Displayed Disorders by Different Characters
Hannibal Lecter
Hannibal Lecter exhibits a number of personality disorders, in the movie Silence of the Lambs, which developed due to his traumatic experiences as a child in witnessing the death of his family. Although, he was featured in the movie already as an adult, it becomes apparent that his personality disorder was largely due to his childhood traumatic experiences. This is expressed through his interest in the childhood experiences of Starling indicating the implicit recognition that what he has become and what Starling has become is due to his childhood. Although he does not admit to guilt, his recognizes that his childhood made him who he is.
First is conduct disorder, which is diagnosed through the criteria of aggression to animals and humans expressed through threats, intimidation and bullying; destruction of property; deceit or theft; and violation of rules (, 2000). A person with conduct disorder exhibits some or all of the diagnostic criteria previously mentioned (, 1995). Although the movie showed Hannibal Lecter as serving his time in a high security mental institution, it was apparent even during the first meeting of Hannibal Lecter and Agent Starling that Hannibal had conduct disorder. This was expressed by his intimidating stance when Starling approached him. He first asked for credentials indicating concern for authority. In the course of the conversation, Lecter was constantly trying to intimidate Starling by pointing out her “good bag and cheap shoes” that makes her “not one generation from poor white trash”. The intimidation was recognised by Starling and gave the remark that he should stop expressing that “high powered perception” of himself and answer the questionnaire and maybe he will realise what he really is. Towards the end of the movie, Hannibal Lecter showed his capability for physical cruelty and physical harm when he bit one of his guards in the face and hit the other guard to death with a baton in order to escape.
Second is antisocial personality disorder diagnosed according to the following criteria: non-conformity to social norms, aggressiveness, impulsivity, disregard for other peoples’ safety, and lack of remorse with some of these symptoms manifesting during adolescence (, 1995; , 2000). Hannibal Lecter had personality disorder because of his serious non-conformity to social norms. His unremorseful admission of killing a person who once tried to test him and eating his liver expresses his lack of respect for the social norm against cannibalistic practices. Although Hannibal Lecter is a learned man as indicated by his expertise in a lot of things including medicine, music, and art, he still continues with his actions without consideration of other people’s lives.
Third is paranoid personality disorder expressed through the insidious suspiciousness and distrust of the motives of other people with their actions being perceived as malevolent (, 1995). Diagnosing this personality disorder is through the occurrence of four or more of the following criteria: suspicious that other people are deceiving, exploiting or harming him, preoccupation with doubts about the loyalty or intention of other people, reluctance to confide with other people because of suspiciousness, keeping of grudges, perception of attacks on his character or reputation and quickly reacting in anger or counterattacks, and suspiciousness of the fidelity of a spouse or partner (, 2000). In the course of the movie, Hannibal Lecter appears to be cooperative because he speaks with Starling. However, it is also apparent that he was very guarded about the information he shares preferring for Starling to talk about herself and giving information in a strategic way such as in exchange for information, company or the terms of his detention. He was unwilling to converse without any indication on the part of the other person of semblance of trust such as provision of identification by Starling and sharing of personal information by the rookie investigator before he mentioned anything useful about Buffalo Bill.
Fourth personality disorder is borderline personality disorder, which refers to the persistently occurring indications of unstable self-image, interpersonal relations, impulsivity and destructivity manifesting during early adulthood (, 1995). Diagnostic criteria include: avoidance of abandonment; identity disturbance; impulsivity that leads to self-damage; suicidal behaviour, threats or self-mutilation; affective instability due to moodiness; chronic sentiments of emptiness; inappropriate manifestation of anger or difficulty in controlling anger; and severe dissociative symptoms (, 2000). It is apparent that these diagnostic symptoms develop due to childhood experiences. Hannibal Lecter was orphaned when his family was killed so that he was brought up by a wealthy relative. The abandonment and lack of guidance caused him to develop an unstable self-image and identity disturbance. This is expressed through his different appearances to various people. To some he appears to be learned doctor to others an art master or music connoisseur but to his victims and the police investigators he is a ruthless killer. Hannibal Lecter has no single and imposing identity and even he does not really know who he is. His inappropriate and sometimes uncontrollable anger together with erratic mood changes is expressed through the drastic shift in the conversation with Starling when Lecter threatens her by telling her that he killed the last person that tried to test him and then shifting to a calmer mood and stating to Starling that she should fly back to the academy.
Buffalo Bill
Buffalo Bill also has several personality disorders that resulted from his abusive and violent childhood experiences. According to Lecter’s account of the psychological profile of Buffalo Bill, the latter was repeatedly abused physically and sexually as a child. This caused him to detest his identity and he wants to change his identity. He thought that being a woman or cross-dressing would help him change the identity he detests. Since his appeals for sex change were disapproved, he translated his desire to change his identity into taking the skin or body parts of women that attract him and sewing these into something that he can use to represent his new identity.
First personality disorder is conduct disorder manifested through persistent and repetitive disregard or violation of the rights of other people (, 1995; , 2000). Buffalo Bill has killed a number a women, he chooses his victims based on their skin and body features that he likes to have, in order to change his physical appearance in the hope of achieving a personality change. To complete his dress of women’s skin took the lives of a number of women. Although being a transvestite cannot in itself be considered as manifestation of conduct disorder, his drive to change his appearance by taking other people’s skin for his use constitutes chronic violation of other people’s rights since this is an acceptable conduct in society and it also constitutes a criminal act subject to penalty.
Second is antisocial personality disorder expressed through the blatant disregard for authority, property and feelings of other people in order to achieve personal gain as well as manipulative, impulsive and aggressive action (, 1995; , 2000). Buffalo Bill had no regard for conformity to social norms due to his preference for the personal gain of taking away the features of the women he likes even if this meant killing the women or maiming them. Buffalo Bill also had no concern over the emotions of his victims since their cries and pleas for mercy reached deaf ears. In committing these acts, there was no emotion or even rational thinking indicating the lack of concern or respect for social norms and values as well as the consideration only of personal interests.
Third is paranoid personality disorder expressed through the chronic distrust of other people (, 1995; , 2000). Buffalo Bill has isolated himself from other people including his neighbours. In the investigation of Starling, none of his neighbours recall any contact with him or even provide a description or features. This was also expressed in the limited dialogue he had even with his victims. He does not engage them in long talks. When he was visited by Starling, he slammed the shutter upon learning of the identity of his visitor. Although he became a patient of Hannibal Lecter, it is apparent that therapy was not doing well and one factor could be the difficulty of building trust.
Fourth is borderline personality disorder expressed through the patterned instability of self-image and personal relations as well as self-destructive character and impulsivity (, 1995; , 2000). Buffalo Bill had severe dissociative symptoms due to his dire intention of changing his identity so that he turned towards cross-dressing as a means of accomplishing this. He wanted to get rid of his male identity and he even applied for sex transplant operations, as stated in the profile given by Hannibal Lecter, but he was rejected because it was diagnosed that he had psychological disorder making it difficult for him to make a rational decision on sex change and because he wanted a sex change as a means of escaping from his identity and abusive childhood memories.
References
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment