Joan Crawford’s Disorders
In the film, Mommie Dearest, Joan Crawford demonstrates multiple different personality disorders, each of which take a part in dictating most of her life. A personality disorder involves repetitive characteristics that interrupt one’s home and work life. More likely than not, a personality disorder causes distress and affects the individual in a negative way. (Rathus, 2010, p.526). Four of these disorders that were shown by the main character are: obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline disorder, bipolar disorder, and narcissistic disorder. Acquiring each one of these traits caused Joan to have many dissenting and unstable relationships with her family and coworkers. Not only did it create stress on her relationships …show more content…
During this quarrel, her lawyer said that some of her decisions were a bit too outrageous and impulsive. This is where she began to scream and tell the man that if he didn’t like the way she wanted to do things then he should leave and never come back. As soon as he veered towards the door Joan told the man not to go because she needed him, yet he left anyway. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). In addition to this, there was a scene where Joan decided to cut off all of the hair on her daughter, Kristina’s, head because she felt as if her offspring was too spoiled. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). Both of these examples show turbulent relationships with those close to her and a strange way in which Joan views herself. These symptoms are both signs of borderline personality disorder, which is associated with those whom have a constant changing mood and cause damage/harm to themselves, along with others around them. Not to mention, people with borderline may have very unstable relationships, even if they truly want to be in this person’s life. They also have a distorted self-image and are afraid of abandonment. (Rathus, 2010, p.526). The scene with her lawyer helps describe her fear of being alone once she realized he was actually going to leave and the scene with her daughter shows the rash and …show more content…
Joan Crawford had a strange obsession with herself and how the public viewed her. A strong illustration of Joan’s need to appear/be successful, powerful, beautiful, and intelligent would be when she was about to have an interview. Joan was lying in her bedroom with a bunch of cosmetics on her face to help her appear more beautiful for the interview. She had told her kids over and over that they needed to be very quiet and to leave her alone so she could rest before the big day. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). Another incident in the film that shows narcissistic traits also involves a reporter. Joan was sitting there giving an interview when Kristina comes in and makes a comment about a lie her mother had said. Joan was enraged that Kristina had embarrassed her in front of a reporter and was worried about what was going to be written and viewed by the public because of her daughter’s actions. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). Both of these scenes show a solid description of narcissistic personality disorder because those with this disorder believe the whole world revolves around them and that they deserve every ounce of admiration available. Also in the two of these scenes, Joan Crawford shows little regard for the feelings of others involved in the situation, which is also another trait of narcissistic people. (Rathus, 2010,
In the film, Mommie Dearest, Joan Crawford demonstrates multiple different personality disorders, each of which take a part in dictating most of her life. A personality disorder involves repetitive characteristics that interrupt one’s home and work life. More likely than not, a personality disorder causes distress and affects the individual in a negative way. (Rathus, 2010, p.526). Four of these disorders that were shown by the main character are: obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline disorder, bipolar disorder, and narcissistic disorder. Acquiring each one of these traits caused Joan to have many dissenting and unstable relationships with her family and coworkers. Not only did it create stress on her relationships …show more content…
During this quarrel, her lawyer said that some of her decisions were a bit too outrageous and impulsive. This is where she began to scream and tell the man that if he didn’t like the way she wanted to do things then he should leave and never come back. As soon as he veered towards the door Joan told the man not to go because she needed him, yet he left anyway. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). In addition to this, there was a scene where Joan decided to cut off all of the hair on her daughter, Kristina’s, head because she felt as if her offspring was too spoiled. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). Both of these examples show turbulent relationships with those close to her and a strange way in which Joan views herself. These symptoms are both signs of borderline personality disorder, which is associated with those whom have a constant changing mood and cause damage/harm to themselves, along with others around them. Not to mention, people with borderline may have very unstable relationships, even if they truly want to be in this person’s life. They also have a distorted self-image and are afraid of abandonment. (Rathus, 2010, p.526). The scene with her lawyer helps describe her fear of being alone once she realized he was actually going to leave and the scene with her daughter shows the rash and …show more content…
Joan Crawford had a strange obsession with herself and how the public viewed her. A strong illustration of Joan’s need to appear/be successful, powerful, beautiful, and intelligent would be when she was about to have an interview. Joan was lying in her bedroom with a bunch of cosmetics on her face to help her appear more beautiful for the interview. She had told her kids over and over that they needed to be very quiet and to leave her alone so she could rest before the big day. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). Another incident in the film that shows narcissistic traits also involves a reporter. Joan was sitting there giving an interview when Kristina comes in and makes a comment about a lie her mother had said. Joan was enraged that Kristina had embarrassed her in front of a reporter and was worried about what was going to be written and viewed by the public because of her daughter’s actions. (Koontz, O’Neill, & Yablans, 1981). Both of these scenes show a solid description of narcissistic personality disorder because those with this disorder believe the whole world revolves around them and that they deserve every ounce of admiration available. Also in the two of these scenes, Joan Crawford shows little regard for the feelings of others involved in the situation, which is also another trait of narcissistic people. (Rathus, 2010,