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Apparently Darth Vader’s real problem was that he lacked a good therapist, say French psychiatrists and psychologists who, instead of working with an actual patient, used their diagnostic super powers to divine that the Dark Lord may have had a borderline personality. If he was real that is.
What’s more, they think he was on drugs, er, The Force, which they think maybe represents drugs somehow, according to an article in LiveScience. Additionally, they think his mental health issues were exactly why teens were attracted to the "Star Wars" movies -- they could relate because of their own borderline personality traits. Or maybe it was because of the cool special effects.
But why put the dude formerly known as Anakin Skywalker on the psychiatrist's couch now, more than three decades after he first picked up a light saber?
"I had watched the two prequel movies ["Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith"], and it was during my residency in psychiatry while trying to explain borderline personality disorder to medical students that I thought of Anakin," French psychiatrist Eric Bui told LiveScience.
Bui, a psychiatrist at Toulouse University Hospital in France, and colleagues describe their theory in a letter to be published in journal Psychiatric Research.
Bui says Vader’s diagnosis will help spread awareness -- maybe more people will seek help if they see a little Darth Vader in themselves. (No word on what to do if you lean more toward the sinister stylings of Dr. Evil from "Austin Powers.)
We here at The Body Odd posit that if psychiatrists were going to take a hard look at Mr. Vader, perhaps his real issue was an existential crisis because HE DOESN’T EXIST.
As for the researchers themselves, they may want to examine each other for delusional disorder, a condition where people confuse fiction with reality.
Did the Joker have multiple-personality disorder? Did Freddie Kruger have intermittent explosive disorder? Did Nosferatu have narcissistic personality disorder? Share what mental conditions you think afflicted your favorite villains.
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Leave a Comment:
Is nothing sacred anymore. Gee Whiz! Darth Vader mentally ill???? Borderline personality??? Leave it be!
Can't fix the Oil Spill, next best thing is, to psychoanalyze Darth Vader. Why not! Seems to be the direction this country has been heading in, for a long time now....ARE WE THERE YET?
You did read that it was French psychologists who did this study...didn't you? Perhaps if you actually read the article instead of looking for an excuse to slam our country you would have noticed that.
I know how Darth Vader would handle the oil spill. After each failed attempt to fix it, he would Force choke the BP chief in charge and put the next one in command until he had choked most of them. "I want this leak stopped and not excuses," he would say. Where is Darth Vader when you need him? Needless to say, BP would be put under the jurisdiction of the empire.
I didn't interpret that post as a "slam against our country". The French are esoteric, at best, so why pay any attention to this ridiculous story? Sounds like these "psychologists?" just don't have enough to do these days.
2Wylde4u
Maybe I should have just been blunt to the point and said ",why was this article written in the first place."
We in America are dealing with much more serious issues than the French and Psychoanalyzing Darth Vader.
Does that work for you now? Maybe if the Article talked about real people it would have had more relevance to me.
I am allow to make a comment my way aren't I, without being PSYCHOANALYZED by the other posters OKAY!
It was never intended to bash this Country!
Wilberta,
Psychoanalyzing of fictional characters is not new.
Anytime you read a book in English class, you probably psychoanalyzed the characters. Anytime you read a novel, perhaps without realizing it, you psychoanalyze the characters. "Why did character X do Y? Oh, because he's flirtatious/quirky/dominating/aggressive etc."
Just because novels and movies are made up by someone doesn't mean we can't analyze them. We also analyze other kinds of art, like painting, sculpture, photography, etc.
Why are you so against this?
Also, if you only want to concern yourself with what you deem "serious" subjects like the economic crisis, perhaps you would prefer to not read articles like this, and just read the ones that you find interesting.
Thank you :)
Are the bloggers that are slamming French psychoanalysts for discussing fluff the same fans of Sex in the City? The entire premise was fluff.
And haven't any of you discussed any of the movies or cartoons you watched when you were a kid?
Batman has multiple personality disorder
Superman is delusional (glasses as a disguise? really?)
Lex Luthor is just a typical 21st century capitalist -- greed is good!
