Question

Choose a historical or fictional character from a book or movie with a psychological problem. Write 1,000 words describing the problem and explaining it from two of the theoretical models (biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and socio-cultural). Cite at least three APA style references

Answer 1

The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The notorious story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, written by Robert Louis Stevenson during the late Victorian Period, is often interpreted as depicting a man undergoing multiple personality disorder, or possibly a metaphorical personification of Freud’s theory of the id, ego, and superego. However, multiple articles of evidence suggest that the story of Dr. Jekyll and his counterpart, Mr. Hyde, could be one of manic depressive psychosis. The diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and emerging psychological theories during the Victorian Era would have influenced Stevenson and the character of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. The modern definition and symptoms of the disease, now known as bipolar disorder, matches what Dr. Jekyll describes in his point of view within the novel. While multiple personality disorder or a metaphor for the id and ego fit well as conjecture for the story’s inspiration, manic depressive psychosis is an overlooked option that is both feasible and better accentuates the novel. The diagnosis can be seen as-

1. istorted thinking patterns (thoughts)
2. Problematic emotional response patterns (feelings)
3. Impulse control problems (behavior)
4. Significant interpersonal problems (behavior)

Three of the core features are related to feelings and behavior. One is related to thinking and is often most challenging for partners and family members. Common thought pattern distortions are:

1. extreme black-or-white thinking patterns;
2. patterns of idealizing then devaluing other people or themselves;
3. patterns of distrustful, suspicious thoughts;
4. patterns that frequently include unusual or odd beliefs that are contrary to cultural standards; or,
5. patterns of thoughts that include perceptual distortions and bodily illusions.

Even other symptoms that are considered particular to multiple personality disorder that are often attributed to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde could have been a misdiagnosis of the era. Modern medical psychiatrists admit that it has sometimes occurred that “a person with severe episodes of mania or depression has psychotic symptoms too, such as hallucinations or delusions… [and] as a result, people with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed” (National Institute of Mental Health). While historically both multiple personality and manic depressive disorders have been documented and studied, “the borders between manic-depressive illness and [other mental illnesses]… are still polemic subjects” (Del Potoa SIII6). Consequently, a man going through dual-form insanity during the Victorian Era might have been misdiagnosed with multiple personalities.

References-

Dombeck, Mark, and Rashmi Nemade. “Historical and Contemporary Understandings of Bipolar Disorder.” Bipolar Disorder - Medical History of Bipolar Disorder. Mental Health Care dba Gracepoint. Web. 5 August 2015

National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH). “Bipolar Disorder,” Mental Health Information. National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2015). Web. 7 August 2015.

Yount, A., (2019).The Depressive Dr. Jekyll and Manic Mr. Hyde. aquila.usm.edu