“Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way that person acts, thinks and sees the world. People with schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality, often a significant loss of contact with reality” (“Schizophrenia” 1). To begin, “There are 5 types of of symptoms characteristics of schizophrenia: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and so called “negative” symptoms” (“Schizophrenia” 1). In Anthony Horowitz’s short story “The Hitchhiker,” the main character Jacob who seems like an innocent and immaculate normal teenager, who is later known for killing his brother and the hitchhiker. . To start, Jacob could possibly have schizophrenia because he has delusions and unpredictable emotional
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This symptom is know as disorganized behavior, which “disrupts goal-directed activity, causing impairments in a person’s ability to take care of him or herself, work, and interact with others” (“Schizophrenia” 2). Disorganized behavior can lead to a “decline in overall daily functioning”, “unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses”, “behaviors that appear bizarre and have no purpose”, and “lack of inhibition and impulse control” (“Schizophrenia” 2). Disorganized behavior can lead to harm to the patient or harm to others. Similarly, Jacob from “The Hitchhiker” has signs of unpredictable emotional responses. During the car ride, Jacob thinks he sees the hitchhiker reach for a gun or a weapon from his jacket and at the same time: “I had already gotten myself into position, curled up in the corner with my shoulders [...] Mr. Rellik fell under its front wheels. The truck made mincemeat out of him” (Horowitz 236). Since Jacob pushed the hitchhiker, or known as Mr Rellik, out the car, the reader at this point was confused or questioning what is going on. Disorganized behavior is what Jacob’s actions led to and was an unpredictable emotional response because Jacob had to do something because he thought his life and his parents lives were in danger. Therefore, When Jacob killed the hitchhiker, he had unpredictable emotional response to fear and was scared and
This symptom is know as disorganized behavior, which “disrupts goal-directed activity, causing impairments in a person’s ability to take care of him or herself, work, and interact with others” (“Schizophrenia” 2). Disorganized behavior can lead to a “decline in overall daily functioning”, “unpredictable or inappropriate emotional responses”, “behaviors that appear bizarre and have no purpose”, and “lack of inhibition and impulse control” (“Schizophrenia” 2). Disorganized behavior can lead to harm to the patient or harm to others. Similarly, Jacob from “The Hitchhiker” has signs of unpredictable emotional responses. During the car ride, Jacob thinks he sees the hitchhiker reach for a gun or a weapon from his jacket and at the same time: “I had already gotten myself into position, curled up in the corner with my shoulders [...] Mr. Rellik fell under its front wheels. The truck made mincemeat out of him” (Horowitz 236). Since Jacob pushed the hitchhiker, or known as Mr Rellik, out the car, the reader at this point was confused or questioning what is going on. Disorganized behavior is what Jacob’s actions led to and was an unpredictable emotional response because Jacob had to do something because he thought his life and his parents lives were in danger. Therefore, When Jacob killed the hitchhiker, he had unpredictable emotional response to fear and was scared and