As the article states - Vader is NOT REAL! These shrinks are actually going to write this up and have it printed in the journal of Psychiatric Research? I can't believe the journal is actually going to accept a paper like this!
I can see if this was done as a student's paper for class... but to have actual doctors/researchers put in their own theories as to whether Vader had a personality disorder or whatever... what a total and utter waste of time and resources.
I agree with the author that these researchers need to examine themselves for their own delusional disorders - obviously they have one, if not several. Self-centerness being one of them.
My favorite villain is Hannibal Lecter, who no doubt was suffering from a severe eating disorder.
My favorite villain is Hannibal Lecter, who no doubt was suffering from a sever eating disorder.
My favorite villain is Hannibal Lecter, who was obviously suffering from a severe eating disorder.
James Bond's Dr. No suffered from Uncooperative Toddler Syndrome.
The henchman, Jaws, kept hearing voices that said "You're gonna need a bigger boat."
I, Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, have coped with something called "Codus Redinitus." I can't explain what it is exactly because "YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
All superheroes and supervillains must have some mental problem. Why else would they think tights and a cape are adequate coping methods?
It's not a cape. It's a security blanket - just ask Linus!
I guess these shrinks forgot that Vader had a master (Darth Sideous/Palpatine) who was calling the shots from behind the scenes. He was part of a long chain of tradition of Dark Lords of the Sith (Dark Force users).
Funny that these French shrinks diagnose Darth Vader years after the last movie ended. I guess their lives were getting boring.
I guess now that people on Sith sites have something to talk about.
Will there be diagnoses for Darth Maul, Darth Tyrannus (Dooku), Darth Bane, Darth Revan, and all other Sith Lords?
Sith could care less how they are diagnosed in our galaxy as long as they rule their galaxy and have in the words of Palpatine "Unlimited Power!" (No one argues with a guy that has millions of volts!)
mental illness is the foundation for all super-human abilities! would a mentally sound person dress in a leather body suit or tights and go around constantly exposing themselves to potentially fatal situations? uh, no!
also, analyzing public figures, both fiction and non, is just really fun.
my favorite superhero is probably elektra, who clearly suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and most likely has an avoidant personalilty disorder.
NO ONE who has not suffered has achieved greatness.
Is this loony "doc" stupid?
A villain to analyze who's mind is definitely in question is Ben Linus from "Lost". There are some serious issues with that cat. Ruling the others for so long only to be tricked in to killing Jacob. That's a therapy session I'd love to sit in on.
I knew there was something wrong with Dick Cheney!
I didn't need a paper from a bunch of doctors to have that one figured out all on my lonesome, when I first saw the Star Wars movies. Some things are simply that obvious, and that Darth Vader was playing with less than a full deck was among them..
but Emperor Palpatine was most definitely a straight shootin' son of a gun, "let me help you to know the subtleties of the FORCE, if one wants to become a complete and wise leader you must embrace a larger view of the FORCE."
try again 'ya medieval witch doctor shrinkies
can they really not just let things be? the problem with America, people spending time and money on things that dont really matter.
rads007,
You're mistaken man! This is the doing of the Frenchies. We're just having a laugh with it because it IS so dumb. Have a little sense of humor and also READ THE ARTICLE before bothering to comment and make accusations against the ENTIRELY WRONG NATION!. COMPREHENSION is a part of reading- you must understand what is read and not just skip parts and assume you've actually read the whole thing, and on top of that assume it says what you wish it to say- instead of what it actually does say.
Yeah, what Merlin said....Perhaps you and Wilberta Berry can co-read the article as you seem to be on the same, Wrong, page.
I'm no French science-fiction imaginary character psychoanalist, but I'd venture to say that both rads007 and Wilberta Berry are both sufferring of some type of focus displacement disorder... or they must (obviously) think that EVERYONE should be fixing the BP oil spill instead of doing whatever else is that we all do.
I guess that makes me wonder... rads007, Wilberta Berry, what have YOU done to fix the oil spill lately?
