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Antisocial personality disorder case studies
Antisocial personality disorder theory
Hannibal lecter analysis
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Recommended: Antisocial personality disorder case studies
I. Introduction
In the television show Hannibal, a basic plot forms between Will Gram the protagonist and Dr. Hannibal Lecter the antagonist. Hannibal Lecture is a well-established psychiatrist that also happens to be a cannibal serial killer. In the show, Dr. Lecter is the psychiatrist for Will Graham and helps Graham to separate the serial cases from his own reality. However, Graham is unaware of Dr. Lecters extra circulars, specifically he is the serial killer that Graham is looking for but is unaware. Due to his psychotic nature in addition to his conning yet cold demeanor, I would diagnose him with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
II. Character Background and Diagnosis
The character I have chosen to analyze is Hannibal Lecter. Based on various displays of his behavior, I would diagnose him with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). While ASPD seems self-explanatory, ASPD actually has more to do with the disregard of others rights than it does being antisocial (Rosenburg and Kosslyn, 2011, p. 592). For example, someone with ASPD might threaten to harm others or themselves (Rosenburg and Kosslyn, 2011, p. 592).
In the DSM-IV-TR, at least three of the seven specific criteria of ASPD need to be displayed since the age of 15. One particular criterion addresses a failure to adhere to societal norms in accordance with the law (Rosenburg and Kosslyn, 2011, p. 592). While Lecter adheres to societal norms such as poise and respect when in public, he fails to follow to law by repeatedly committing murder. Another criterion addressed deceitfulness, lying, and conning, for personal gain (Rosenburg and Kosslyn, 2011, p. 592). Hannibal Lecter fulfilled this criterion tenfold. He functions what would appear to be appropriately in s...
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...onclusion, I feel that Hannibal Lecter’s diagnosis would be Antisocial Personality Disorder with a tendency to be more on the psychopathy side of this disorder. He displayed six of the seven DSM criteria that identify a person with ASPD. Additionally, his behaviors fit well with psychopathy, which is a more narrowed view of ASPD. As mentioned earlier this can cause issues when looking to treat the disorder. Thus it was stated that no clear treatment exists. Due to this lack in treatment, I hypothesized that his future would end up in solitary or in death. However Hannibal Lecter is great at giving advice to both his friends and patients even if it was superficial. Also, he is a terrific cook and also was very well mannered. Overall, he is very intelligent in many areas other than psychology however his ASPD, serial killing, and cannibalism will be the end of him.
Simons, C. (2001). Antisocial personality disorder in serial killers: The thrill of the kill. The Justice Professional, 14(4), 345-356.
Every few years there are disturbing, yet fascinating headlines: “BTK killer: Hiding in plain sight” or “Police discover at least 10 victims at Anthony Sowell's home”; but what would allow an individual to commit the crimes they did? In cases like these there is usually a common link: Antisocial Personality disorder. It is an unknown disorder to most of the population which is why there are so many questions to be answered, the main ones being what is antisocial personality disorder and how does it effect patient and society as a whole? To answer these questions one needs an accurate background picture of the disorder.
There were two serial killers portrayed in the movie- Dr Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill. As far as diagnosis is concerned, they both have an antisocial personality disorder, and many similar characteristics, however each has his own array of psychological issues.
Fifty years ago, a person breaking the law would either be called crazy or a criminal. Today, the mental health community has much more specific diagnoses. However, the explanation of certain behaviors may be difficult because there is much overlap among mental conditions. In Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho, the protagonist, Patrick Bateman, is apparently simply a psychopath. However, Bateman can be diagnosed with other mental illnesses such as Asperger’s syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, narcissism, and antisocial personality disorder. In both the book and film adaptation, Bateman’s actions can be understood more accurately when analyzed in light of modern psychology.
Dr. Hannibal Lecter a character in the film The Silence of the Lambs is portrayed as a brilliant forensic psychiatrist, an extremely refined gentleman with a charismatic and charming personality. Hannibal Lecter is meticulous in appearance, speaks very exactly, has immaculate wittiness, and astounding intellect (Demme, 1991). Though not directly indicated in the film, there is clear evidence of his educational background as he was a well-known forensic psychiatrist which requires an extensive amount of education. This film did not speak to Lecter’s relationship history nor his childhood background. Hannibal Lecter was sanctioned to the Baltimore State Forensic Hospital for cannibalistic crimes he committed against his own patients during his practice as a psychiatrist (Demme, 1991). At the start of the film it was indicated that he had been housed at the hospital for approximately eight years.
