What About Bob? portrays realistic psychological disorders from a comedic perspective, through the main character, Bob Wiley. Despite the gross exaggeration of some of Bob’s dysfunctional traits, the film does an exceptional job conveying the reality of these disorders and the affects associated with them. It is very apparent from the get-go that Bob Wiley suffers from numerous psychological disorders; specifically, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Agoraphobia, Hypochondriasis, Anxiety and Dependent Personality Disorder. Although some of the characteristics of these disorders are detected right away, once the relationship with his new therapist, Dr. Leo Marvin is established, they are heightened and beyond obvious. Bob Wiley exhibits
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A phobia being “an anxiety disorder in which an irrational fear causes the person to avoid some object, activity, or situation” (Meyers). The most apparent phobia Bob Wiley possesses is Agoraphobia. It is an anxiety disorder which comes in affect when a person has an “extreme fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places” (Dictionary.com). He has severe anxiety knowing he has to leave his apartment and face the real world. Bob chooses to work from home where he has no worries and feels safe. Not only does he have Agoraphobia but also other minor phobias such as Nosophobia (the fear of illness) and Spermaphobia (the fear of germs). Besides these three major fears, Bob shows signs of being a multi-phobic and fearing just about anything. Bobs fear of elevators is exemplified through his hesitation to get on one. His fear of heights is seen by viewers when he becomes visibly nervous looking out the 44th floor window. It also seems as if Bob has a fear of buses, as he hesitated and procrastinated to step on board. He has such apprehension that something so horrible will occur and having no way out. When Bob meets Dr. Leo Marvin for the first time, he confesses that “public places are impossible” as well as fearing that “his bladder will explode” while he is out and searching for a bathroom. Because Bob is afraid of so many aspects regarding his daily routine, he is constantly dealing with anxiety issues, stemming from …show more content…
When Bob meets his new therapist for the first time, Dr. Marvin asks him a few questions to familiarize himself with what Bob would diagnose himself with having. In one scene, Bob is explaining to his therapist that when he is in his apartment he is fine but when he wants to go out, he gets “weird.” Dr. Marvin asks him to “talk about weird.” This is when Bob goes on and on with all of the symptoms he apparently has when he leaves his apartment. Bob responds to Dr. Marvin with saying, “Well, I get dizzy spells. Nausea, cold sweats, hot sweats, fever blisters, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision, involuntary trembling, dead hands, numb lips, fingernail sensitivity, pelvic discomfort.” Just in that scene alone, one can fathom how absurd a hypochondriac can sound. Hypochondriacs convince themselves that their symptoms suggest an illness, without the confirmation of a
A phobia being “an anxiety disorder in which an irrational fear causes the person to avoid some object, activity, or situation” (Meyers). The most apparent phobia Bob Wiley possesses is Agoraphobia. It is an anxiety disorder which comes in affect when a person has an “extreme fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places” (Dictionary.com). He has severe anxiety knowing he has to leave his apartment and face the real world. Bob chooses to work from home where he has no worries and feels safe. Not only does he have Agoraphobia but also other minor phobias such as Nosophobia (the fear of illness) and Spermaphobia (the fear of germs). Besides these three major fears, Bob shows signs of being a multi-phobic and fearing just about anything. Bobs fear of elevators is exemplified through his hesitation to get on one. His fear of heights is seen by viewers when he becomes visibly nervous looking out the 44th floor window. It also seems as if Bob has a fear of buses, as he hesitated and procrastinated to step on board. He has such apprehension that something so horrible will occur and having no way out. When Bob meets Dr. Leo Marvin for the first time, he confesses that “public places are impossible” as well as fearing that “his bladder will explode” while he is out and searching for a bathroom. Because Bob is afraid of so many aspects regarding his daily routine, he is constantly dealing with anxiety issues, stemming from …show more content…
When Bob meets his new therapist for the first time, Dr. Marvin asks him a few questions to familiarize himself with what Bob would diagnose himself with having. In one scene, Bob is explaining to his therapist that when he is in his apartment he is fine but when he wants to go out, he gets “weird.” Dr. Marvin asks him to “talk about weird.” This is when Bob goes on and on with all of the symptoms he apparently has when he leaves his apartment. Bob responds to Dr. Marvin with saying, “Well, I get dizzy spells. Nausea, cold sweats, hot sweats, fever blisters, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision, involuntary trembling, dead hands, numb lips, fingernail sensitivity, pelvic discomfort.” Just in that scene alone, one can fathom how absurd a hypochondriac can sound. Hypochondriacs convince themselves that their symptoms suggest an illness, without the confirmation of a