Narcissists and alcoholics and depressives! Oh, my!

White Oleander is a film that is inventive and was beautifully filmed, artistically speaking, but it is much more than just a moving story captured with inventive camera work. When one looks at the characters individually it is apparent that each person is complex and can be analyzed scientifically using psychological principles. This film is abundant in scenes and characters that clearly demonstrate specific psychiatric principles: however, I have chosen to focus on the presence of Depression, specifically Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Narcissism.

The character Ingrid, an artist who was sentenced to prison for murdering her boyfriend, is a Narcissist. Narcissism is a Cluster B personality disorder that is characterized by individuals with an unrealistic sense of self-importance, the inability to accept criticism, a tendency to manipulate others, and that lack empathy (King, 2008, p. 556). Narcissists also tend to value their beauty and talents more than the average person, believe himself or herself to be “special” or “different,” need constant admiration, and are arrogant. “Research shows that narcissists become aggressive when they feel an ego threat—confronted with proof that they aren't special—or feel they aren't getting enough respect. In the lab, they are willing to punish other experimental subjects with a noise blast when they think they've been put down” (Vogel, 2006, p. 2).

Ingrid displays many characteristics of a Narcissist throughout the movie, but they are particularly apparent in the final prison visit scene where she tells Astrid about her childhood, including information regarding Astrid’s estranged father. It was almost impossible for Ingrid to admit that she loved someone who did not want her back. I believe the fact Astrid’s father tried to rekindle his relationship with Astrid really made Ingrid irate because she could not accept that anyone could love Astrid more than they loved her. Ingrid’s inability to accept that she was not important to a man she once loved shows some of her Narcissistic qualities.

Ingrid also tells Astrid that she left her to another woman’s care for over a year when Astrid was just a baby. Her reasons for doing so were incredibly selfish and included needing to have no responsibilities, she was going insane by having someone who demanded her attention when she did not want to give it, and not being able to focus on herself. Ingrid was not able to emphasize with the needs of a child and felt like she was too “special” to be subjected to raising a child without time to devote to her artwork, which relates directly to her Narcissistic personality disorder.     

Click here for a link that will direct you to Psychology Today’s website about personality disorders. The article entitled “A field guide to Narcissism” is a great tool in identifying characteristics of Narcissism written in a format that is easy to follow.

Claire, a struggling actress, is a very sensitive woman who suffers from Depression and eventually commits suicide. Depression is a mood disorder that is characterized by constant feelings of sadness, changes in appetite, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, devastating hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. I believe Claire suffered from MDD, which is when an individual suffers from “a major depressive episode and depressed characteristics, such as lethargy and hopelessness, lasting at least two weeks” (King, 2008, p. 540). 

 The scene where Claire reveals that she may be depressed is the scene in which she commits suicide by overdosing on alcohol and prescription pills. “The most common psychological disorders among individuals who commit suicide are depression and anxiety” (King, 2008, p. 547). I have included this statement because it clearly supports my theory that Claire was depressed. Also, Claire’s suicide shows the depth of her sadness and hopelessness, and considering this was not her first suicide attempt, the probability that Claire suffered from MDD before killing herself is highly probable. 

The following link will take you to a website that provides more information pertaining symptoms of Depression and possible treatments.

 

References

King, L. (2008). The science of psychology: An appreciative view. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Vogel, C. (2006). A field guide to Narcissism [Electronic version]. Psychology Today, 1-4.       Retrieved May 4, 2009, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php? term=20051209-000005&page=4    

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. (2009). Learning about Depression: Symptoms of Depression. Retrieved May 4, 2009, from http://www.pristiq.com/depression_symptoms.aspx