Personality Disorder Paper: Applying the DSM-V Criteria
Choose a fictional character that you believe may meet the criteria for a personality disorder. This can be from TV, movies, music, books, etc.). Do not choose a real person. Write a 1 page, single-spaced paper about your character and discuss the personality disorder they display, what criteria you based your findings on, and what form of treatment you would recommend. In addition, discuss how culture influences personality development and potentially the manifestation of the personality disorder you chose (refer to Dr. Jessica Dere TED-X talk). Have a little fun with this one!
Personality Disorder Paper: Applying the DSM-V Criteria – Walter White from Breaking Bad
Introduction
Walter White, the main character of Breaking Bad, is a high school chemistry teacher who turns into a drug kingpin after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Throughout the series, his transformation from a mild-mannered family man into the ruthless alter ego “Heisenberg” reflects drastic changes in personality. Upon close examination of his behavior, Walter White displays many traits associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), as defined by the DSM-V. This paper will apply DSM-V criteria to Walter White, discuss possible treatment options, and explore the cultural influences that may have shaped his disorder.
Personality Disorder Diagnosis
According to the DSM-V, Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterized by a pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. Individuals must meet at least five of the following nine criteria to be diagnosed with NPD:
- A grandiose sense of self-importance
- Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
- Belief that they are “special” and unique, and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people
- A need for excessive admiration
- A sense of entitlement
- Interpersonally exploitative behavior
- Lack of empathy
- Envy of others or belief that others are envious of them
- Arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
Walter White’s character meets several of these criteria:
- Grandiosity and entitlement: Walter believes he is superior to everyone else in the meth industry, repeatedly asserting that no one else could match his product’s quality. He sees himself as a genius, and this grandiosity escalates over time.
- Preoccupation with success and power: Initially, Walter’s motivation for manufacturing meth is to secure his family’s financial future. However, this evolves into an obsession with building an empire, where success and power take precedence over family and morality.
- Need for admiration and lack of empathy: As “Heisenberg,” Walter demands recognition for his criminal empire, often insisting that others respect him. He shows a lack of empathy for those he exploits and harms, including his wife, Jesse Pinkman (his former student), and even innocent bystanders who suffer as a result of his actions.
- Exploitative interpersonal behavior: Walter manipulates and uses others for his own gain. Whether it’s deceiving Jesse or exploiting his family’s emotional vulnerability, he consistently puts his ambitions ahead of the well-being of others.
These characteristics strongly align with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as Walter White’s actions are driven by his inflated self-image, lack of empathy, and desire for admiration and control.
Recommended Treatment
If Walter White were to receive treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) would likely be recommended. CBT is a common treatment for individuals with NPD because it helps them recognize the maladaptive patterns in their thinking and behavior. The goals of therapy would be to:
- Help Walter develop insight into his destructive behaviors and their consequences on himself and others.
- Work on building empathy and understanding for others, particularly in relationships where his exploitative behavior has caused harm.
- Address his deep-seated need for admiration by fostering self-esteem that is not dependent on external validation or control over others.
In addition to CBT, psychodynamic therapy could be useful for exploring the deeper emotional issues and insecurities that fuel Walter’s narcissistic behavior. However, given Walter’s arrogance and reluctance to admit vulnerability, engaging him in therapy might be challenging. For someone like Walter, the therapeutic relationship itself would need to be carefully managed, as he could likely resist acknowledging his faults or relinquishing control.
Cultural Influence on Personality Development
Walter White’s personality disorder and his eventual descent into ruthless behavior can also be examined through a cultural lens. In her TED-X talk, Dr. Jessica Dere explores how culture influences personality development and the manifestation of disorders. In Walter White’s case, American culture’s emphasis on masculinity, success, and financial achievement likely contributed to the development of his narcissistic traits. Walter begins the series as a man who feels emasculated and disempowered. Despite his intelligence, he is stuck in a low-paying teaching job, financially struggling to support his family. His initial decision to start making meth is motivated by a desire to regain control and provide for his family. However, the cultural pressures surrounding success—particularly for men—foster his sense of entitlement and grandiosity. As he builds his drug empire, Walter finds validation in achieving power and wealth, which leads to the intensification of his narcissistic tendencies. The cultural notion that a man’s worth is tied to his financial success and dominance likely plays a role in Walter’s transformation. His shift from a teacher to a kingpin is not just about financial survival, but about reclaiming the status and admiration he believes he deserves. This reflects how cultural values can shape the expression of personality disorders, particularly in cases like Walter’s where the character’s sense of self-worth is deeply entangled with societal expectations of success and power.
Conclusion
Walter White from Breaking Bad exhibits clear traits of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as outlined in the DSM-V. His grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy, and exploitative behaviors align with the criteria for NPD. If treated, therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy could help him address his underlying issues, though his reluctance to admit fault might be an obstacle. Moreover, cultural influences—particularly around masculinity and success—may have played a significant role in the development of Walter’s narcissistic tendencies. Walter White’s journey from a mild-mannered teacher to a ruthless drug lord provides a striking example of how personality disorders can manifest and be exacerbated by external pressures and cultural expectations.