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Is Anakin Skywalker suffering from borderline personality disorder?
Abstract
Anakin Skywalker, one of the main characters in the "Star Wars" films, meets the criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). This finding is interesting for it may partly explain the commercial success of these movies among adolescents and be useful in educating the general public and medical students about BPD symptoms.
... A jornada de Anakin Skywalker, ao longo dos filmes da franquia "Star Wars", oferece um cenário rico para a análise do TPB. Os comportamentos, decisões e desafios emocionais do personagem ao longo da saga fornecem uma clareza valiosa sobre sintomas e características relacionadas ao TPB, permitindo uma compreensão mais profunda das complexas interações cognitivas e comportamentais envolvidas nesse transtorno (BUI et al, 2011). ...
... Por fim, serão discutidas as implicações para a psicopatologia e a terapia cognitivocomportamental, destacando a relevância do estudo do TPB em contextos tanto ficcionais quanto reais. (BUI et al, 2011;MENEZES et al, 2014). ...
... O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para o aprofundamento do entendimento do TPB, proporcionando uma análise crítica sob uma perspectiva interdisciplinar. Ao fazê-lo, espera-se lançar luz sobre as complexidades desse transtorno e suas possíveis aplicações na prática clínica, bem como incentivar a reflexão sobre a importância da ficção como ferramenta de exploração e compreensão dos fenômenos psicológicos (BUI et al, 2011). ...
Neste trabalho foi realizada uma análise interdisciplinar da jornada do personagem Anakin Skywalker, da saga Star Wars e o desenvolvimento do Transtorno de Personalidade Borderline (TPB)
à luz da Teoria Cognitivo-Comportamental (TCC). A pesquisa explorou os sintomas do TPB evidenciados na trajetória de Anakin, incluindo impulsividade, dificuldade em controlar a raiva, medo
intenso do abandono, episódios dissociativos, idealização e desvalorização alternadas, além de questões de identidade. Foram discutidas intervenções terapêuticas potenciais, como a Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental (TCC) e a Terapia Dialética Comportamental (TCD), destacando sua aplicação na jornada de Anakin. Além disso, foram apresentadas implicações significativas para a psicopatologia e a TCC, incluindo a relevância do diagnóstico precoce do TPB, a validação das experiências dos pacientes e a importância de abordar comportamentos autodestrutivos. Este estudo contribui para uma compreensão mais profunda do TPB e suas implicações terapêuticas, destacando a aplicabilidade da TCC e TCD no tratamento desse transtorno complexo
... Anakin later develops into the villain Darth Vader. Some claim this character, probably one of the most well-known villains in the history of cinema, is among the main factors explaining Star Wars' success (Bui et al., 2011). Anakin Skywalker is a Force-sensitive human male, considered the Chosen One by some, and was a Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic. ...
... From the categorical diagnosis perspective, the literature tends to agree that Anakin Skywalker had BPD (Bui et al., 2011;Carvalho, 2017;Friedman & Hall, 2015a, 2015bHall & Friedman, 2015;Tobia et al., 2015), although there are controversies (Rocha et al., 2012). The BPD can be difficult to diagnose because of the symptoms it shares with other conditions, mainly mood disorders (Biskin & Paris, 2012). ...
Objective: Previous publications have focused on a leading pop culture phenomenon, Star Wars, to teach several issues in psychiatry, which can make understanding challenging themes easier. This article delves into matters of differential diagnoses regarding two psychiatric disorders. Methods: We examine and compare the symptoms and specificities of borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder in the light of the fictional villain of the films, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker. Results and Conclusion: Our considerations of his diagnosis should be interpreted as an academic exercise with two main goals: to discuss the differential diagnosis between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder in an illustrative, soft, and ludic way; and to teach how to connect one’s behaviors with diagnostic criteria - in this case, those related to borderline personality disorder.
... Aqui encontra um Mestre Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, uma primeira figura paterna de substituição que o encoraja à aventura. Esta personagem revela a identidade do pai e lega-lhe o sabre de luz que lhe pertencia (símbolo fálico) (Balaban, 2012 (Bui et al., 2011;Tobia et al., 2015). Através de uma exploração psicodinâmica da trajetória desenvolvimental de Anakin Skywalker (ausência do pai e separação precoce da mãe, utilização de defesas primitivas, dificuldades na regulação emocional, angústias de abandono, entre outros), Bui et al. (2011) identificam traços psíquicos de perturbação de personalidade borderline, colocando a hipótese destas características da personagem principal constituírem um dos motivos do sucesso de Star Wars junto da população adolescente. ...
