PSY 350 Sarah Hankins by Sarah Hankins https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350 What a Mood, What a Vibe en-us 2018-10-03 16:12:11 UTC 2023-03-10 21:39:18 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Send.png Stereotyping OCD in Pop Culture (Week 1) sehankins1 https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/289931852 This article provides an in-depth look at each of the Kardashian/Jenner homes.  Due to the Kardashian/Jenner family's penchant for color-coding and organization, the article promotes their "OCD Vibes."  On the surface level, it could appear that the article has identified OCD.  The Kardashian/Jenner homes are clearly immaculate and organized to a point where it could be categorized as an "obsession." However, the behaviors discussed in the article do not truly fulfill
the DSM-5 criteria.

The DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) defines Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as: characterized by obsessions (persistent/recurring thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or thoughts driven by the obsessions).
The main criteria according to the DSM-5 (2013) are:
A.  Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both. 
B.  The obsessions or compulsions are time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per
day) or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or
other important areas of functioning.
C.  The obsessive-compulsive symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects
of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.
(APA, 2013, p. 237)

Per the DSM-5 (2013), obsessions are recurrent/persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and unwanted -- creating distress in the individual.  They cannot be suppressed or ignored, but individuals often try to neutralize them through compulsions.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that one must complete in order to fulfill an obsession or rule.  These behaviors or acts are done in an attempt to relieve distress from the obsessions, however they are considered excessive or illogical (APA, 2013).

The "OCD" discussed in the article does not meet criteria A.  Organizing your household is not an obsession or compulsion as defined earlier.  It's a little neurotic, yes, but not a mental illness.  It does meet somewhat criteria B in the sense that the act of organizing their homes is time-consuming.  However, the article doesn't specify whether they themselves are organizing or if it is a job for their housekeepers.  The "OCD" described here does not provide enough information as to its meeting criteria C.  However, the behavior is not excessive or illogical, meaning that there would be nothing to diagnose in the first place.

This is a gross misrepresentation of OCD.  The article takes just a couple of stereotypes of OCD and uses them to not only misdiagnose, but also promotes the misconceptions of OCD further.
Firstly, OCD isn’t portrayed accurately.  It's not “cute” or “trendy”. It’s a serious mental illness that impacts thousands of people in their day-to-day lives.  Creating a blog called "KhlOCD" is insensitive to those who do struggle with OCD.
The very title of the article makes OCD a "vibe" or a "mood" -- as if it's something that can be turned off or on at will.
Secondly, it's inaccurate because it does not meet any of the aforementioned criteria.  In fact, many people have criticized the Kardashian/Jenner family for their misuse of the term OCD.  Recently, social media accused the family for it's insensitivity.

A lot of this is tied into the stereotypes of OCD.  Many people stereotype OCD as needing things to be clean and organized, but OCD is way more than that.  It's about these obsessions that haunt you, to the point where you will do anything to make it better.  It put people into distress, and  it causes severe dysfunction.  Putting labels on things and organizing your vitamins might fit the stereotype of OCD, but it is certainly not accurate.  The family doesn't seem to be in distress when things a slightly out of order; they don't obsess over their houses until it reaches the point of dysfunction.  Overall, this article is problematic because it further misinforms the public about OCD, and treats it as a joke or as something cute.  Some could even say the article is dangerous because of that.

References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Washington D.C.: Author.

T. (2018, September 24). 20 Times The Kardashians Showed Major OCD Vibes In Their Homes. Retrieved October 8, 2018, from https://www.thetalko.com/20-times-the-kardashians-showed-major-ocd-vibes-in-their-homes/
]]> 2018-10-06 17:18:09 UTC https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/289931852 A Narrative of Postpartum Depression (Week 2) sehankins1 https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/292872830 If listening to the audio, the song begins around the 30-second mark.
This song was performed by a popular alternative band, The 1975.  The lead singer, Matty Healy, wrote this personal song about his mother's experience with Postpartum Depression (PPD).  While this song is not as well-known as some the band's other hits, it is perhaps the most emotional song they have recorded thus far.  Based on criteria in the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), this song is an interesting example of PPD portrayal in the media.

