Psychological Disorders Analyzed in Watchmen
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Psychological Disorders analyzed in Watchmen Through out the graphic novel Watchmen written by Alan Moore, Moore tells the story of a particular superhero group referred to as Watchmen whom for the most part possess relatively human characteristics. In a reversed manner, Moore uses these characters to symbolize the different kinds of human beings in the world rather than the typical super beings so often created in traditional comic books (Disinformation). Like humans, characters in Watchmen all fall short of their own problems, failures, and weaknesses and struggle like every day-to-day people in society. One of the many afflictions that the heroes face, in particular Rorschach, Ozymandias, and Doctor Manhattan, is their flaw that defines them the most, and that is their personality disorder. In explanation behind these claims of certain disorders, professional research conducted of disorders can be matched by analyzing the characters past, emotions and dialogue from the story. To begin, the most disturbing character to bring discussion about mental illness is Rorschach. Rorschach, also known as Walter Kovacs, is without a doubt a character that suffers from not one, but many personality and psychological disorders through out Watchmen. These disorders are pointed out from Walter’s early childhood to well into his adult life. Analyzing Walter’s past from his abusive childhood to his adult life of being a slight sociopath and constantly in fear, ties have been made between Rorschach and the mental disorder Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) (Perry 2). In order to understand how Perry analyzed Walter’s character and diagnosed him as a sufferer of paranoia, similarities between what the typical traits of a person with Paranoia Personality Disorder are classified under and how many of those traits matched Walter’s personality must be examined. PPD is often referred to as being a complex phenomenon. Multiple approaches and
Date
Course
Professor/Instructor
Psychological Disorders analyzed in Watchmen Through out the graphic novel Watchmen written by Alan Moore, Moore tells the story of a particular superhero group referred to as Watchmen whom for the most part possess relatively human characteristics. In a reversed manner, Moore uses these characters to symbolize the different kinds of human beings in the world rather than the typical super beings so often created in traditional comic books (Disinformation). Like humans, characters in Watchmen all fall short of their own problems, failures, and weaknesses and struggle like every day-to-day people in society. One of the many afflictions that the heroes face, in particular Rorschach, Ozymandias, and Doctor Manhattan, is their flaw that defines them the most, and that is their personality disorder. In explanation behind these claims of certain disorders, professional research conducted of disorders can be matched by analyzing the characters past, emotions and dialogue from the story. To begin, the most disturbing character to bring discussion about mental illness is Rorschach. Rorschach, also known as Walter Kovacs, is without a doubt a character that suffers from not one, but many personality and psychological disorders through out Watchmen. These disorders are pointed out from Walter’s early childhood to well into his adult life. Analyzing Walter’s past from his abusive childhood to his adult life of being a slight sociopath and constantly in fear, ties have been made between Rorschach and the mental disorder Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) (Perry 2). In order to understand how Perry analyzed Walter’s character and diagnosed him as a sufferer of paranoia, similarities between what the typical traits of a person with Paranoia Personality Disorder are classified under and how many of those traits matched Walter’s personality must be examined. PPD is often referred to as being a complex phenomenon. Multiple approaches and
Cited: Carlin, Nathan. “The Paranoia of Everyday Life: Some Personal, Psychological, And Pastoral Thoughts.” Pastoral Psychology 59.6 (2010): 679-695 Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. Disorder: Practical Differential Diagnosis.” Bulletin Of The Menninger Clinic. 77.1 (2013): 1-22 Meissner, W. W. “Paranoid Personality Disorder.” Armenian Medical Network 07, Apr. 2006. Web Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics, 1987. Print. Parpottas, Panagiotis In Understanding Human Distress: The Example Of 'Schizoid Personality Disorder '." Counselling Psychology Review 27.1 (2012): 44-52. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 6 Apr. 2013.