... Esta personagem revela a identidade do pai e lega-lhe o sabre de luz que lhe pertencia (símbolo fálico) (Balaban, 2012 (Bui et al., 2011;Tobia et al., 2015). Através de uma exploração psicodinâmica da trajetória desenvolvimental de Anakin Skywalker (ausência do pai e separação precoce da mãe, utilização de defesas primitivas, dificuldades na regulação emocional, angústias de abandono, entre outros), Bui et al. (2011) identificam traços psíquicos de perturbação de personalidade borderline, colocando a hipótese destas características da personagem principal constituírem um dos motivos do sucesso de Star Wars junto da população adolescente. ...
... A trilogia filmada posteriormente, que constitui uma prequela aos filmes originais, apresenta a história de vida de Anakin Skywalker, desde a infância como pequeno rapaz escravo que vive sozinho com a mãe Shmi Skywalker no planeta Tatooine (em The Phantom Menace de 1999), passando pela relação amorosa com a imperatriz menina Padmé (em Attack of the Clones de 2002), até à queda em desgraça e transformação em Darth Vader (em Revenge of the Sith de 2005). Trabalhos recentes destacam o potencial pedagógico dos filmes desta trilogia, tanto para o público em geral como para os estudantes de medicina (Bui et al., 2011;Tobia et al., 2015). Através de uma exploração psicodinâmica da trajetória desenvolvimental de Anakin Skywalker (ausência do pai e separação precoce da mãe, utilização de defesas primitivas, dificuldades na regulação emocional, angústias de abandono, entre outros), Bui et al. (2011) identificam traços psíquicos de perturbação de personalidade borderline, colocando a hipótese destas características da personagem principal constituírem um dos motivos do sucesso de Star Wars junto da população adolescente. ...
... Trabalhos recentes destacam o potencial pedagógico dos filmes desta trilogia, tanto para o público em geral como para os estudantes de medicina (Bui et al., 2011;Tobia et al., 2015). Através de uma exploração psicodinâmica da trajetória desenvolvimental de Anakin Skywalker (ausência do pai e separação precoce da mãe, utilização de defesas primitivas, dificuldades na regulação emocional, angústias de abandono, entre outros), Bui et al. (2011) identificam traços psíquicos de perturbação de personalidade borderline, colocando a hipótese destas características da personagem principal constituírem um dos motivos do sucesso de Star Wars junto da população adolescente. ...
O presente artigo recorre ao conceito de fantasia inconsciente como instrumento de análise de um conjunto heterogéneo de filmes de ficção científica, desde a space opera ao filme sobre viagens no tempo, que marcaram este género cinematográfico, desde a década de 50 do século passado à atualidade. Através de uma revisão da literatura, do tipo narrativo ou não sistemático, procurou-se identificar e explorar as protofantasias subjacentes à trama dramática de obras fílmicas de referência, nomeadamente as fantasias de sedução, castração e da cena primitiva. O cinema de ficção científica parece facultar uma espécie de mitologia arquetípica contemporânea, com os seus próprios deuses e heróis, em conexão com as fantasias originárias dramatizadas, cuja apropriação idiossincrática é transversal a povos e culturas diferentes.
... political, legal, economic, social and ethical issues that the saga raises (Brode and Deyneka, 2012;Casey and Kenny, 2021;Eberl and Decker, 2016;Rousu et al., 2022;Sunstein, 2016;Wetmore, 2017); evaluate the evolution of costumes in the movies (King and Ridgway, 2019); characterise the fans of the saga (V€ olcker, 2016) and discuss the immersive process in the Star Wars-role play community of Second Life (Guitton, 2012) and the retro branding of Episode I (Brown et al., 2003). Psychologists analyse the personalities of the main characters (Bui et al., 2011;Guerrero and Cunanan, 2021). Engineers assess the feasibility of robots in the franchise (Murphy, 2018). ...
Purpose
This viewpoint is a response to Yeoman's (2022) editorial on Sunderland AFC and the future of tourism. This viewpoint aims to outline the lessons one can learn from Star Wars about the future of tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the live-action movies and series of the Star Wars franchise.
Findings
The paper derives specific conclusions in the following directions: the future technology in travel, tourism and hospitality; the tourists' motivation and behaviour; the management of travel, tourism and hospitality companies; destination management; economy and society and lessons from the franchise.
Originality/value
This is one of the first papers to elaborate on the lessons one can learn about the future of tourism from the Star Wars live-action movies and series.