The DSM-5 (2013) does not classify PPD as its own disorder.  Rather, it is a "specifier" for Brief Psychotic Disorder, Bipolar Disorders, and Depressive Disorders.  It is technically considered "peripartum onset." This presents a challenge, because we cannot list specific criteria for PPD and see if the band's song matches them.  Rather, we can look at the specifier itself (under the umbrella of a Major Depressive Episode [MDE]) and examine whether the lyrics of the song are indicative of this. 

According to the DSM-5 (2013), this specifier can be applied if full criteria are not currently met for a MDE, but if the depression symptoms occurred during pregnancy or within 4 weeks of delivering a child.
It is important to clarify that at least half of the postpartum cases begin before the mother gives birth -- these pre-delivery cases are referred to as "peripartum" episodes.  Women with MDE often have "severe anxiety and even panic attacks" (APA, 2013).  These peripartum onset moods can include psychotic symptoms, but they do not require it.  Frequently, we see an association with infanticide and MDE (often caused by hallucinations telling the mother to kill the infant), but that is not always a part of every peripartum case (APA, 2013). 

The disorder portrayed in the song is striking.  We see a major disruption in Healy (the songwriter)'s mother's life.  "She tries her best/But it hurts her chest" he sings.  The lyrics fit criteria A (APA, 2013) because it exhibits the 5 following symptoms:
1. Depressed mood almost every day for most of the day.
2. Marked diminished pleasure (or no pleasure at all) in daily activities.
3. Feelings of worthlessness.
4. Recurrent thoughts of death.
5. Insomnia.
It also meets criteria B and C because Healy's mother is both significantly unable to perform normal functions ("And she lays down on her bedroom floor/The chemicals that make her laugh/Don't seem to be working anymore") , and this is not directly caused by substance abuse.  I will note that the lyrics mention her use of cocaine, but I don't believe the cocaine is the cause of the depression; it is rather a side effect.

Now that we have established the lyrics meet the criteria for a MDE with a peripartum onset ("She's appalled/She doesn't love me at all"), we can look at the accuracy of it.  In addition to meeting the DSM-5 (2013) criteria, I think that it is an accurate portrayal not of PPD, but rather MDE with peripartum onset, since the song is based on a true story.  Therefore, the song would be technically misdiagnosed as PPD.

While the song could have provided more lyrics to ensure that it is accurate, it is very safe to assume.  Having said that, while I do not think the song is a "bad" stereotype of PPD, it provides some food for thought.  While I was researching PPD for this post, I found that it was not its own disorder -- something that surprised myself and other people I mentioned it to.  It makes me feel as though the media has taken peripartum onset and almost created a new disorder from it, meaning that the public would be severely misinformed.  Regardless, I do not believe the general public is correctly informed of the disorder.

Now, this song does not trivialize nor make fun of the disorder.  Rather, it is a tribute and a moment to spread awareness -- which I think would not make it a stereotype.  Rather, it is an artistic interpretation of what was a real-life experience.

References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Washington D.C.: Author.

Healy, M. (2016). She Lays Down [Recorded by T. 1975]. On I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it [CD]. Woodland Hills: Interscope.
]]> 2018-10-15 15:15:13 UTC https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/292872830 Insatiable Hunger (Week 3) sehankins1 https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/300218725 The following clip is from a newer Netflix Original, Insatiable.  This show centers around Patty, a young high school girl who has been overweight all her life.  She suffered severe neglect growing up, leading her to turn to food for comfort.  In the first episode, Patty gets into a fight, causing her jaw to be wired shut and requires her diet to consist of liquid foods for an entire summer.  Patty returns to school thin, attractive, and seeking revenge against her former bullies.

This specific scene occurs towards the end of the series' season, where Patty undergoes severe stress and her mentor eventually disowns her.  In her grief and loneliness, Patty goes to the things she knows best: eating.  While Insatiable is a new show, and I can't stand the acting in it, it is still a very good example of binge-eating disorder.  Binge-eating disorder can be found in the feeding and eating disorder category.  It is defined by the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) as below:

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
1. Eating in a short period of time an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat under similar circumstances.
2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode).
B. The binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
Eating much more rapidly than normal, eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry, eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating, and feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.
C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.
D. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.
E. The binge eating is not associated other eating disorders (i.e., bulimia or anorexia).
Additionally, we must specify whether the disorder is in partial or full remission and the level of severity (Mild, Moderate, Severe, or Extreme).

