The Psychology Of Hannibal Lecter
Dr. Hannibal Lector as an Anti-Social Personality Illustration
Joshua Kuehnel
PSYC101
Conestoga College
November 12, 2011
Abstract
The character Hannibal lector was used as an illustration for the disorder known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder. It was determined through two scholarly journals ‘Psychiatric morbidity in prisoners and solitary cellular confinement, I: disciplinary segregation’ and ‘Predictors of mental health service utilization in the 12 months before imprisonment: analysis of results from a national prisons survey’ and use of the DSM-IV what APD is and how it pertains to Hannibal’s character. Through the criteria defined, the research shows that Hannibal had nearly all of the distinct disruptive criteria that prescribe APD. The main characteristics of APD that Hannibal Lector demonstrates are as follows: an obvious disregard for the feelings and welfare of others, failure to conform to social norms and severe deception. We have also found that it is notoriously difficult to treat APD, as seen in the film and as understood in the research, and that it is also a very real and disturbing disorder that can have a terribly negative effect on both the individual and society as a whole.
Introduction
When someone watches a horror film or ‘psychological thriller’ they often are given words such as ‘psychopath’ or ‘sociopath’ and this brings fear to the viewer. This is compounded by real life occurrences, for example; Ted Bundy and Ed Gein (Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre are based off him). The real terror is in real life examples and that is, perhaps, why we fear characters portrayed in such a vivid way. This is why studies of these types of characters are essential to our understanding of the world and why it is so relevant. Words like ‘psychopath’ and ‘sociopath’ can be difficult to define and yet we have in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders a disorder known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder or APD.
Joshua Kuehnel
PSYC101
Conestoga College
November 12, 2011
Abstract
The character Hannibal lector was used as an illustration for the disorder known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder. It was determined through two scholarly journals ‘Psychiatric morbidity in prisoners and solitary cellular confinement, I: disciplinary segregation’ and ‘Predictors of mental health service utilization in the 12 months before imprisonment: analysis of results from a national prisons survey’ and use of the DSM-IV what APD is and how it pertains to Hannibal’s character. Through the criteria defined, the research shows that Hannibal had nearly all of the distinct disruptive criteria that prescribe APD. The main characteristics of APD that Hannibal Lector demonstrates are as follows: an obvious disregard for the feelings and welfare of others, failure to conform to social norms and severe deception. We have also found that it is notoriously difficult to treat APD, as seen in the film and as understood in the research, and that it is also a very real and disturbing disorder that can have a terribly negative effect on both the individual and society as a whole.
Introduction
When someone watches a horror film or ‘psychological thriller’ they often are given words such as ‘psychopath’ or ‘sociopath’ and this brings fear to the viewer. This is compounded by real life occurrences, for example; Ted Bundy and Ed Gein (Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre are based off him). The real terror is in real life examples and that is, perhaps, why we fear characters portrayed in such a vivid way. This is why studies of these types of characters are essential to our understanding of the world and why it is so relevant. Words like ‘psychopath’ and ‘sociopath’ can be difficult to define and yet we have in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders a disorder known as Anti-Social Personality Disorder or APD.
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