How Willy Wonka Portrays Schizotypal Personality Disorder

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Schizotypal Personality Disorder Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a well-known book about an eccentric candy maker living in his own mystical world that has been made into two popular movies. Wonka is a character that is two things at once; unflappable and socially anxious, overly friendly but also untrustworthy and isolated, altruistic and sadistic, hopeful and cynical, grandiose and fragile (Pincus, 2006). While Willy Wonka may be a fictional character, he does display the very real disorder Schizotypal Personality Disorder or SPD. Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a personality disorder that affects approximately 3.9% of the American population and is similar to Schizophrenia but without delusions or hallucinations (Pulay et al., 2009). While little is known about the causes of Schizotypal Personality Disorder, it is becoming a significant personality disorder that warrants an understanding of what is currently known about the disorder and treatments available to individuals living with SPD. Every person that has different characteristics that influence how they think, act, and build relationships. While some people are introverted, others are extroverted. Some people are strict and do not take risks, while others are carefree and free spirited. However, there are times where a person’s behavior becomes destructive, problematic, and maladaptive (Widger, 2003). The key to examining a person for a possible personality disorder is not if they have quirks, but if they display severe behavioral, emotional, and social issues. A diagnosis of having a personality disorders involves identifying if their extreme behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that are different than cultural expectations interfere with the ... ... middle of paper ... ...zotypal Personality Disorder. The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 11(2), 53-67. Raine, A. (2006). Schizotypal personality: Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial trajectories. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2, 291-326. Ullrich, S., Farrington, D., & Coid, J. (2007). Dimensions of DSM-IV personality disorders and life-successes. Journal of Personality Disorders, 21, 657-663. VaLeu, K. (2011, July 18). The Lowdown on Schizoid Personality Disorder. Yahoo Contributor Network. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://voices.yahoo.com/the-lowdown-schizoid-personality-disorder-7620046.html?cat=5 Yan, Chao; Liu, Wen-Hua; Cao, Yuan & Chan, Raymond CK. (2011). Self-reported pleasure experience and motivation in individuals with schizotypal personality disorders proneness East Asian Archives of Psychiatry, Vol. 21, No. 3: 115-122.

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