From there, things just get worse. Of course, how can I leave out the most divisive of fictional characters in recent TV history? US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. He was a sex-obsessed womaniser who treated women like objects, tricking and misleading them into sleeping with him. "Congratulations, Dorothy. Sure, the show presented her as a sympathetic underdog for a long time. She ends up befriending and falling in love with a beast before she knows he's secretly a human prince under a spell. Advertise | Cut through the noise with integrated A Beautiful Mind gave viewers a look at schizophrenia and Rain Man was one of the first films to explore autism. Alice has manic mood swings, and tumultuous relationships, which lead the people around her to view her as selfish. If you know someone with Asperger's, you're well familiar with this habit. RELATED:10 Best Movies Based on Young Adult Novels. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter Series. Her low self-esteem is also evident in her song, "Let It Go," where she expresses the need to put up a facade: "Dont let them in, dont let them see, be the good girl you always have to be! In addition, the disorder fuels a desire to restrict the autonomy of others, and to lie for the sole purpose of confusion. 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To be honest, we skimmed this bit back in high school. Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. But this guys record is hard to beat: multiple attempts at forcing himself on women, manipulation, and even trying to sell his girlfriend for a hotel. Belle is pursued throughout the film by Gaston, who wants to marry her, and while her staunch refusal to entertain any of his advances only because he is handsome seems admirable, she is more likely exemplifying the quintessential behavior of someone who has no interest in sex at all. Don't confuse this with schizophrenia -- we're not claiming the talking monster and sentient candlesticks are figments of her imagination. He's the most-portrayed fictional character in the world, running the gamut from Basil Rathbone playing a jolly English gentleman who fights Nazis to Robert Downey Jr.'s Victorian Rain Man/MMA fighter. He bullies Dwight, treats Karen like shit and messes with Pam for half of season three to punish her for turning him down at the end of season two. At first, he might seem like that really funny and cool guy that youd love to be friends with. marketing solutions across multiple channels. She tried to break up the marriage of her coach who was 20 years older than her and was the father of her crush, she kidnapped a girl, exposed a gay relationship, killed a guy, and when she had a teratoma she thought she'd eaten her twin. And if this were IRL, he would probably be locked up in prison for preying on teenagers, rather than actually marrying them later on. And stop by LinkSTORM to earn you degree in Fictional Character Psychology. Take him through the process of dilemma, choice, action and consequence: (1) Something that matters must be at stake. We're guessing not even Disney would dispute that one. Learn how your comment data is processed. Then, when she discovers that her step-daughter, Snow White, has become "the fairest of them all," extreme jealousy and envy sends her into a murderous rage. Mental conditions. Has anyone ever seen the playful tiger sit still for more than two seconds? Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how, Want more pop-culture disorders? If CLICK TO SEE MORE ARTICLES BY Marcy Miniano. What curse was placed on the O'Brien family that would give them a son with a webbed foot? Who doesnt love Charlie Brown from Peanuts? (5) The character must live with the consequences of his . In that respect,Lars and the Real Girlput a positive emphasis on Lars' way of life by exploring how much it has helped his community confront their own biases. Now, lets move on to Disney characters who totally gave the wrong message to many young children. "In a few hundred years there's going to be an entire subculture based around this.". The strongest, most compelling characters are those who are authentic, true-to-life. When it isn't either of those, its "madness" is the perfect fuel for horror films by misconceptions of aggressive psychosis. But looking back on it now, shes the epitome of the Toxic #GirlBoss with blatant disregard for her staffs feelings. (3) Your character must make a choice. Allow readers to see your character as fully-realized by showcasing what makes them laugh, cry, seethe, cower, and otherwise experience a wide array of emotions. His entire personality thrives because of rape culture. For starters, he lies to and tricks nearly every woman he meets just to get laid and even wrote an entire playbook on it! The 80s was obviously the era of mean and inconsiderate teenage guys starring in high school-set movies. Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl Granted, nobody in the show was actually a good person and despite their impeccable taste and style they all had more issues than Vogue. Now keep that in mind when you watch the vague, detached, smirking expression on Glinda's face throughout the string of tragedies that open the film. No solutions to the Grapes' problems are easy or applicable, and the movie handles the stigma about mental illness and obesity with raw integrity by acknowledging the necessity of strong familial bonds. And most telling is that Holmes' talents are coupled with an inability to interact socially with anyone but Watson. Yep, the 00s were clearly the heyday of the cold and brooding bro kinda fictional characters. Angela yearns to be closer to her father, as well as gain an insider perspective into the world of the con, so she asks to join his next big scheme. The courts recognized the actas an episode of bipolar mania, not as a crime of passion, and his long road to recovery begins. Vulnerability is one of those fascinating topics I find hard to let go of, probably because in real life, we spend so much time avoiding it, and yet true happiness can only be achieved when we fully embrace it. 20 Movie Characters Who Accurately Portray Mental Illness, 10 TV Characters Who Accurately Portray Mental Illness, Angelina Jolie's Best Movies Of The Decade (According To IMDB), 10 Best Movies Based on Young Adult Novels, 10 Jamie Foxx Characters Ranked From Heroic To Most Villainous, Nicholsonwon the Academy Award for Best Actor, 10 Forgotten Keanu Reeves Roles You Need To Go Back & Watch, terrifying psychological thriller trappings of, 10 Best Movies About Tortured Geniuses, Ranked, Luke Skywalker Used The Dark Side In The Sequel Era, Star Wars Canon Is Still Missing The Best Ever Sith Lord, Warner Bros Just Destroyed The Rings Of Power. Seriously, if we had a dollar for every time she whined about her talents being wasted and how her star shines too bright wed have enough to buy COVID-19 vaccines for even the most remote parts of the globe! that goes, You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. The same could apply to some fictional characters who were supposed to be the good guys, but actually might not be. Want to be featured in similar posts? Holden has had to deal with both a brother dying of leukemia and seeing a classmate commit suicide while wearing his borrowed sweater. This is because people with avoidant personality disorder have a low threshold for criticism and often imagine themselves to be inferior to others.". We have to let someone get close enough to see the real, authentic us. When we trust someone, we want to open ourselves to them because doing so signifies a high level of self-acceptance. She collects everything she can find, despite having no idea what any of it does. Build in several smaller moments that lead up to bigger ones and the willingness to enter a vulnerable state to trust will seem authentic to readers. But its weird to think that your favorite silly, zany cartoon characters can suffer from those same afflictions. She is unable to control her emotions, which resulted in her hurting her younger sibling when they were children. Love and Belonging is one of the categories of basic human needs (as defined by Maslows Hierarchy of Human Needs) that drive all people to act. In the beginning of the film, while the men's conversation changes from her to the war, she says, "War, war, war. Benny (Aidan Quinn) and his sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) live a fairly uneventful life until she stops taking her medication and her schizophrenia becomes unmanageable. He plays Melvin Udall, a best-selling author diagnosed with OCD, who performs obsessive rituals to combat his intrusively anxious thoughts. We are comfortable showing our true self (beliefs, emotions, dreams, ideas, weakness, and strengths) without fear of judgement. While some of these symptoms could just as easily stem from depression, it's important to also point out that J.D. In fact, many teenagers who watched it would say that he and Aria Montgomery were such an adorable couple. To obtain this type of protection, a creator must prove that the characters are sufficiently unique and distinctive to merit this protection. And what do you know, according to the researchers behind the book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, the difference between just collecting and hoarding is that, "When people collect things, they typically want to display them to other people . Hoarders want to keep things hidden because of the shame they have. The seclusion of the castle along with the nonhuman inhabitants and a relationship with a beast who isn't a sexual threat is like a dream for anyone with schizoid personality disorder. So if Love and Belonging drives us, it must motivate our characters as well (especially in Romances!). and her bank account, but shes also a terrible friend. Presumably, their concerts were strictly dance-free. She's never open-minded enough to consider other people's view points and the show tries to spin it to make her look like the victim. Copyright 2023 Inspire Portal. As much as I love her style (most of the time), she was the absolute worst among the four leads. In a desperate attempt to save her, her family sends her to a group home, which specializes in mental health for young people. This seductive behavior, the incapacity to maintain enduring relationships and her persistent manipulation are all signs of a disorder that even Civil War-era doctors could have picked up on. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors and psychologists around the world. Life would be lonely and unfulfilling without at least one person to have a meaningful connection with, someone to share our most intimate dreams and desires, safeguard our secrets, and support us when we voice our fears. She makes impulsive decisions, gives ultimatums and forces her beliefs on people with the expectation that they'll be accepted. Confused? By the end of the film, the brothers grow to know a fraternal love unlike anything either has ever experienced. Even ifJokerdidn't tangentially connect its main character to the DC Universe, itsinvestigation ofwhat might lead tothe origins of a "psychopathic clown" would be thought-provoking in the context of a callous society. There are particular aspects that identify it as a disorder. It then makes you wonder how these crowd faves have gotten away with it for so long; but hey, lets chalk it up to not knowing any better back then. And of these outcomes forges a moment of shared trust with vulnerability being the vehicle that causes it to happen. After spending her teenage years being herded through multiple recovery programs for her eating disorder, Ellen (Lily Collins) doesn't see much point in trying to escape her anorexia, especially since every time she begins a new therapy she ends up weighing less than she did before she started. Obsessed with travel? We can simply be ourselves and set aside the mask we show to the world. When she isn't writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she's working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. Vulnerability is really all about laying ourselves bare. Changing a characters mind about vulnerability is not easy, nor something that can happen quickly. Shuri from Black Panther. Scott's battle with depression, anxiety, and ADD are shown realistically in his issues around impulse control, executive dysfunction, and various neurosis. His struggles are both real, relatable, and inspiringbecauseof his mental illness, not in spite of it. Yet Glinda can't stop smiling that vacant Stepford Wives smile. For instance, a recent New York Times article stated that actress Claire Danes' portrayal of a bipolar woman . Perhaps they are being mistreated in some way. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. And sure enough, we find out that Glinda knows from the start how to send Dorothy home, but instead she makes up a ridiculous quest to the wizard with no tangible gain. Scar shows no remorse for what he does. Some of you have already heard of this, but for the benefit of those who havent: Janis is the real villain, not Regina George. Ayers is befriended by Steve (Robert Downey Jr.), a columnist who's searching for the story that will get his life back on track. I felt like jumping out the window."). Women the world over have cited her as a role model and one of the most prominent feminist icons of all time. Somehow, gum made out of tree bark is still softer than Bazooka. She was incredibly entitled and self-centred. When she didn't get her way, Lisa's seductive personality turned incredibly abusive, showing a sociopath's lack of remorse even whenshe drove a fellow patient to suicide. And these are just the tip of the iceberg that is, her failing to see how insignificant her problems are in the grand scheme of things. ", "Care for a 70th rendition of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep,' my dear Watson?". #Vulnerability is what allows people to connect on a deep, meaningful level., #Fiction is a reflection of the real world, especially when it comes to our characters., The strongest, most compelling characters are those who are authentic, true-to-life., Put the character struggling with trust in a vulnerable situation.@AngelaAckerman #writetip, Trust is earned in inches, not miles. Craig encounters patients in the facility with everything from autism to manic depression and beyond, and they're depicted in ways that aren't exaggerated, hypertrophied, or over-the-top. According to the Mayo Clinic, APD "is a mental condition in which a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others. You cant have love without vulnerability. 5. You cant have intimacy without vulnerability. He's often overlooked but his behaviour is both abusive and problematic. Everyone says Big was a bad character, but seriously they both sucked so much they deserved each other. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. You know, just in case this piece has got you jaded or something. Alice from Alice in Wonderland clearly suffers from schizophrenia. He disrespects Native American culture in one episode, lies about being Jewish to attend a basketball in another and sold swimsuit photos of underage girls. He technically kidnaps children, he cut Captain Hooks hand off and fed it to a crocodile, and he just laughed when the mermaids tried to drown Wendy. As discussed above, relatively effortless empathy with a fictional character imbues us with the perception that we are similar to the character in question. But okay, where do we even begin with this particular Disney princess? You can read more from Chris at raddystuition.com or Twitter. She is completely engrossed with being the most beautiful person in the kingdom. And you know what, we're going to give the main character, Ariel, a pass on all that. But even then, she has always exhibited a sense of entitlement to the Iron Throne, while masking her mission in righteousness and freeing the Westerosi. RELATED:10 TV Characters Who Accurately Portray Mental Illness. He began as a gifted professional musician who suddenly finds himself homeless when he's plagued by the onset of schizophrenia. Though Winona Ryder's character was the protagonist ofGirl, Interrupted,the suicide attempt that landed her in an all-female mental institution was the catalyst for more engrossing stories featuring her fellow patients. I think Ruth Harris said it best when she said: Rules killgood fiction. You may enjoy this offering from her blog by Anne R. Allen: 6 Reasons Show Dont Tell Can be Terrible Advice for New Writers I also love using dialogue as a way to initially create a