Lecter’s analytical, observant, and almost sociopathic outlook on his surroundings contrasts heavily with Starling’s earnest desire to discover the secrets behind Buffalo Bill’s identity and reasons, a desire to save another’s life that humanizes her. It is important to know that this rectification can come in two forms for Lecter. Lecter can either punish the individual, such as in Chilton’s case for their direct discourtesy to him or another, or he can help an individual who has received such discourtesy in his presence. Lecter would only feel this obligation, however, in the unique case that he is unable to prevent such a direct discourtesy from happening to another as it occurred in front of him, as in Clarice’s case.
During Dahmer’s psychiatric evaluation, Dr. Wahlstrom concluded, “Jeffrey was suffering from a mental illness never cured for” (FBI 1992). This leads me to perceive that Dahmer must have been displaying psychotic traits that went unnoticed and undocumented during his early lifetime. I can only speculate that this uncured mental illness lead Dahmer to develop and refine his inability to empathize with society; which in turn, lead him to engage in cruelty without mentally comprehending the victim’s suffering. Although the causes for psychopathy are unclear, some suggest that psychogenic aspects can outline abnormalities which may be present in psychopaths (Schmalleger 2014). When looking at Dahmer’s distant relationship with his parents early on in his childhood, I became conscious of the fact the lack of affection from his parents which may have lead him to develop twisted views on how one should display affection to others, thus prompting him to show psychotic behavior later on in life (The profile of Jeffrey Dahmer 1996). Even though the letter of the law fails to describe Dahmer and even if he was not fit to stand trial, I believe the court would have declared him fit for trial due to the brutality of the
Movie makers know the power of "celebrity in American society, and as Americans, we usually like to "cheer for characters played by actors that we admire or enjoy seeing our favorites. Thus, admirers of Hopkins, work will immediately give the character of Hannibal credibility and protagonist status despite what they know about the actual character,s actions. Then, because of
Without thought, Dr. Hannibal Lecter displays the general three P’s of personality disorders: persistent, pervasive and pathological. Specifically, Lecter appears to consistently exhibit the symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder, which is found in Cluster B of personali...
Miller, Laurence. "The predator's brain: Neuropsychodynamics of serial killers."Serial offenders: Current thought, recent findings, unusual syndromes (2000): 135-166.
Over the years, the theory has evolved into today’s foremost biological crime theory. The theory takes into account genetics and disorders that may be inherited. One example of a disorder that is genetic is antisocial personality disorder. This specific disorder is accompanied by a variety of side effects, some of which may result in psychopathic or sociopathic behavior. Psychopathic and sociopathic behavior specific to this example would be murder. Jeffrey Dahmer, for example, was an individual that participated in seventeen murders over a span of thirteen years. Although Dahmer was not able to plead insanity, he still had a severe mental disorder that may be partly to blame for some of his actions. Biological disorder is often difficult to back up due to the fact that many disorders are also based on nurturing
Dr. Hannibal Lector, one of the main characters of the story is a psychiatrist, but also happens to be a cannibalistic serial killer. Dr. Lector is introduced into the NBC series as a psychiatrist who occasionally helps the FBI with their murder cases. Whereas in Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Lector was being held in prison until he eventually broke loose. It is made clear to the audiences the Hannibal is definitely the killer, there is no mystery to that, which can make things interesting for this character in the Hannibal series of whether or not he’ll be caught.
...others who live transient lifestyles. Typical psychopathic serial killers are not as intelligent as Hannibal himself. He had an unusual gift; he used his senses to be able to remember scents, sights, and details. He also had the ability to break a person down to their weakness, which is how he was able to get them off guard. He dehumanized his victim’s, flattened them to worthless objects in his mind.
There are many traits that identify the behavior of serial killers. However, not all those traits might qualify to make them serial traits. A person can contain on of those traits and at the same time not become a serial killer. It takes all of the traits together to identify if they are capable of such thing. As described in article, What makes serial killers tick?”, it mentions that many serial killers were physically or emotionally abused by parents. Other traits as mention in other studies say that antisocial behavior could be an indicator why they might have problems. As defined in article, Early signs of serial killers, it says that “Other signs that one suffers from antisocial disorder include: patterns of lying, aggressiveness, failure to conform to social norms, and irresponsibility.” This demonstrates that these could be
Dahmer was an American serial killer who killed 17 boys and men over the course of 13 years and he suffered from Sociopathy/ ASPD after a medical procedure to correct a double hernia. “He was described as an energetic and happy child until the age of 4, when surgery to correct a double hernia seemed to effect a change in the boy. Noticeably subdued, he became increasingly withdrawn following the birth of his younger brother and the family's frequent moves. By his early teens, he was disengaged, tense and largely friendless.” (“Biography of Jeffrey Dahmer,” 2017) Before the procedure Dahmer was a normal and happy kid. He was social and enjoyed life, but something happened and the surgery and he was a new child and was not the same happy kid. He was antisocial and did not have many friends if any. These are signs of Sociopathy. The interesting part is that Dahmer was not born with this condition, but it was brought on by a mistake in a