Understanding and Exploring Abnormal Psychology in

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Abnormal Psychology in Film and TVStudents NameInstitutional AffiliationCourseInstructor's NameDate

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2Abnormal Psychology in Film and TVHalt of all occurrences of mental illness in a person's lifetime begin before the age offourteen, based on the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and 20% of teenagers and youngadults between the ages of13and 18 have a diagnosable mental health issue. Despite the factthat mental illness affects one in four people at some point in their lives, it nevertheless suffersfrom a greater degree of social rejection and stigma than most other types of sickness. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an anxiety 'disease characterized by repetitive thoughts and rituals,is a prime example of this type of mental illness. OLD affects a smaller percentage of thepopulation than conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, but is more stigmatized andpotentially life-altering for those who suffer from it. Schmidt’s co-star on the Fox sitcom "NewGirl," Max Greenfield, says he isn’t concerned with being typecast Schmidt has severeobsessive-compulsive disorder and is a conceited, oversexed ladies' guy. He often talks aboutbeing Jewish. Even though Schmidt is written as an unlikable character, Greenfield'sperformance has many fans rooting for him. The hallmark of a personality disorder is a persistentdysfunctional behavioral partem and features that leads to significant discomfort and impairmentin a human's occupational and social performance. In this essay, OCD is explored through thelens of Schmidt, a character on ±e Netflix show New Girl who has been diagnosed with thecondition.Character's symptoms and impairmentsRepetitive actions (compulsions) are performed in response to recurring, distressing ideas(obsessions) that are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (compulsions)(Cook et al., 2015). Obsessions and compulsions like ±ese are extremely disruptive to daily lifeand can lead to intense emotional suffering. The individual's anguish and worry will rise if they

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3ay to ignore or stop the obsessions. They may feel compelled to engage in obsessive behaviors inan attempt to alleviate their anxiety. Negative ideas or impulses persist despite your best effortsto block them out of your mind. The result is a vicious cycle of increasing ritualization typical ofOCD. Thematic preoccupations are common in OCD; for instance, a pathological worry aboutgerms. Although those with OCD often feel bad about themselves, there is help available. Evenchough Schmidt is written as an unlikable character. Greenfield’s performance has many fansroc-ting for him. He also portrays some and other symptoms that eventually lead CD impairments.In Season 1, Episode 16, New Girl's take on the stereotypical sitcom jerk has evolvedthroughout the course of the show to reveal someone who is actually rather intriguing and well-developed. However, Schmidt's peculiarities are all explained by a coherent backstory. OCD anda need for complete control underlie Schmidt's extreme narcissism and selfishness. Ai the outsetof this episode, Schmidt discusses the panic attacks he has when he feels helpless. His mentalhealth has nut improved since he began his abusive pattern with Cece. Even now, she calls himanytime she pleases and drops him as soon as her demands are granted. Schmidt, however,despite his normal resistance to such subordination, forces himself into this position — notwithout some anguish over the circumstances, but nevertheless -because he truly, really adoresCece.When Jess reams to the apartment, she finds herself at odds with Schmidt over hisrefusal to let her cany an abandoned hutch inside. She's especially furious since the hutchsignifies something important to her: her involvement in the apartment's layout. However, Jess isovershadowed by Schmidt's emotional problems. He doesn't simply dislike the hutch: he can'thave it in his house for safety reasons. It’s a mess, it doesn't go with the rest of the room's decor,and it wasn't even his idea. And it doesn't take long to figure out that Schmidt’s control

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