... He is thus perceived as a contender to become the 'Chosen One', who according to an ancient Jedi prophecy, will bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith Order. 2 As shown in Star Wars Episode II: The Clone Wars (2002), the course of events is, however, complicated by Skywalker suffering from severe emotional problems during his training to become a Jedi Knight. Although it remains a matter of intense scientific debate (da Rocha et al. 2012;Tobia et al. 2015), Skywalker appears to develop a borderline personality disorder during his formative years (Bui et al. 2011). The emotionally unstable Skywalker secretly gets married even though Fig. 1 The 'middle ground hypothesis'. ...
According to the ‘middle ground hypothesis’ formulated by the neuroscientist E. Paul Zehr, case studies from popular culture may facilitate discovery learning in physiology education. In the present chapter, I present and evaluate the use of Darth Vader from the Star Wars saga and Miles Dyson from the Terminator franchise for teaching respiratory and cardiovascular physiology to 2nd-year medical students. Based on evaluation forms from 50 students, my findings suggest that students find the use of cases from popular culture instructive, involving, and entertaining. End-term multiple choice tests on the relevant core curriculum in 67 students who had been taught with the use popular culture case studies and in 51 who had not, furthermore showed that the former achieved the highest test scores. The use of case studies from popular culture thus appears to be an effective means for enhancing student learning, conceivably by reaching into the students’ affective domain while also providing a familiar mental landscape where the scientific principles can be explored.
... Skywalker sets off as a highly talented member of the monastic Jedi Order, which serves the Galactic Republic as a peacekeeping paramilitary elite unit. The course of events is, however, complicated by Skywalker developing severe emotional problems in his youth, probably due to a borderline personality disorder (3,6), although the applicability of this diagnosis in Skywalker's case remains the subject of intense scientific debate (3b). His emotional problems lead to numerous conflicts with his Jedi Masters, and Skywalker repeatedly violates Jedi Code, for example, by getting married and (even worse) by conducting an unauthorized massacre on a whole village in a fit of rage. ...
case studies from popular culture have proven to be useful tools for conveying various physiological concepts to undergraduate physiology and medical students ([16][1]). This motivated us to use Anakin Skywalker, also known as Darth Vader, from the Star Wars saga to teach respiratory physiology ([1
... Thus it is possible that various religious practices could represent biomemes: manifestations of a symbiosis between informational memes [54] and biological organisms. This concept is somewhat similar to the fictional midichlorians of the Jedi Order from the popular series "Star Wars" [55]. ...
Cutting edge research of human microbiome diversity has led to the development of the microbiome-gut-brain axis concept, based on the idea that gut microbes may have an impact on the behavior of their human hosts. Many examples of behavior-altering parasites are known to affect members of the animal kingdom. Some prominent examples include Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (fungi), Toxoplasma gondii (protista), Wolbachia (bacteria), Glyptapanteles sp. (arthropoda), Spinochordodes tellinii (nematomorpha) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (flat worm). These organisms belong to a very diverse set of taxonomic groups suggesting that the phenomena of parasitic host control might be more common in nature than currently established and possibly overlooked in humans.
Presentation of the hypothesis
Some microorganisms would gain an evolutionary advantage by encouraging human hosts to perform certain rituals that favor microbial transmission. We hypothesize that certain aspects of religious behavior observed in the human society could be influenced by microbial host control and that the transmission of some religious rituals could be regarded as the simultaneous transmission of both ideas (memes) and parasitic organisms.
Testing the hypothesis
We predict that next-generation microbiome sequencing of samples obtained from gut or brain tissues of control subjects and subjects with a history of voluntary active participation in certain religious rituals that promote microbial transmission will lead to the discovery of microbes, whose presence has a consistent and positive association with religious behavior. Our hypothesis also predicts a decline of participation in religious rituals in societies with improved sanitation.
Implications of the hypothesis
If proven true, our hypothesis may provide insights on the origin and pervasiveness of certain religious practices and provide an alternative explanation for recently published positive associations between parasite-stress and religiosity. The discovery of novel microorganisms that affect host behavior may improve our understanding of neurobiology and neurochemistry, while the diversity of such organisms may be of interest to evolutionary biologists and religious scholars.
This article was reviewed by Prof. Dan Graur, Dr. Rob Knight and Dr. Eugene Koonin
... In their commentary, da Rocha et al. (2012) argue that Anakin Skywalker does not present borderline personality disorder (BPD) (Bui et al., 2011). To the best of our knowledge, Anakin has never participated in a psychiatric interview nor consulted a psychiatrist; it is therefore true that without such proper assessment, no definitive diagnosis will ever be reached. ...
