The Chosen Lesson Plan

Why is Danny so unhappy with experimental psychology? How does his unhappiness connect to the theme of expectations?

Danny is unhappy because experimental psychology involves a significant amount of math and is not heavily influenced by Freud's work. He worries that he wasted two years reading Freud, and he deeply dislikes mathematics. Danny began his exploration into the field of psychology thinking that Freud and psychoanalysis would be at the center. As Mr. Malter says, Danny is discovering that “Freud is not God,” and his expectations of what college will be like are thwarted. This is, perhaps, partly why he continues to have trouble with his eyes. His vision clouds...