Lord Voldemort is a sociopath with narcissism. I think he also suffers from trichotillomania, which would explain his baldness, and his stressor being Harry Potter who always foils his plans of gaining immortality, subjugating worthless Muggles, and imprisoning filthy Mudbloods.
LOL funny. Though I don't see people putting laser pointer pot mods and video cams on sharks( DR. evil ref.). Or even people running around in capes and tights. Also people who relate to thing in movies, don't alway's have a problem or disorders. As to the delusional ref. a question, why has the statistical ratio gone from 10% to around 25%? Something for you to think about too
LaboriousCretin "The world was never enough . Cought in the culture clash , solitude or unity we all walk are own path's . Singal dilusional reality or multiple dilusion's shared to form a perspective or peice of reality . Pure insanity or sheer genuis . Who's perspective is correct?"
Hey Bob, ever considered running spell check?
LOL, for the old grumpy person. Did you consider that that was run threw spell check. P.S. I have dyslexia, and don't need the spelling police,just better spell check. Sorry grandpa :).
Why do you think Edna Mode says "NO CAPES!"
Apparently, the French shrinks have too much time on their hands. Reputable, competant shrinks do not try to analyse anyone without talking to them first. The French forged ahead anyway. If you live in France and need a shrink, you now know who not to see for help. Move along now, nothuing to see here, move along. It must be a very slow news day for someone at MSNBC to bother putting this on their front page.
Last I checked. Trying to conquer the universe is crazy. Trust me i tried.
"If it wasn't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable!"
What kind of idiot wastes his time analyzing a movie character? Darth Vader mentally ill? Next they'll say Indiana Jones has a superiority complex.
Nope. Indiana Jones has an inferiority complex. He is always trying to accomplish the things his father has failed at. hahahahahahahaha
I think Freud would have a field day analyzing Indiana Jones's mastery of the whip...
Geezus people, lighten up. The head shrinker was just applying what he knows to a fictional character. Anakin developed mental issues --- duh. Big deal. If only George Lucas had put half as much thought into those godawful prequals, developing a decent story and proper characters (and hiring an editor to chop out the ridiculous dialogue he wrote) the money I spent on tickets and munchies wouldn't have been wasted.
I agree. There's nothing wrong with using a well-known fictional character to illustrate a point or help clarify a concept. It's been going on for decades. It's a teaching tool as well as a thought experiment.
And yeah, the prequels were awful.
yes, try reading some joseph campbell and learn something about yourself.
Every superhero that dressed in tights with a pair of briefs on the outside is obviously an exhibitionist. This is strange when you also connect it it to the fact that they wear the costumes to protect their real identities. So apparently is is a confusion that has as a result shame and fear of exposure. All of this is compensated for by doing the boy scout thing and butting in on cop business. The interference in police business is also curious as it does indicate that they all have a bit of the bully in them. They interfere because they know they cannot be stopped whereas any normal citizen would be arrested for interfering in police business or investigations, so in a sense they are also demonstrating their contempt for the authorities of the society they claim to be protecting
Geez, I could go on with this forever. It is so silly, stupid and superficial. It also can provide a hell of a lot of laughs
NO WIRE HANGERS! Mommy Dearest who was that anyway? She was really messed up then man! I don't know...Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Mommy Dearest was a biography of an early Hollywood actress named Joan Crawford. And yes, she was VERY messed up in the head. The wire hangar bit was imprinted in her psyche by her mother, who worked as a dry cleaner, and had a raft of issues of her own large enough to open a newsstand.
Knowledge is your friend, idiot, try finding some before you open your yap.
As for applying medical analysis to literary/movie characters, the ability to pick up what makes these people tick is a credit to their creators for using consistent, beleivable motive to drive the characters in their stories. I think with Lucas it was poorly executed, but reasonably well thought out.
James Buchanan, Mommy Dearest is a work of fiction written by a disturbed woman after her mother was dead and unable to defend herself. Family and friends disputed Christina Crawford's accounts of her life. I doubt you have more insight into the Crawford family dynamic than the people who were actually there.
Knowledge is our friend. Name calling is the pervue of children and immature adults. Perhaps you should take your own advice about finding some and keeping your yap shut.