Abstract
Many behaviors showed by children and adults are learned from television shows, movies, and novels. Fictional characters in a movie demonstrate specific types of behaviors that viewers and readers end up adopting in reality. The analysis of a movie helps in associating these characters to a specific psychological disorder. The aim of the paper is to analyze the character of Ariel in the Disney Movie Show “The Little Mermaid.” Ariel demonstrated hoarding disorder in the cartoon movie. The behavior of keeping many items in an untidy manner characterizes the disorder. Risk factors associated with the disorder include personality, age, anxiety, family history, and trauma. The recommended treatment for the disorder is the use of cognitive therapy behaviors.
Introduction
Television shows, movies, and novels play a significant role in the life of a human being. Many people develop habits of watching different types of shows and movies because of a character they admire or love watching. However, many of these shows influence the behavior of the person watching, especially children, because of behaviors portrayed by characters. Children spend the most time watching educational television shows in the form of cartoons that end up influencing their psychological behaviors. According to Ostrov, Gentile, and Mullins (2013), educational shows for children come with added lessons that have a significant impact on the behavior of the child. Some character changes observed among children include aggressiveness and prosocial behavior. The following paper analysis a fictitious character of Ariel in a Disney Cartoon movie “The Little Mermaid”). The analysis focuses on the character’s behaviors, symptoms of mental disorder, causes, and recommended treatments.
The Little Mermaid represents a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen in the Disney movie. The main character of the movie is a young mermaid called Ariel who wishes to give her life in the sea and change her identity to become a human being. She is rated the most endearing Disney princesses because of she has big dreams, undying love, and looks innocent and beautiful. She can change from one species to another, but there is one aspect of her life that she cannot change, the behavior. Ariel portrays some characters and behaviors that question her mentality. She lives in a cave filled with items of different types. However, Ariel seems not ready to go her items no matter how insignificant they seem in the cave (IMDB, 2016).
Behavior and symptoms
Ariel suffers the hoarding disorder, a type of mental disorder where an individual experiences difficulties to part with possessions because they have a high-perceived need of saving them. The individual lives in a cramped living area leaving limited spaces for movement and other activities. Ariel filled her cave with all her possessions she gathered many years ago, and she continued adding more possessions despite the cave overflowing with items. Major types of things people suffering from the disorder hoard include papers, books, containers, clothing, and some people go to an extent of hoarding rotten food and garbage (Bratiotis, Otte, Steketee et al., 2009).
An individual suffering from the hoarding psychological disorder demonstrates the following symptoms. The first symptom is the inability to get rid of possessions and suffers from severe anxiety whenever they attempt to throw away these possessions. Second, the character experiences difficulties organizing their items. A look at Ariel’s cave revealed how poor she is arranging her items in order since they are scattered everywhere. The symptom also makes the poor in deciding where to keep specific items since they have equal significance. Moreover, an individual has difficulties managing daily activities and challenges making a decision. Ariel was in love with a human Prince and wanted to change her form from a mermaid to a human being, but she experienced hardships managing her schedules and was could spend more time procrastinating. Third, an individual feels distressed and embarrassed by their possessions. Finally, a person shows symptoms of functional impairments characterized by difficulties managing finances, social isolation, loss of living space, and family or marital discord (Neziroglu, 2015).
Causes of the mental disorder
Hoarding falls under the class of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affecting one in every four people suffering from OCD. Experts in the field of psychology continue to carry out investigations into causes and effects of the disorder and it has higher chances of falling under its distinct category in the future. Psychology professionals have not established the primary cause of the hoarding disorder, but some associate it with genes transfer, stresses in life, and brain chemistry. Additionally, risk factors associated with the disorder include personality, family history, stressful life events, social isolation, and age (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014).
In the cartoon "The Little Mermaid", Ariel seems to have a stressful life as well as brain sufferings because she is always looking for a way of changing her form from a mermaid to a human. She is in love with a human being and realizes the man can only love her when she transforms into a human. Likewise, people suffering from hoarding disorder experience traumatic and stressful events that force them to hoard items as a method of overcoming stresses.
Genes also associate with the hoarding behavior. Studies on t the relationship between the genetic formation of the individual and the character revealed some predispositions associated with the disorder. A study by Canale and Klontz on causes of hoarding disorder revealed genetic factors attribute to 50 percent of people fond of practicing obsessive characters such as hoarding. The hoarding behavior results from genetic vulnerabilities passed down from family generations. Personality acts as another cause of hoarding disorder. Hoarders have severe anxiety and indecisiveness that influences their actions. Personal beliefs, values, and norms contribute to the behavior especially when the person leads a lonely lifestyle.
Recommended treatment
People suffering from hoarding disorder experience different challenges each day. The treatment process involves the use of medicine or primary interventions. Anyone showing characters and symptoms as those explained above should visit a mental health provider like the psychiatrist. People should seek assistance from qualified and experienced psychiatrists when seeking treatment for hoarding disorders. Mental experts recommend primary interventions such as therapies because they have a long-term impact on hoarding disorder. Undertaking Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) assists victims of hoarding disorder to overcome their problems over time. CBT for the hoarding disorder needs effective restructuring strategies to overcome beliefs and emotional attachments in the victim. Examples of CBT for treating hoarding include education and case formulation, motivation enhancement, skills training to assist the victim improve in personal management, solving problems, and making effective decisions, and engaging in activities that promote new behaviors.
On the other hand, victims of hoarding behavior have challenges managing family responsibilities and finances. A Family Therapy plays a critical role in addressing family problems associated with one partner hoarding money and ignoring family responsibilities.
Conclusion
Movie characters influence the real life of a viewer; hence, parents should take extra caution when selecting the type of shows for their children. The hoarding disorder challenges the life of the victim and it may lead to severe obsessive-compulsive disorders that may cause permanent brain damage if not treated early. The analysis shows hoarding disorder appears because of poor social behaviors, stressful life, family history, and age. Psychologists recommend a CBT approach to treatment and prevention of the disorder.
References
Bratiotis, C., Otte, S., Steketee, G., & Frost, R. O. (2009). International OCD Foundation
(IOCDF). Compulsory Hoarding. Retrieved from https://iocdf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Hoarding-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Canale, A., & Klontz, B. (2013). Hoarding disorder: It’s more than just an obsession-
Implications for financial therapists and planners. Journal of Financial Therapy, 4(2), 43-63.
IMDB, Inc. (2016). Synopsis for The Little Mermaid. IMDB. Retrieved 9th June 2016 from
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097757/synopsis?ref_=ttpl_pl_syn
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, May 08). Diseases and conditions: Hoarding disorder. Mayo Clinic.
Retrieved 9th June 2016 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/basics/complications/con-20031337
Neziroglu, F. (2015, July). Hoarding: The basics. Anxiety and Depression Association of
America (ADAA). Retrieved 9th June 2016 from http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/hoarding-basics
Ostrov, J. M., Gentile, D. A., and Mullins, A. D. (2013). Evaluating the effect of educational
media exposure on aggression in early childhood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 34(1), 38-44.