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) spread from Wuhan in China (2019) around the globe and this pandemic of 2020 was a salient public health emergency and psychosocial shock event that influenced the lives of almost all humans on Earth. This study synthesizes the pandemic processes over timescape 2020-24, from the >663 million humans who were infected over 2020-21 when >21.3 million died due to Covid and secondary excess mortality, and >70% of all humans were subjected to various societal restrictions and lockdowns, such as ~4.5 billion humans over may 2020 alone. The societal lockdowns and largest global economic peturbation in a century (-3% world GDP, xx% peak inflation, rent from xx to xx, energy prices rose xx%), which coincided with a collective drop in life expectancy and mental health and well-being, especially more anxiety, depression, suicides, and domestic violence against women and children were recorded. Coronavirus exploited social contact and transport, urbanization, liberalism, anxiety, and societal lockdowns.
Humans showed marked emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and societal responses over 2020-23, and the collective focused on virus mutations, vaccines, breakthrough infections, long-Covid, and more stress, loneliness, polarization, demonstrations, riots, violence, and conspiracy theories, with more authoritarianism and government coups around the globe (e.g., US Insurrection, 2021). When Russia invaded Ukraine (≥22w8) war returned to Europe, and globally more refugees were observed than since the second world war (WW2). Over 2020-24 we witnessed major individual, sociocultural, geopolitical, and technological changes, from the rise of TikTok and mainstream Artifical Intelligence (ChatGTPo4) to #BLM and second wave of #MeToo, which affected the collective psyche and discourse, and coronavirus and overt nuclear threat coincided with an unprecedented series of natural disasters and record heatwaves that confirmed humans had created a #ClimateCrisis of planetary proportions. Over 2023-24 the planetary climate ventured into uncharted territory driven by the human industrial revolution (>1830). Most humans described the pandemic years 2020-22 as the hardest and most stressful years they had experienced in their lifetime, which affected a generation of young humans. Over 2023 the collective return to “normalcy” was hampered by Ukranian and Israelian wars, cost-of-living crisis, and climate disasters that made humans realize the world had changed into an era of conflict. The pandemic timescape 2020-23 was an unique period in time to learn about human psychology and collective preparedness (a natural experiment), as engagement with natural hazards is a master task of civilizations. Psychological theories could be examined across contexts and in diverse samples, who were often exposed to comparable collective stressors of personal significance. Such perturbations can help to study human stress dynamics and complex social systems, beyond what can be learned from more stable periods. The collective changes and interconnected consequential events over 2020-23 including the global rise in military spending, government control, radical right politics, and a decline in freedom of speech, made this timescape a mini "Axial-period" that shapes the decades ahead.
Darth Vader is one of the most infamous villains in cinematic history. The purpose of this article is to introduce a cognitive analytic therapy perspective on Anakin's early experiences, and how they influenced him on his journey towards darkness.
The pop culture phenomenon of Star Wars has been underutilised as a vehicle to teach about psychiatry. It is well known to students, registrars, and consultants alike. New Star Wars films are expected out in 2015, which will likely lead to further popularity. The purpose of this article is to illustrate psychopathology and psychiatric themes demonstrated by supporting characters, and ways they can be used to teach concepts in a hypothetical yet memorable way.
Using the minor characters as a springboard for teaching has the benefit of students not having preconceived notions about them. Characters can be used to approach teaching about ADHD, anxiety, kleptomania and paedophilia.
© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.
Star Wars is well known, timeless, universal, and incorporated into shared culture. Trainees have grown up with the movies, and based on their enduring popularity, attending psychiatrists are likely to have seen them too. This article highlights psychopathology from the Dark Side of Star Wars films which can be used in teaching. These include as follows: borderline and narcissistic personality traits, psychopathy, PTSD, partner violence risk, developmental stages, and of course Oedipal conflicts.
Case studies are a cornerstone of medical education and have been shown to be effective teaching tools. When teaching is entertaining, learning is enhanced and, therefore, strange and unusual cases present the opportunity to illustrate issues of disorder and illness in an engaging manner. The author illustrates this concept by presenting the life and character of Joshua Norton, who declared himself Emperor of the USA in 1859 and "reigned" until his death in 1880. Although grandiose claims are not rare among patients, Norton is unlike most self-proclaimed royalty in that his community embraced him and joined in with his fantasy. No psychiatrist or psychologist has ever opined on the matter of whether or not Norton's claims stemmed from mental disorder, and the author therefore presents Emperor Norton as a unique case in psychiatric history to explore first what diagnosis best explains his story and, second, whether he merits a diagnosis at all.
