Love At First Sight
How does Ariel's story of falling in love at first sight compare with real-life choices that people make to leave behind their life to have a relationship with someone they've only ever met on the Internet? How does the story compare to TV shows like the Bachelor? If you have watched Beauty and the Beast, how would you compare Ariel to Gaston and their love at first sight approach to wanting a relationship?
Identity Formation
Read up on Erik Erickson's Psychosocial Development Theory. Take a close look at the stages for Identity vs Role Confusion and the Intimacy vs Isolation. What kinds of conflicts does Erikson believe people are supposed to successfully experience so they can grow and mature in life? Where do you think Ariel is, in regards to her own Identity Formation?
Mental Health Diagnosis
You can play armchair doctor with this movie. Look up the diagnostic criteria for Obsessive- Compulsive, Hoarding, Dysphoria, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Narcissism. Which characters display behaviors that suggest that one or more of these disorders may be an appropriate diagnosis? Brainstorm a treatment plan for each character.
