WHEN JOY MEETS SADNESS: EXISTENCE, EMOTIONS, AND AUTHENTICITY IN INSIDE OUT

Abstract

This paper proposes an analysis of children's emotional development in light of existential-humanistic psychology. The research starts from the understanding of childhood as an existential phenomenon, marked by cognitive, affective, and relational transformations that contribute to the construction of the self and authenticity. Based on authors such as Carl Rogers, Viktor Frankl, and Rollo May, the importance of freedom, anguish, and the search for meaning in the process of emotional maturation is discussed. The analysis of the film Inside Out shows that the balance between emotions, is fundamental for psychic growth and the construction of meaning in childhood. The research adopts a bibliographic and descriptive methodology, supported by classic and contemporary theoretical frameworks. The results indicate that the film offers a symbolic representation of becoming a person, engaging with the principles of the existential-humanistic approach. It concludes that recognizing the value of emotions and suffering is essential for the authentic and integral development of the child, strengthening the relationship between cinema, psychology, and emotional education.