Character Analysis Using Psychological Concepts: Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix - Movie Review Example

Introduction

Case Study

• Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix is one of the Harry Potter movies that has a popular following in various social constructions. In his fifth year at the Hogwarts, Harry realizes that most of the colleagues do not have disclosure on his encounter with Lord Voldemort. The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints Dolores Umbridge to act as a defense against the rising tide of evil tendencies in the establishment (Yates, 2007). However, due to the deficiency of the methods and the cruel nature of the operations Harry appoints some of the students to aid in dealing with the evil tendencies.
• One of the characters that draws the attention of the audience is Ron Weasley. He is one of Harry Potter's best friends but is faced with immense challenges that tend to push him to the periphery. Weasley is shy, nervous and is to greater extent prone to embarrassment. Weasley has a special characterization in the sense that he has vast talent in the wizard world and employs his ability to meet certain obligations. Even though Ron Weasley has special abilities that make him stand out, the aspects of being shy, nervous and feeling embarrassed are a serious affront to his well-being (Yates, 2007). It is imperative to underscore that other characters in the film have great abilities yet are not affected by other issues that negatively affect their capabilities (Yates, 2007). Ron Weasley together with his other siblings is bound by the family bloodline that practices magic. Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix can be analyzed from an abnormal psychology perspective by looking at the type of disorder, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Classification And Diagnosis
• The DSM-5 is a tool that was developed and updated in 2013 to aid in the classification and diagnosis of various disorders. Consequently, the tool provides a distinguished framework through which an individual can gain treatment. The condition of Ron Weasley can be classified as an anxiety disorder. Shyness, embarrassment, and nervousness are all products of social anxiety disorders (Stein & Hollander, 2002). Anxiety disorders are primarily prevalent in mental health situations. However, it must be noted that they are less visible than some disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders. The anxiety disorders can have far-reaching implications for the well-being of an individual. Consequently, the anxiety disorders may be disabling to a certain extent and can hinder the ability of an individual to engage in certain activities. Despite the fact that Ron Weasley has special abilities that seem natural, the idea that he is shy, nervous and prone to embarrassment may affect his potential of doing the extraordinary. The diagnosis and treatment of disorders as established in the DSM-5 have been defined to be the most credible in dealing with anxiety disorders, yet there are certain limitations. In the recent past, there has been immense research to determine the extent to which genetics, biology, and stress interact to influence the symptoms of anxiety (Stein & Hollander, 2002).
• Ron Weasley's condition can be treated through cognitive-behavioral and psychopharmacological interventions. The interventions often have different targets, and the combinations of the various methods can have a positive impact on the treatment process. Social anxiety disorder is the condition for which Ron Weasley suffers in the sense that shyness, embarrassment, and nervousness are symptoms that fall into this category. Social anxiety disorder can also be defined as social phobia and it is where a person has an unreasonable fear of social situations. Self-consciousness, as well as anxiety, emerge from the fear of being judged, watched or criticized by other people. Moreover, an individual suffering from social anxiety disorders is often afraid of making mistakes, being embarrassed, looking bad or even being humiliated. It must be noted that the fear in these instances may be made worse if the person does not have social skills or has no experience being in social situations. The case of Weasley is distinct only to the extent that he has some special abilities. Ideally, the assumption is that Weasley has had some engagements with the social environment because of being a wizard and having friends within the school setting. However, the fact that Weasley is shy or nervous points to an individual who lacks certain social skills that can aid in being productive in social environments.
• Social anxiety disorder can degenerate into a panic attack. Anxiety or nervousness can make an individual to endure particular social situations in immense distress as a result of fear. Moreover, a person can avoid being in the social environments because of the fear of being humiliated. People diagnosed with an anxiety disorder can also have anticipatory anxiety where they contemplate situations before they occur and develop some fear (Stein & Hollander, 2002). Sometimes the people affected by the disorder have knowledge that their behavior is unreasonable, but cannot employ solutions to deal with the problem. The behavior and condition of Weasley are determined by several issues both genetic and externally. For example, the environment where Weasley goes to school is bound by evil tendencies. The world of wizards also has certain activities and practices that can have negative implications on the well-being of a person. Weasley might be suffering from the genetic or biological influences that cause social anxiety disorder, which is also propelled by the social environment.
• Weasley requires proper treatment to ensure that shyness, nervousness, and embarrassments are dealt with as appropriate. Lack of proper treatment may affect him in the immediate future because such disorders have multiple effects on an individual. Social anxiety disorder may suffer from distorted thought process. For instance, failure to treat Wesley may make him suffer from negative opinions of other people, or cause him to develop false beliefs about the social environment or situations. Consequently, the disorder may cause an interruption in an individual's daily routine such as going to school, engaging in social activities or going to work. Weasley goes to school and beyond that practices witchcraft. Concentration in school or succeeding as a wizard requires stability and a proper state of mind to guarantee success. The social anxiety is a serious affront to the success of Weasley either in school or as a wizard.
