Aldo Maldonado
10/9/14
Psych 303
Abnormal Psychology in “Gran Torino”
In the movie “Gran Torino”, Walt Kowalski is a recent widow, former Ford
assembly line employee and a Korean War veteran. He lives in a small, predominantly
Southeast Asian, town in Michigan. Kowalski is an unhappy, irritable, old-fashioned
man, who keeps everything to himself. He does not get along with his children or
grandchildren because he thinks they are disrespectful. He is racist towards his Asian
neighbors and uses words such as “Chink”, “Eggroll”, and “Jackie Chan” to describe
them. Although he has a negative view on life and the world around him, he has one
pride and joy, a 1972 Gran Torino in perfect condition. When his teenage neighbor,
Thao, attempts to steal his car, Kowalski almost shoots him. After realizing that Thao is