Based on her facial expressions in the clip, Patty meets Criterion A (both parts) and Criterion C.  Throughout her eating an entire sheet cake, she demonstrates marked distress and is obviously self-medicating.  She meets Criterion B through eating more rapidly than normal, eating large amounts of food when she's not really hungry, and eating alone because of embarrassment.  I would specify that she is in partial remission, because this is the first episode of binge eating that we see since the first episode of the series; therefore it is difficult to ascertain whether Patty meets Criterion D.  Based on this specific scene, no.  She does meet Criterion E, since she does not exhibit symptoms of other eating disorders throughout the series.

Nevertheless, we can say that this is an accurate portrayal of binge-eating disorder.  Patty does not exhibit self control with food and turns to it in times of distress or trauma.  Additionally, we see Patty begin binging more frequently after this scene to where it is completely out of control.  Insatiable really captures Patty's self-loathing and misery.  The portrayal is a startling one, but also somber.  We are forced to confront the fact that this what people with eating disorders experience on a regular basis.

In terms of stereotyping, I don't think that this show necessarily draws on those conventional themes.  Often, stereotyping is used as a way to joke or make light of a serious issue.  Insatiable approaches binge eating as a grave issue, using dark moments to grab the audience's attention.  Binge-eating disorder is not joked about in the show, nor is Patty's weight a comedic tool.  Granted, people make fun of her, but it is not through the lens of writing in laughs -- it does portray the bullying that often accompanies binge-eating disorder.

In summary, Insatiable is a good example of binge-eating disorder. Patty meets the criteria for the illness, and the struggle she goes through in trying to overcome binge-eating disorder illuminates a part of society that is often not talked about.  Patty begins to receive a lot of attention after losing weight, enough to be a beauty queen, in fact.  This begs the question: even with the show's excellent portrayal of binge-eating disorder, are they still perpetuating the stereotype that "skinny is beautiful?"  Insatiable might spread awareness of mental illnesses, but it's hard to say whether it also breaks down the classic stereotype of beauty.

References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Washington D.C.: Author.

Schlattmann, T. (Writer), & Keene, E. (Director). (2018). Banana heart banana [Television series episode]. In A. Fleming (Producer), Insatiable. Newman, GA: Netflix.]]> 2018-11-04 17:59:19 UTC https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/300218725 The Picture of Melancholia (Week 4) sehankins1 https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/302906391 Melancholia is a 2011 film by Lars von Trier.  Based on von Trier himself, the film centers around two sisters, one of whom suffers from depression.  The first half of the film is set during Justine (the depressed sister)'s wedding, during which she engages in multiple self-destructive behaviors eventually losing everything she has worked so hard to build.  This clip is from the second half of the film, in which Justine moves in with her sister Claire because she is too depressed to manage life by herself.  The film not only depicts Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) well, but it also does an excellent job of portraying others' reactions to it.  While I can't show the whole movie, I can show a short clip of Justine during her depression.  I will also try to elaborate further on some of her behaviors that meet the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) criteria. 

Justine meets Criterion A by having a "depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by [both] subjective report [and] observation made by others," and "markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day" (APA, 2013).  She also has hypersomnia, severe fatigue, and a diminished ability to think or make decisions.  This is shown in how she sleeps all day, every single day, and cannot do basic things for herself like take baths.  She does not want to eat, and when she does, the food "tastes like ashes."  Justine meets Criterion B by not being able to live a normal, healthy functioning life.  She won't go out or interact with others, and she won't work.  Justine also meets Criterion C, D, and E by not properly fitting into schizophrenic-type disorder, by never exhibiting manic characteristics, and not using substances (APA, 2013). 

Therefore, we can say that Justine meets the criteria for MDD.  In terms of accuracy, I would say that the film does a good job of attempting to be accurate.  Given von Trier's own battle with clinically-diagnosed depression, it would be safe to assume that he would want to spread awareness and also give homage to others who struggle with MDD.    Justine meets all criteria for MDD, and the goal is to not make light of her suffering or to exploit MDD to make money for the film.  Otherwise, Melancholia would have shown it with less reverence. 