scene. Ever wonder why Lucy kept pulling that football away fromCharlie Brown? Eowyn from the Lord of the Rings Series. The character is not alien to us in any profound sense. I know he has issues, but it doesn't justify him being the shittiest person, emotionally cruel and manipulative at all times. She slept with Dean when he was still married to Lindsay and had a long-term affair with Logan when they were both in separate relationships. Through therapy and reassessment, she's able to take her mental health seriously. He was also quite nonchalant about cultural appropriation and emotionally abusive towards Kelly Kapowski. Cinema in general has had a dubious history of portraying mental health in an authentic or even sensitive light. Bigot - One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ. Reporting on what you care about. Are there any other problematic fictional characters that you believe should be on this list? It's unlikely that the writers who created these characters consciously decided they would give them an undiagnosed mental disorder as one of their traits. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. No copyright infringement is intended. Perhaps 70 years from now, experts will have a name for the ability to slow down time and punch people in slow motion. OK, she's just a kid. Depending on our attachment style we can find attaching to others very challenging or relatively easy. One of the most enigmatic patients she encountered was Lisa Rowe, played with volatile intensity by Angelina Jolie. Once there, he begins to have a differentperspective. She starts out as a straight-A do-gooder with so much potential only to throw it all away! Even when the other person feels close and for them everything is fine, she'll feel like a thin, invisible wall is stuck between them. Maybe they were just borrowing behaviors of a "quirky" friend, or maybe the writers suffered from the disorder and wrote the characters to mimic their own life. Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Sometimes it can be a powerful way to find out what the characters are really feeling, and in turn how to move the story forward, building from that place. A fast-talking caffeine-dependent wordsmith, Marcy has never been one to shy away from sharing a good story or two. Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? 5. Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother CBS He was a sex-obsessed womaniser who treated women like objects, tricking and misleading them into sleeping with. Love is not supposed to be a prison with your partner the fucking guard, isolating you from everyone else in the world. Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? Delighted to welcomeAngela AckermanofWriters Helping Writers&One Stop For Writers,writing coach, speaker, &co-author of manybestselling resources,including one of my all-time favourite fiction writing book series,which if youve been in your writers garret for the last few years, are soinvaluable, youll wonder how you ever managed without. Benny devoteshimselfto supporting her in those times so that she can live an isolated life far away from the jarring pace of the world. Here are some of the best responses. Trust and bonding issues. Symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. Yikes, that doesnt sound good does it? This is why we bond with family members, form friendships, and search for that special someone. Either way, it creates a shared moment where the shield is lowered and the two connect through trust and a willingness to be vulnerable. You can! Which begs the question: what was the point, really? Yes, I definitely did just lump these two in the same item. Trust is earned in inches, not miles. Carrie Mathison (Homeland) Carrie Mathison lives with bipolar disorder while being a top notch agent for the CIA. Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of several bestselling resources including, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus and The Negative Trait Thesaurus. So, dont expect this list to include characters who are already deemed antiheroes or villains, to begin with. So, you know, hes that insufferable. "Not when we've put so much effort into prying them off her cold dead feet!". Or to put it simply, he has to grow the fuck up. Hence, the dangerous message it sends: consent doesnt matter if youre rich and handsome. Also she is blatantly using Dorothy as a human shield. Above all, someone suffering from the disorder will avoid human relationships, especially any that might result in sexual encounters. In one of the Holmes stories, A Study in Scarlet, he doesn't know that the Earth revolves around the sun (because, he says, the information doesn't have any effect on his everyday life). In addition, he manipulates and abuses the hyenas to get what he needs. You can create an infograpic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow! One-note characters will always fail to come to life on the page. Ron Weasley is the Ross Gellar of Hogwarts. ", The first thing to keep in mind is that the character isn't just portrayed as being really smart -- he is obsessed with certain subjects and totally excludes all others. schoolworkhelper If Catcher had been written today, Holden would be nursing a Pabst in this picture. Sadistic personality disorder doesn't just mean somebody is an evil dick. Rose from Titanic. The latter is obviously a horrible human being, but at least she was self-aware. Even more important, many will feel compelled to act, either to intervene, to support, or to commiserate.