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Gregory House is the main character on the series ''Italic text''House''Italic text'' on NBC. Dr. House’s bizarre characteristics appear to be attributed to Antisocial Personality Disorder ( APD ). Although this mental illness is never acknowledged on the show, House’s mannerisms match the diagnostic criteria for APD as indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition ( DSM-IV ). To be officially diagnosed with APD , one must exhibit three out of seven specified symptoms associated with a disregard for and violation of the rights of others. House actually meets five out of the seven criteria: deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, consistent irresponsibility, and lack of remorse. (The last two criteria – repeated lawbreaking activities and disregard for the safety of others – are not as prevalent.) He frequently deceives colleagues and patients as a means to getting what he wants, even if it goes against the hospital protocol. House’s impulsivity may have a strong relation to his position as an emergency room physician – he is forced to think and act quickly in order to save lives. It often seems, though, that his decisions are even more impulsive than what is considered for an ER doctor. The chronic physical pain that House experiences, combined with emotional distress from his failed marriage, contributes greatly to his moodiness and irritability. What may seem to the viewer to be minor annoyances can be enough to set off House’s quick temper. Consistent irresponsibility is noticeable through House’s general lack of professionalism. The fact that House lacks remorse quickly becomes obvious to the viewer; he feels no compassion or empathy for his patients, does not care if they feel pain, and does not care about the psychological well-being of the patients or their families. As long as he is able to make a correct diagnosis and save the patient in the long-run, the methods he uses to accomplish this goal do not matter to him. APD is often erroneously associated with Psychopathic and criminal behavior. A Psychopath does, by definition, suffer from APD ; however, all persons with APD do not exhibit the extreme qualities of Psychopathic disorders, and the majority of antisocial individuals are not criminals. Many, if not most, individuals who suffer from a mental illness do not fit the mold of the stereotypical “crazy” or “insane” characters commonly portrayed in the media. House’s character may help to get rid of this stereotype, as he is a clear example of an Antisocial person who is not a felon, but rather a highly successful and respected professional. At the same time, though, a frequent consequence of APD is an inability to hold a steady job, showing that House’s character may not be a fully accurate representation of an antisocial individual. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition. “Diagnostic criteria for 301.7 Narcissistic Personality Disorder.” 1994. |
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