Now, with stereotyping, I would not say that Justine is a stereotype of MDD, but I do think that everyone's responses to her illness draws on some stereotypes.  Firstly, Justine's parents are completely removed from the situation.  They seem to think that by just giving her everything she wants, "she'll be happy."  Throughout her wedding, her father keeps asking Justine, "Are you happy?" because he believes that by throwing her a lavish party he can cure her depression.  Her husband feels guilty because he believes that he should fix her depression and he doesn't understand why nothing he does will snap her out of it.

Justine's brother-in-law is very impatient with her MDD.  He does not understand that she is suffering from a disease and thinks that she just needs to toughen up.  Every time she calls her sister, or exhibits any sign of depression, you can see his anger and resentment towards Justine simmering under the surface.  Justine's nephew is a child who understands that his aunt is "sad and cries a lot," but not really why.  Lastly, there is Claire who wants nothing more than to make her sister happy.  She will bend over backwards and do anything she can (literally carries her sister to the bathtub to wash her) because she feels an innate responsibility to take care of her.

All in all, Melancholia is not just a good portrayal of MDD, but it also gives us food for thought.  One cannot watch the film without walking away wondering how we respond to our loved ones that struggle with depression.  The stereotyping in this film shows different reactions to MDD and depicts how they help/hinder Justine.  A quote that sticks out from the movie is when Justine looks at her father and says, "Dad please.  I need to talk to you." Her dad ends up leaving because he doesn't take her seriously, but as a viewer we must ask ourselves "How many times has a Justine asked us of the same thing, and how many times did we walk away?"

References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Washington D.C.: Author.

Foldager, M. L. (Producer), & von Trier, L. (Director). (2011). Melancholia [Motion picture]. Denmark: Zentropa.]]> 2018-11-10 20:16:19 UTC https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/302906391 A Discussion of Narcissism (NPD) (Week 5) sehankins1 https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/307342196 The following cartoon is intended to be a depiction of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).  The main character, a woman, is the focus of artist Denise Dorrance's weekly cartoons.  Her installments show a woman who seems to be focused only on herself, including an obsession over her own social media.  I chose this specific cartoon because of the woman's response to her therapist's diagnosis of NPD. 

The DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) characterizes NPD with the following:
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
2. Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
3. Requires excessive admiration.
4. Has a sense of entitlement (i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations).
5. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her. 6. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes (APA, 2013).

Note that there are actually 9 characteristics, but I have listed the 6 that I feel the cartoon meets.  I believe that the woman in the cartoon's verbal response to her diagnosis was reflective of all the above.  Moreover, her body language does not indicate her being upset with the diagnosis, but rather that she finds it amusing. 

This cartoon, while funny, is not very accurate in it's depiction.  While the woman does meet the criteria, I do not think her response is indicative of a person with NPD.  Generally, a person with NPD would not think there was anything wrong with them -- especially a personality disorder.  A more accurate response would have been either a denial, or excuse-making, or even that if she had it, it would not have been as bad as everyone else's.  Additionally, the therapist would have probably diagnosed her with more confidence.  Based on his wording and body language, he seems defensive of his diagnosis -- whereas the woman is on the offense. 

Lastly, the woman would probably not be visiting a therapist in the first place.   A person who thinks they are superior would not need to seek treatment.  They would not think anything is wrong with them in the first place.  Granted, we do not have enough information from the cartoon to see if she's been seeing the therapist of her own volition.  Overall, it's not completely inaccurate, but it's not fully accurate either.

Finally, this cartoon draws on some common stereotypes in its portrayal of NPD.    Her response is one that many would expect a narcissist to make.  The cartoon makes light of a condition that is difficult to treat -- if not untreatable.  Again, it is not entirely inaccurate, but it is not entirely accurate either.  Oftentimes, that is reflective of pop culture's understanding of NPD.  In real life, NPD is not as bold or brash as it is in this cartoon.  Instead, it can often be more subtle, and something people do not recognize in others right away.  This issue is what makes NPD difficult to recognize and treat.

References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Washington D.C.: Author.

Dorrance, D. (2014, June 28). Narcissism [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://www.spectator.co.uk/comic/narcissism/]]> 2018-11-23 22:21:02 UTC https://padlet.com/sehankins1/PSY_350/wish/307342196