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@article{190791,
        author = {Kiran Prasadh},
        title = {The Better Story: Eco-psychological Perspectives on Survival and Sanity},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {4177-4181},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190791},
        abstract = {The article explores the intersection of psychological trauma and eco-psychology in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi (2001), examining how the human–animal bond facilitates the protagonist’s survival and recovery. Following a catastrophic shipwreck that claims his entire family, sixteen-year-old Piscine Patel is thrust into a 227-day ordeal of isolation and terror. The study first delineates the manifestations of Pi’s trauma, including intrusive flashbacks, hallucinatory voices, and profound depressive episodes that push him toward the brink of psychic collapse. Drawing on the theories of Freud, Caruth, and Roszak, the analysis argues that Pi’s recovery is rooted in his "ecological unconscious"—a latent intelligence developed during his upbringing in a Pondicherry zoo. This consciousness allows Pi to transcend the dualism between the human self and nature. Rather than viewing the animals on his lifeboat as mere threats or objects, Pi forms a symbiotic, therapeutic alliance with them. Creatures such as the Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, serve as "transitional objects" that enforce mindfulness, regulate anxiety, and provide a vital sense of purpose. Ultimately, the narrative underscores nature’s reciprocal capacity to heal, suggesting that aligning the human psyche with the natural world is a powerful strategy for navigating profound psychological distress.},
        keywords = {Eco-psychology, Trauma Recovery, Life of Pi, Human-Animal Bond.},
        month = {January},
        }