• Social anxiety disorder under the DSM-5 classification affects people in diverse social constructions (Bandelow & Stein, 2004). This disorder is also prevalent in mental cases. Anxiety disorders can perpetuate decreased productivity, abuse of substances and increased mortality rates. The case of Weasley is not unique and is manifest in many societies across the globe. However, the difference is in the manner in which the problem is diagnosed and treated. Without proper treatment, an individual can easily develop other disorders effectively complicating an already critical condition. Most of the people perceived to have a social anxiety disorder are often seen as being withdrawn, inhibited, nervous, disinterested and aloof. Paradoxically, individuals with this disorder normally want to be included in some groups, make friends, and engage in certain social issues. However, having the disorder hinders the person from doing what they want to do. People with social anxiety disorder are open, friendly and social (Bandelow & Stein, 2004). Fear is what holds these individuals back and that hinders them from fully engaging in social situations and environments. Weasley faces the same challenge. In the movie, Ron Weasley is depicted as a vibrant individual who likes to be around people. Harry Porter is Wesley's best friend and likes to have him around all the time. Consequently, while engaging with the siblings, the best in him comes out and cuts the image of a rebellious and outgoing person. However, fear causes him to pull back, and that brings out the aspects of nervousness, shyness and being prone to embarrassments.
• Weasley's case qualifies as a perfect case study in the field of abnormal psychology. Weasley seems very okay and stable, and that makes it difficult for anyone to understand that he has a disorder. The disorder is manifest in situations where he is bound by fear and inability to engage in certain activities. Ordinarily, Weasley understands that his actions or behavior are irrational and are not based on facts. Consequently, the behaviors of Weasley make no rational sense because he has special capabilities some of which are drawn from the family bloodline. The movie depicts Ron Weasley as an interesting and aggressive individual, the disorder may affect him, especially in the manner in which he engages with the people or carries out himself in the social environments. The best treatment method for Weasley's case should include a structured cognitive-behavioral strategy that can aid in dealing with the problem.
• Impact Of Anxiety Disorders On Neurotransmitters
• Before focusing on the treatment intervention for Ron Weasley, there is need of understanding how the disorders affect the neurotransmitters as a measure of drawing a holistic comprehension of how the process needs to be carried out. The following neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine define the cognitive establishment of an individual. The serotonergic pathways have their origin in the raphe nuclei and extend to various regions in the forebrain. The circuits play a significant role regulating the state of the brain that may include modulation of the noradrenergic and dopaminergic pathways as well as anxiety. When there is an increase in the serotonergic tone, anxiety is reduced (Bystritsky et al., 2013). Medication is crucial because when a particular drug aimed at dealing with the disorder is introduced into the body, there is inhibition of reuptake of serotonergic and that minimizes the symptoms of anxiety (Muris, 2007).
• The dopamine neurotransmitter plays a fundamental role, and its dopaminergic pathways stem from the midbrain. The projections extend to different sections of the brain such as the limbic nuclei and the cortex among others. The neurotransmitter may have many impacts on anxiety. The increase in dopaminergic aid in the mediation of the feelings relating to confidence and self-efficacy (Bystritsky et al., 2013). The mediation of these components leads to the reduction of anxiety if the proper medication is employed.
• The norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter whose projects in most areas within the central nervous system. A drug that is employed in the treatment process can help in mediating the pathological as well as normal anxiety because of the influence on norepinephrine. The norepinephrine is normally regulated when an individual is in a state of anxiety (Wehrenberg & Prinz, 2007). The intervention processes can have a positive influence in dealing with the problems of nervousness and reduction of fear. The brain is the central processing point where humans derive their stability. If there is any negative effect in the brain, the possibility of intense social anxiety disorder is elevated. The drug that is employed in the treatment must have a specific focus on a particular or all the neurotransmitters.
• Treatment
• Therapy
• After the correct and precise diagnosis of Ron Weasley's disorder, there is a need to establish appropriate intervention measures to deal with the problems of being prone to embarrassment, shyness, and nervousness. The first intervention procedure proposed for this diagnosis is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy has been determined to produce some of the best outcomes when it comes to social anxiety disorder. After a successful completion of the therapy, people with this disorder normally find immense reprieve. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a goal oriented, the short-term treatment process that employs practical approaches to solving problems (Craske, 2010). The aim of this psychotherapy treatment is that it alters the patterns of thinking or the behavior of people facing certain difficulties. Moreover, the therapy procedure changes the emotional aspects of an individual and makes people feel differently.
• The cognitive-behavioral therapy has one advantage in that it does not take a long time to implement and complete. Ideally, an individual can be taken through the process for close to ten months. Weasley can benefit from this psychotherapy treatment because it can help in erasing thought patterns that have negative implications for the stability and comfort of an individual (Wright et al., 2005). In this therapy process, the client and the therapists work together through a given process. The initial steps include problem definition and then the development of strategies aimed at dealing with the challenge. The patient is often introduced to a set of principles that they can use in different circumstances.
