacy and did not often appear in public. This circumstance changed only after many years of the Queen’s reign. Regarding agreeableness, the ruler would also have a high score; as previously stated, her rule was strongly influenced by her husband and the first Prime Minister. Neuroticism may relate to Queen Victoria to a low degree since her only problem was strong feelings about the death of her husband.
Self-Concept
The self-concept theory is another unique tool for studying the personality of Queen Victoria of England. This approach determines how individuals see and perceive themselves in society (Twenge & Campbell, 2021). Regarding the Queen, it can be said that she had high self-esteem since, for a ruler, this characteristic is essential to carry out their actions effectively (Cherry, 2022). Moreover, she could also have a high level of self-efficacy since her role as a leader in a large country is difficult. Queen Victoria had to have a high data score to fulfill her duties and improve the lives of her people.
Cultural Dimensions Theory
Another theoretical approach that can provide valuable insight into Queen Catherine as a person is the theory of cultural dimensions. This innovation was developed by Gert Hofstede, who determined that each culture has its unique character traits (Escandon-Barbosa et al., 2020). Thus, based on his teachings, it is possible to consider in detail how the society in which she was born and the rules impacted her as a person. First, it is noted that even though England is an individualistic country, the Queen has not discovered this feature.
In addition, this type of culture includes indicators such as masculinity and long-term orientation. This aspect is very clearly visible in the practical activities of the Queen, as she has taken many measures to improve the long-term well-being of the population. Masculinity manifests in the desire for success and a sufficiently high level of ambition.
Thus, despite her somewhat secretive lifestyle, Queen Victoria was highly involved in improving the country and its conditions. Moreover, it is noted that she was very hardworking and disciplined (“United Kingdom,” 2022). The Queen has been running a journal for most of her life, which has helped her maintain these traits.
Attachment Theory
The attachment theory can provide a unique insight into the personality of Queen Victoria. It was first developed by John Bowlby, who defined it as the emotional connection between individuals (Perez Jr, 2019). There are several types of attachment, among which ambivalent, avoidant, disorganized, and secure are distinguished. Even though this theory was initially applicable only to children, these styles are currently used to study adult behavior. Thus, applying attachment theory to the case of Queen Victoria is essential for understanding her psychological traits.
As mentioned, as a child, Victoria lost her father figure in her life. In addition, after her husband’s death, she was depressed and wore black clothes for the rest of her life. Relying on these factors, it can be assumed that an anxious or Ambivalent type of attachment characterized Queen Victoria. This is because when the girl lost her father, she did not receive proper attention from either parent. This could cause the need to find a relationship in adulthood where the partner is the guide and decision-maker. Due to the lack of a paternal figure, Queen Victoria was attached to her husband, which proves her profound grief at his demise.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
The last but no less crucial theoretical approach that can help in a better understanding of the personality of Queen Victoria is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Research stated that “according to Maslow, human behavior is related to his needs. It is adjusted as per the nature of needs to be satisfied” (Trivedi & Mehta, 2019, p. 38). These are physiological needs, safety, security, love and belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization (Hopper, 2020).
Queen Victoria needed love and belonging, which was made up of her family and the people she ruled. The physiological needs of safety and security were met since Victoria was a queen whose welfare was cared for by many people. Such needs as self-esteem and self-actualization were filled with the help of the Queen’s leading position in the country and her constant desire to improve her abilities and intelligence through art and knowledge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Queen Victoria is a significant person in the history of England. She is one of the longest-reigning monarchs and has contributed significantly to the country’s development. The analysis of the Queen’s personality in the framework of this work was carried out using such theories as self-concept, the Big Five, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, attachment, and cultural dimension theory. Each of these approaches provided an understanding of aspects of Queen Victoria’s personality, such as the type of attachment, the influence of culture on her character, and the level of confidence and development.
References
Cherry, K. (2022). What is self-concept? Verywell mind. Web.
Escandon-Barbosa, D., Ramirez, A., & Salas-Paramo, J. (2022). The effect of cultural orientations on country innovation performance: Hofstede cultural dimensions revisited? Sustainability, 14(10), 5851. Web.
Hopper, E. (2020). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs explained. ThoughtCo, 24, 1-3. Web.
Kendall, P. (2022). Queen Victoria: Her life and legacy. Pen and Sword.
Perez Jr, J. R. (2019). Precis: The origins of attachment theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Peer Relationships. Web.
Queen Victoria. (n.d.). English Heritage. Web.
Trivedi, A. J., & Mehta, A. (2019). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs-theory of human motivation. International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages, 7(6), 38-41.
Twenge. J., & Campbell. K. (2021). Personality psychology: Understanding yourself and others (2nd ed.) Pearson.
United Kingdom. (2022). Hofstede Insight. Web.
Victoria (r. 1837-1901). (n.d.). The Royal Family. Web.