To replicate and extend Cramer's (1987) original cross-sectional study concerning the development of defense mechanisms, the Thematic Apperception Test responses of 148 students in Grades 2, 5, 8, 11, and college freshmen were collected and scored for denial, projection, and identification using Cramer's Defense Mechanisms Manual (1991). Our results supported the notion that the relative use of denial and projection decreases and identification increases as a function of grade level. The findings provide additional support for the psychoanalytic view (Freud, 1966) of an ontogenetic developmental line of defense.
To estimate the frequency of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in French high school students.
A random sample of high school students (n = 1363) ranging in age from 13 to 20 years agreed to complete a questionnaire, the Screening Test for Comorbid Personality Disorders (STCPD); 107 of them volunteered to be interviewed. We assessed this group using the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R). We conducted a regression analysis to determine a cut-off for BPD diagnosis with the STCPD.
We estimated the overall frequency of BPD to be 10% for boys and 18% for girls. After a peak of frequency at age 14 years for both sexes, the frequency increased significantly again in late adolescence.
This study found a high frequency of BPD in French adolescents, which adds to questions regarding the validity of diagnosing this disorder in adolescents.
Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2003 Film as Religion argues that popular films perform a religious function in our culture. Like more formal religious institutions, films can provide us with ways to view the world and values to confront it. Lyden contends that approaches which interpret films only ideologically or theologically miss the mark in understanding their appeal to viewers. He develops an alternative method which shows how films can be understood as representing a "religious" worldview in their own right. Lyden surveys the state of the study of religion and film, offering an overview of previous methods before presenting his own. Rather than seeking to uncover hidden meanings in film detectable only to scholars, Lyden emphasizes how film functions for its audiences?the beliefs and values it conveys, and its ritual power to provide emotional catharsis. He includes a number of brief cases studies in which he applies this method to the study of film genres-including westerns and action movies, children's films, and romantic comedies-and individual films from The Godfather to E.T., showing how films can function religiously.
Four different models of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), each based on a different psychopathological theory, have produced manualized treatments and on this basis controlled outcome studies that evidenced their efficacy. It can be argued, on the ground of the comparable results of the outcome studies, that these different treatments share a common mechanism of action related to the same psychopathological kernel of BPD. The hypothesis that such a psychopathological kernel can be described as dissociative and caused by chronic psychological traumatization in the developmental years allows for a synthetic description of the basic psychotherapy processes allegedly shared by the four different models of BPD treatment.
Stigma in society causes harm to people with severe mental illness (SMI) and internalized stigma represents its psychological point of impact. We evaluated the extent of internalized stigma in a sample of outpatients with SMI, using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale, developed with consumer input. About a third of the sample reported high levels of internalized stigma. We tested whether internalized stigma predicted increased depressive symptoms and reduced self-esteem at 4-month follow-up, controlling for baseline levels. Depression was predicted by Alienation, Stereotype Endorsement, Social Withdrawal Scales and total ISMI score. Reduced self-esteem was predicted by Alienation. ISMI results were stronger than those for the widely used Devaluation-Discrimination Scale. The finding that alienation further reduces morale speaks to the difficulty of pulling oneself out of this type of vicious cycle without assistance.
Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) were compared with a healthy control group with regard to traumatic life events during childhood. The patients (n=66) and controls (n=109) were investigated using a comprehensive retrospective interview with 203 questions about childhood traumatic life events, parental attitudes, family history of psychiatric disorders and birth risk factors. The frequency of reports of traumatic childhood experiences was significantly higher in patients than in controls, including sexual abuse, violence, separation from parents, childhood illness, and other factors. On a 0- to 10-point "severe trauma scale," patients had significantly more severe traumatic events (mean score=3.86, SD=1.77) than control subjects (0.61, SD=0.93). Only four (6.1%) of the BPD patients, but 67 (61.5%) of the controls did not report any severe traumatic events at all. Compared with controls, patients described the attitude of their parents as significantly more unfavorable in all aspects. Patients reported significantly higher rates of psychiatric disorders in their families in general, especially anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidality. Among birth risk factors, premature birth was reported more often in BPD subjects. In a logistic regression model of all possible etiological factors examined, the following factors showed a significant influence: familial neurotic spectrum disorders, childhood sexual abuse, separation from parents and unfavorable parental rearing styles. The present data support the hypothesis that the etiology of BPD is multifactorial and that familial psychiatric disorders and sexual abuse are contributing factors.
Cluster B personality disorders: borderline. Psychodynamic Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
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