Psychoanalytic criticism of the media involves examining the characters as well as the creators of whatever medium is involved in the analysis, for their motivations whether they are conscious or unconscious. The basic concepts of psychoanalysis which were written about by Freud and Jung such as Freud's structural hypothesis on mental functioning that explains how human thought processes and actions are controlled by three basic entities, the id, the ego and the superego, These all play a huge role in determining why certain characters behave the way that they do. Freud had theorized that the id is the basic drives with which people are born, while the ego is the the voice of reason; the superego on the other hand is the part of the unconscious that provide restraints on human  actions.
            According to Freud's theory on neurosis , the Oedipus Complex is the basis of many kinds of human behavior and is characterized by the individual's unconscious desire for the parent of the opposite sex at a certain point in their childhood. The Oedipus Complex is therefore another important element in analyzing characters , since someone's behavior as an adult will often stem from their childhood experiences that involved one or both parents.
             Human sexuality is another core concept of psychoanalysis that is significant in determining human behavior and Freud's theory often associates adult behavior with one of three stages in childhood .These include the oral stage, characterized by an "interest in the gratification of oral needs."(Berger) the sadistic-anal, the stage during which the child is becoming aware of his own physical needs, and the phallic stage, the point at which the child becomes aware of their sexual needs. By looking for the reasons behind a character's sexual behavior it is also possible to analyze what role they play in the overall structure of a show.
          In seeking to determine why a character behaves in a certain manner it is also important to look at defense mechanisms.These are described as the techniques that are used by the ego to "ward off anxieties."( Berger.") Defense mechanisms include ambivalence( simultaneous feelings of love and hatred);Avoidance (Avoiding something or someone that cause distress);Denial or Disavowal( refusing to accept something by blocking it from the unconscious)Fixation(Obsession with something)Identification(a desire to be someone else) Projection(Projecting feelings unto someone else)Rationalization(excuses for behavior)Reaction formation( suppressing one element by overemphasizing its opposite) Regression( Going back to an earlier stage in life) Repression( keeping unwelcome desires, wishes and thoughts from consciousness) Suppression( putting thoughts out of the mind intentionally)
      According to Freud's theory ,sexual desire and aggression are the desires that people mask through symbolization .Symbols usually represent something else and therefore can take on many forms, including thoughts , desires or wishes. By analyzing how symbols are used in media it is possible to find the hidden meaning that aren't immediately obvious.
         In the television show "How to get away with Murder" which was recently shown in class there are many instances where the characters interaction calls for psychoanalytical analysis since much of the show revolves around individuals whose personalities determine the direction that the show will take. The main character , Annalise seem to represent both the id and the superego, since she is depicted as being involved in an affair, showing her need for personal gratification, while at the same time she is the law professor who is leading not only her class of students, but also a team of defense lawyers. Sexual desire is also at work in this particular show, since Annalise has to seem in control but her sexual desires come in conflict with her role as a highly regarded defense attorney and Professor. The other characters, who are her students, Wes, Laurel,Asher, Michaela and Connor all seem to represent the three entities that control mental function. Wes, who seems level headed and the voice of reason is an ego while Laurel who seems to be always thinking about the group is the superego.While Asher and Michaela also seem like egos Connor seems like the individualist who is always seeking self gratification.
          The show revolves around their position as the top group of law students chosen by the professor to help her with her cases and  how their roles change when they become involved not only in solving cases but also attempting to cover up what appears to be a crime. There are flash forwards that suggest that everything is not as it appears , since they are seen carrying a carpet with a body wrapped inside. In the flash backs the audience gets to find out how they have gotten to this point, but the relationship between Annalise and Wes is seen as complicated since he now knows about her affair and yet does not reveal anything about it.
     The method that each student uses to gather information for the cases is sometimes questionable and in using psychoanalytic analysis to determine individual motivation, it can be seen that Connor's is purely selfish, since he wants to satisfy his sexual desires as well as earn top awards for helping to solve the case. The other students all have their own reasons for wanting to be the best , but it is the reaction of Annalise, their mentor that helps to define the show ,since she seems to want to win at any cost and this leads us to question her motivation.The defense mechanism that she exhibits is ambivalenc , which is seen in her interaction with her husband, whom she seems to love but also not totally trust. In the  flash forward his body is revealed to be the one rolled up in the carpet the students carried out of her house to be burned, and it is at this point that there seem to be many  more questions than answers about the direction that the show is going to take. Was this a crime that was motivated by sexual desire or was there some other underlying reason why the students were motivated to help to cover up a crime?