Silver Linings Playbook Character Analysis Related To Psychology

Pat Solitano, after finding his significant other with another man, beats him. He got sent to a mental healing center where he was diagnosed with bipolarity. He got discharged from the hospital and went to live with his parents. He is hesitant to take his meds since he doesn't care how they affect him. The main thing he needs is to attempt and get back together with his significant other; however she wrote him off and got a restraining order on him. His companion, Ronnie welcomes him to supper and he meets Ronnie's sister-in-law, Tiffany who's likewise reeling from a personal loss. They have a connection, however Pat is still committed to his ex, and declines to do anything. When he learns Tiffany sees her, he requests that Tiffany give her

a letter. She agrees on the condition, only that he be her dance partner at an upcoming competition, and they both agree.

In the movie, Silver Linings Playbook, the main character, Pat Solitano, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, is discharged from a local mental hospital into the care of his parents following eight months of treatment.

He discovers that his better half, Nikki, has moved away and his dad is out of work and falling back on bookmaking to obtain cash to make his own restaurant. Pat is determined to put his life back on track and reunite with Nikki, who filed a restraining order against him after he was involved in a physical argument with her lover. While conversing with his court-ordered advisor Dr. Patel, Pat clarifies again why he was hospitalized. The reason being that while getting back home early from work, he discovered Nikki in their shower, having intercourse with a fellow instructor, as Pat and Nikki's wedding tune, Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour," played on their stereo. Enraged, he almost beat the man to death. Regardless of this, Pat doesn't believe he needs medication to deal with his condition. One evening at supper with his companion Ronnie, he meets Ronnie's sister-in-law, Tiffany Maxwell, a young widow who recently lost her job. Pat and Tiffany build up an odd friendship through their common anxieties and sees a chance to speak with Nikki through her. Tiffany offers to give a letter to Nikki, in exchange for Pat to be her partner in an upcoming dance competition. He agrees and the two start a thorough practice regimen over the next weeks. Pat trusts

the opposition of being Tiffany’s dance partner will be a decent approach to show Nikki he has changed and improved as a man. Tiffany gives Pat a letter from Nikki, in which she implies there might be a possibility for a compromise between them. Things go well for Pat until his dad requests that he go to an Eagles game with him on his final dance practice with Tiffany before the event. Pat decides to skip practice with Tiffany to go to the Eagles game, assuring himself that he will only be a few minutes late, however, is dragged into a fight and pulled away by police. The Eagles lose the game and Pat Sr. is extremely enraged. Tiffany arrives scolding Pat for not advising her in advance of his absence and begins to explain to Pat Sr. that he was more fortunate when Pat was rehearsing with her. Pat Sr. makes a bet with his betting companion that if the Eagles win their game against Dallas, and assuming Pat and Tiffany score no less than a 5 out of 10 in their dance competition, he will win back double the cash he lost at the Eagles game. Pat is hesitant to take an interest in the dancing competition under those conditions and reminisces on Nikki's letter. One day while Pat is with Tiffany he notices an expression Tiffany had articulated repeats in the letter, as far as anyone knows, composed by Nikki, and understands that Tiffany had produced Nikki’s letter. Pat, Tiffany, and every other person land at the opposition on the night of the football game and the dance competition. Tiffany is frightened to find that Nikki is in the group of observers. Disturbed that Pat may win Nikki back and that she will lose him, Tiffany goes to the bar and has two vodkas. A frantic Pat spots her and figures out how to persuade her onto the dance floor and play out their routine, the songs played in a way represented the many mood swings they experience daily because of their disorders. As the songs changed in tone and rhythm so did their personalities. As they danced, the Eagles win their game and fortunately at the finish of their dance they scored precisely 5 points. In the middle of cheers from his family and confused looks from the audience, Pat spots Nikki and talks discreetly into her ear. Tiffany then storms off. Pat abandons Nikki after just a short discussion, then sets off to find out where Tiffany has gone. He finds her and explains to her that he knows she produced Nikki's letter. He admits he has cherished her from the minute he met her but had set aside a long opportunity to acknowledge it and they kiss. They soon become a couple and Pat Sr. opens a restaurant with the cash he has won.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is the disorder in which Pat Solitano suffers from. This disorder consists of both manic and depressive episodes, both of which may last weeks or months. Manic episodes primarily consist of symptoms such as high energy, a reduced need for sleep, and loss of reality whereas in depressive episodes one may experience loss of energy, motivation, and interest in daily activities. The treatment for this disorder is usually lifelong and consists of medication and psychotherapy. On the other hand, Tiffany suffers from borderline personality disorder. This disorder consists of feelings of emotional instability, worthlessness, impulsiveness, and inability to hold stable relationships. Treatment varies between talk therapy, medication, or in severe cases, hospitalization.

Pat Solitano, a former high school teacher returns home from several months from a mental hospital after he beat his wife’s lover and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Also, known as Manic Depression, this consist of periods of Mania and Depression that alternate lasting from a few days to a few months. He shows this disorder from occasional episodes where he becomes suddenly enraged. For example, Pat aggressively yells at his parents when he can't find his wedding video and accuses them of stealing it when they had nothing to do with the video. His sudden manic episodes of irritability prove that he indeed does suffer from bipolar

disorder.
Tiffany, on the other hand, shows symptoms of borderline personality disorder. First, her husband was recently killed in a car accident, making her blame her current personality issues on grief. Although she is not formally diagnosed with BPD it is clear she shows signs of it. It is even said that she has been prescribed Xanax before, a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorder. She has chronic feelings of emptiness and shows frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. For example, in the middle of dinner at a local diner with Pat Tiffany kind of makes a scene where she gets up and says that she is tired and wants to leave. She then becomes enraged at the fact that Pat says she is crazier than he is, she yells and throws their food off the table storming out of the diner. When Pat runs after her she yells and accuses him of harassing her, once the police officers come she calmly tells them that it was not Pat's fault.
Another time while she and Pat were talking about her deceased husband Tommy, she becomes emotional and burst into tears when Pat tells her Tommy is dead, she falls into his arms, slaps him, and walks away. Her moods going from sexual to sad to angry in a matter of minutes. Her inability to hold stable relationships with other people and her constant impulsive and reckless behavior point out her borderline personality disorder.