• The cognitive-behavioral therapy involves the combination of behavioral therapy and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy has immense significance in the sense that it focuses on the importance of individual meaning people attach to certain things and how the system is developed from childhood (Knaus, 2016). On the other hand, behavioral therapy emphasizes on the correlations between people's problems and their thoughts. A combination of these two therapy procedures produces positive results. If Weasley is taken through this process, it is possible to deal with shyness, anxiety, and nervousness because they are the main symptoms of social anxiety disorder affecting him.
• Medication
• Even though cognitive-behavioral therapy may be vital in ensuring that Weasley's condition is properly dealt with, there is a need to incorporate treatment as an effective tool that guarantees maximum success. Medication for the treatment of social anxiety disorder is sometimes unnecessary, but in this case, it has some relevance because of the nature of the issue being addressed in this instance. The use of antidepressants can play a role in improving the condition of Weasley because the drugs can have a direct effect on the different systems in the body especially the brain. The primary point of focus is the brain, and it needs to be changed to ensure that there is a difference in the way Weasley's thought system is established. Social anxiety disorder is a problem that requires all the attention and any procedure that can produce results is essential.
• Discussion
• Based on the DSM-5 diagnosis and treatment process for anxiety disorders, cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best intervention procedure that can be employed in the case of Ron Weasley. A combination of behavioral and cognitive therapy can change the brain with the outcome being the overcoming social anxiety disorder. In the movie, Weasley is depicted as being shy, nervous and prone to embarrassment. Based on this assessment it is only practical to develop a treatment methodology that has relevance to the social situation. Medications are appropriate, but there is an extent to which they may not be relevant. Antidepressants can only alter the functioning of the brain for a short time. Essentially, the antidepressants often affect the neurotransmitters in the brain by either inhibiting or allowing the flow of chemical substances. After some time the effect of the drug may diminish, yet the main problem remains unresolved. The essence of the therapy session or the treatment process is to help Weasley deal with the anxiety disorder, and the cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best intervention method that can help in solving the problem.
• The first step towards establishing positive outcomes is compliance with the cognitive-behavioral therapy. There has to be a genuine commitment to attending therapy sessions and engaging in all the processes. If a person goes through the process without any interruptions, the outcome is positive. Research has shown that people who have completed the CBT sessions often come out successful (Antony et al., 2005). The behavioral group therapies often register tremendous achievement compared to other entities. The fundamental element of success is the compatibility to the treatment or therapy process (Craske, 2010). If an intervention method developed for a particular process is not relevant, it is less likely that a person will deal with a disorder.
• Conclusion
• Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix is one of the of the movies from the Harry Potter collections. It has several genres and specific areas that it focuses on as a consequence of drawing the attention of the audience. The character Ron Weasley is the person of interest in this case study. Weasley is Harry's best friend, yet he suffers from shyness, nervousness and is prone to embarrassments. Under the DSM-5 classification, the correct diagnosis for Weasley's case is anxiety disorder and specifically the social anxiety disorder. Weasley needs to be treated for the disorder to ensure stability because failure to do so may degenerate to other mental challenges such as panic attacks. Two treatment methods are recommended in this case, and they include cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication. The use of antidepressants is recommended because there is a need for a multidimensional approach to dealing with the issue. However, the cognitive-behavioral therapy would work best because it focuses on changing the brain of an individual and altering the manner in which a person feels. Antidepressants may not provide long-term solutions because the antidepressants only have an impact of a limited period. Ron Weasley can get a full reprieve if the behavioral-cognitive therapy is employed as a consequence of treating the social anxiety disorder.
• References
• Antony, M. M., Ledley, D. R., & Heimberg, R. G. (2005). Improving Outcomes And Preventing Relapse In Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. New York: Guilford Press.
• Bystritsky, A., Khalsa, S. S., Cameron, M. E., & Schiffman, J. (2013). Current Diagnosis And Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. Pharmacy And Therapeutics, 38(1), 30–57.
• Bandelow, B., & Stein, D. J. (2004). Social Anxiety Disorder. New York: Marcel Dekker.
• Craske, M. G. (2010). Cognitive-behavioral Therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Knaus, W. J. (2016). The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook For Anxiety: A Step-By-Step Program.
• Muris, P. (2007). Normal And Abnormal Fear And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
• Stein, D. J., & Hollander, E. (2002). Anxiety Disorders Comorbid With Depression: Social Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatiac Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, And Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. London: Martin Dunitz.
• Wright, J. H., Thase, M. E., Wright, J. H., & Basco, M. R. (2005). Learning cognitive-behavior therapy: An illustrated guide. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
• Wehrenberg, M., & Prinz, S. (2007). The anxious brain: The Neurobiological Basis Of Anxiety Disorders And How To Effectively Treat Them. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.
• Yates, D. (2007). Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. Film.