A Psychological Profile of Doctor Who

This is something I had to write for my Abnormal Psych class recently and I figured that people may enjoy reading it. I am aware that it can be dry at times, but when dealing with medical criteria, its kind of hard to be funny. I hope you enjoy.

Doctor Who

In 1963, the British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, premiered the first episode of Doctor Who. The show was about a man, or rather an alien “Time Lord” who looked remarkably like a man, traveling through time and space in a Time Machine that was disguised as an old 1960’s Police Box. From this original episode, the longest running Science Fiction show ever produced would go on to last well into the 21^st Century with the newest season beginning in the United Kingdom on April 3^rd 2010 and, much like the shows lead character, shows no sign of slowing down. (A Brief History of A Time Lord, n.d.)

The Doctor, who travels from place to place in the TARDIS, is always finding reasons to help people. Sometimes this is at great risk of himself or his companions. He seems to be always excited, going through many thoughts and solutions in the same time it would take someone else to think of one possible solution to the same problem. His speech reflects this, in most cases, in yelling or screaming in excitement before running off to fix the problem at hand. In this, he shows the most of his personality. The companions, who are usually a human who has joined him in his travels, are usually left in the dust wondering what the Doctor is on to when he runs off to fix the problem. Or can only stand back and watch in awe as he saves the day. With observation, one sees that this excited state of mind persists week after week, and as per the fact that the Doctor, within the show’s mythology, is well over 900 years old, it is safe to say that this is an ongoing trend. With each of his regenerations, which are the Time Lord’s way of surviving injuries that would otherwise cause death, his personality does change dramatically each time. However, even with these regenerations, this penchant for being excited most of the time does not seem to diminish or change. If anything, this state of excitement has only increased over the years. (Doctor Who- Beginners Guide, n.d.)

Let’s look at the Doctor’s lifestyle in the context of the Manic Episode criteria as provided by the DSM-IV-TR. According to the DSM-IV-TR, a Manic Episode occurs if the following criteria are met:

A) A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary)

B) During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
1) inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
2) decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
3) more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
4) flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
6) increase in goal-directed activity (at work, at school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
7) excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)

C) The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode

D) The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.

E) The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) (American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV-TR], 2000)

Now as far as the Doctor is concerned does he exhibit enough of the symptoms for a conclusive diagnosis? The first criterion is a discussion of how long the symptoms last (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). For the Doctor, as stated earlier, this aspect of his personality has lasted for many years so therefore I believe it is safe to assume that he does fit this criterion. For the first part of criterion B, it is best to point out how he acted as of the recent Christmas Special “The Waters of Mars”. After the Doctor has saved the day yet again, but in doing so has broken one of the laws of Time according to his own race, he proudly proclaims himself “Time Lord Victorious” and exclaims that the rules no longer apply to him (Davies, 2009). This in itself shows great hubris and in turn fulfills the first symptom of an increased self-esteem or hubris (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). The second of the symptoms cannot really be explored because it is assumed that the Doctor sleeps between episodes, just like any television show, so an accurate description of his sleeping habits is not possible. The next symptom is a flight of ideas, thoughts racing (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). This symptom can be diagnosed as true because throughout the series, usually at the climax of the episode, the Doctor’s mind begins racing and in some cases doing multiple things at once, a specific example of this can be found in the season 5 opener “The Eleventh Hour”. As the Doctor is talking to some of the world leaders on a laptop, he is simultaneously writing a virus on a phone, explaining to them what the virus contains and is talking to the person sitting next to him at a blazing speed of intellectual pondering (Moffett, 2010). To fulfill the criterion B, only three symptoms are required for a proper diagnosis, so that being the case I will move on to the next criterion (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). The symptoms he exhibits does not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode as the only times he finds himself feeling depressed is when asked about his home planet, or about the woman he fell in love with (Davies, 2005). However, the mood disturbances do cause impairment in relationships with others (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). More often than not, he is so excited by what is going on around him that he fails to notice if a person is falling for him or has some sort of issue that needs to be discussed. In fact, in one specific example he finds it hard to admit his love to someone even though they both know it to be true (Davies, 2008). As far as the final criterion, I believe it is safe to assume that the Doctor does not suffer from a pre-existing medical condition as any of his regenerations would have taken care of any disease or malady that he may have suffered from previously. Also, since he is a Time Lord and an alien, and within the series narrative there is no evidence of substance abuse, he does not fit the second part of the final criterion of external influence on his condition.

With the evidence that has been presented I believe that it is safe to diagnose the Doctor with a long lasting Manic Disorder.

