Exploring Fatherhood and Intellectual Disability in I Am Sam Movie Directed by Jessie Nelson through a Psychoanalysis Perspective

• DEVI NUR ADINDA
• 2025

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This study explores the portrayal of fatherhood and intellectual disability in the character of Sam Dawson in I Am Sam, directed by Jessie Nelson, through a psychoanalysis perspective. Using a qualitative descriptive method, this study selects and examines key scenes from the movie, analyzing them in relation to established theoretical frameworks. The study applies three primary frameworks: Michael E. Lamb’s theory of father involvement, the AAIDD (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) 12^th edition framework of adaptive behavior, and Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory, focusing on the id, ego, and superego. Through Lamb’s theory, the study identifies Sam’s demonstration of interaction, accessibility, and responsibility as a father despite intellectual limitations. The AAIDD framework highlights how Sam’s adaptive behavior, particularly in conceptual, social, and practical skills, influences his daily parenting life and emotional world. Freud’s psychoanalysis is used to analyze how Sam’s instinctive desires, rational decisions, and moral values are expressed in pivotal scenes, shaping his role as a devoted, selfless, and emotionally resilient father. The findings highlight the importance of portraying individuals with intellectual disabilities as capable of caregiving, emotionally rich, and morally responsible. This study reinforces the need for more humane and accurate media representations of such individuals as nurturing parents.

• Fatherhood
• I Am Sam
• Intellectual Disability
• Psychoanalysis.

https://repository.bsi.ac.id/repo/67795/Exploring-Fatherhood-and-Intellectual-Disability-in-I-Am-Sam-Movie-Directed-by-Jessie-Nelson-through-a-Psychoanalysis-Perspective
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