A Brief History of a Time Lord (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2010, from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/news/briefhistory/

Doctor Who-Beginners Guide (n.d.) Retrieved April 22, 2010, from

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/guide.shtml

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (Revised 4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Davies, R.T. (Producer).(2005). Doctor Who [Television series]. Cardiff: British Broadcasting Corporation.

Davies, R.T. (Producer).(2009). Doctor Who and the Waters of Mars [Television Special]. Cardiff: British Broadcasting Corporation.

Moffett, Steve. (Producer). (2010). Doctor Who [Television Series]. Cardiff: British Broadcasting Corporation.

Joss Whedon to Direct and Rewrite Avengers

   Today, during my usual perusing of film sites, I stumbled upon the news that Joss Whedon (Firefly, Serenity, Buffy). Has been asked to not only direct The Avengers, announced earlier this week, but has also been asked to rewrite both The Avengers AND Captain America: The First Avenger.  This news can be taken in two ways to be honest.

   The first is relief that two of the geek world’s most anticipated films are in the hands of someone who has been responsible for some of the most memorable American Sci-Fi media for this generation.  This is the same man who brought us Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and the recently canceled Dollhouse.  Each of these shows have garnered near cult followings, with people still wishing for certain shows (Firefly) to be brought back from the dead.  We know from Joss's history that he is more than capable of handling both single character centric and ensemble cast narrative.  

   Something that I have found most of these sites forgetting is that Joss has already dabbled in Marvels stock of characters: He was responsible for the writing of the Astonishing X-Men reboot in 2004.  Even though this series was plagued by many issue delays, it does show that Joss knows his way around a comic book series ensemble.  If his only experience with a comic book world was the musically inclined Dr. Horrible, then I might be a little more wary of him taking the reigns of the upcoming series.

   Another thing to consider with this news is the fact that for the Avengers at least, he will be both the writer and director of the film.  While granted he is basically doing a rewrite of the script that was written by Zak Penn, it still gives him an opportunity to put his own flavor to the story and then take that and put it on the screen himself.  I am one of the very firm belief that someone who both writes and directs his own film creates a much better film.  It is the direct connection between the writer and director that allows the vision to be brought more vividly to film.  Joss is also known for subtlety, and with the opportunity to add a lot of himself to the script's I know that that subtlety will be brought to the silver screen.

   On the opposite end of this spectrum is the fact that while Joss is revered by a large majority of sci-fi fantasy fans.  He hasn't always had the most illustrious career.  He has had his failings when it comes to his own stories.  Firefly would probably be the best example.  This show, as well as Dollhouse, suffered from the subtlety I mentioned earlier.  Firefly was canceled by FOX after its first season.  A show that could have lasted for years was killed before its feet were off the ground.  Most people would blame FOX's lack of vision, and I for one and inclined to agree with them.  However, there is the side that Joss's subtlety caused all but the most hardcore viewers to lose interest quickly and simply change the channel.  When it comes to television, it is a sad but true fact that if the viewer ship isn't high enough to counterbalance the costs of the show, there is no reason to continue shelling out money to the show.  Its simple business, I think anyone in the position of FOX at that time would have likely made a similar decision.  The same is true for Dollhouse, it suffered rather then prospered from the subtlety.  Of course, the difference here is that Joss is writing two films and directing one.  It’s not the same if the film is a bomb (which I doubt).  If it does not do well in theaters, Joss has already finished his job months prior, sets have been striked, and by the time theatergoers are watching the Avengers Assemble on screen, it’s highly likely another film is being shot on the same spot.  I mean, we aren't going to get a cancellation of the movie halfway through us watching it.  Therefore Joss knows his constraints on the story, though he might have plot points bleed over from Captain America to the Avengers, it is still a complete story contained within approximately four or five hours.

   I for one am excited by this news, and I simply look at it cautiously for the fact of these are characters that are beloved by many people, and with Iron Man already a hit, and Iron Man 2 set to do the same, it is a big deal to a lot of people that these characters be brought to the screen faithfully and carefully.  Of course, I think once audiences see the Shield, the Suit, and Moljner on screen at the same time, I don't think they will really care who wrote it or directed it as long as the film entertains them.

well, this didn't work, I will attempt this again when I can actually afford to go see movies on a regular basis.

Opening Words

Introductions have never quite been my forte. But seeing as how this is the first post for what could hopefully be an ongoing blog about new films as they come out, I'll take the chance to introduce myself as Jacob. I'm a freelance media consultant and producer. I have a passion for film and hope to convey that in my posts. I'm sure starting out the posts will be relatively infrequent as I try to find the best day to produce and release this blog. In time I plan on adding a podcast to this as well, but first I'll see how just the blog itself goes. Look for the next blog late Monday night or Tuesday.