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Running head: PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE
Mental Illness and Disney: Psychosocial Perspective
Shiena Brar
Stenberg College
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Psychosocial Perspective
Case Study
Belle is a Disney character who suffers from schizoid personality disorder. Prior
to meeting her abductor, Belle lived in a village where she would often isolate herself and
did not have many social relationships. Although, the movie portrays her to be a strong
willed, smart and independent women, she has many of the symptoms related to schizoid
personality disorder. Symptoms of schizoid personality disorder are, choosing solitary
activities, avoiding or limited to any desire for sexual relationships, a few close friends;
individuals may also appear to be dull, indifferent or emotionally cold (Mayo Clinic,
2014). Belle would often avoid having any contact with the other villagers and remained
quite close to her father. Throughout the film, we see her constantly shying away from
any social or sexual relationships that is presented. For example, Gaston pursues Belle
many times over in the film and without hesitation Belle would deny him. Although it
seems admirable that she refuses his requests, those suffering from a schizoid personality
disorder often find they to have stronger relationship with animals and with those that are
not interested in a sexual nature; this comes with no surprise since she ends up having a
much more intimate relationship with the beast and the anthropomorphized teacups and
footstools. When Belle sets off to locate her missing father, she finds herself at a secluded
castle that houses nonhuman inhabitants and the beast; because of the non-sexual nature
of these relationships, she quickly forms a stronger relationship with them than any other
humans from the village. She befriends the beast quite quickly and the longer she is there,
the closer she is drawn to him.
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Belle is in clear need of a treatment that focuses on the client, rather the
symptoms, one that is based on strengths of the individual and emphasizes
interdependence (Sundeen, 2005). This is where the holistic psychosocial approach can
be used. Psychosocial rehabilitation focuses on instilling hope and providing essential life
skills and interventions, “aimed at long term recovery and maximization of selfsufficiency” (Sundeen, 2005, page 199). The New Freedom Commission on Mental
Health defines recovery as “the process in which people are able to live, work, learn and
participate fully in their communities” (as cited by Sundeen, 2005, page 200) Also, it is
important to remember that recovery can either mean being able to flourish despite the
symptoms of their illness, or to reduce and completely eliminate the symptoms (Sundeen,
2005). Psychosocial recovery will use the data collected from the assessment to plan and
implement a set of goals that will aim at recovery and avoid a relapse.
Assessment
The assessment determines a client deficits and strengths; in addition to this,
characteristics of mental illness, living skills assessment and social support needs are
identified; this can be either family relationships or any resources within the community
(Sundeen, 2005). During the initial assessment the psychiatric nurse found that Belle’s
strengths included her desire to always help others and she was quite interested in
education. Her deficits were that she needed therapy in relation to her lack of interest in
social activities and building relationships. Belle’s family and social support includes her
father and those anthropomorphized teacups and footstools; as this is a limited amount of
social support, it may actually be condoning her symptoms. With that notion in mind,
mental health professionals need to advocate for Belle, in attaining the appropriate
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community resources that would provide her will the much needed support that’s
required in PSR.
Planning and Implementation
PSR for schizoid personality disorder may begin with cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT). CBT is an evidence based psychological treatment approach that aims at
changing our thoughts and behaviors towards situations by psychotherapeutic methods
(Anxiety BC, 2014). Parpattos (2012) writes, “when interventions from CBT and
psychodynamic therapy are blended together, they pay considerable attention in
understanding and working with the conscious and unconscious beliefs, representations
and defences of a client who presents with Schizoid PD”(page 48). With that being said,
it is evident that Belle would benefit from CBT, as it would ensure those fundamental
thoughts and behaviours related to her lack of interest in intimate would surface. Also,
goal setting for Belle would help her increase her self esteem and instill hope, by
achieving those goals, she is able to sustain interpersonal relationships and gain that
confidence that is much needed for those suffering from personality disorders (O’Hagan
et al, 2010). Throughout planning and implementation, Belle sets the goal to join a
community gathering that would help her increase her socialization skills. As Sundeen
(2005) illustrates, “social skills training uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to help
people gain the knowledge and skills they need to live in the community” (page 208).
Moreover, this can include, holding conversation, establishing and maintaining
friendships, [and] dating…” (Sundeen, 2005, page 208). This is extremely vital for Belle,
as it will give her the living skills she needs to manage her illness. Regarding Belle’s
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aspirations for helping others and educating herself, she has set the goal to join a night
class for community social work.
Evaluation
As evaluation focuses on the effectiveness of the goals Belle set for herself in
relation to community services, she provides a journal detailing her interactions at the
local bowling team she joined and how she is improving in her night classes. She was
able to begin communicating with her peers and is now participating in social functions,
outside the bowling and night classes. Furthermore. Yalom (2005) states, “self-disclosure
is absolutely essential in the group therapeutic process” (p. 130). Belle is beginning to
demonstrate self disclosure in her CBT sessions and with her interpersonal relationships.
This is evident by her disclosing her feelings of she how was able to relate to the
anthropomorphized teacups and footstools, as well as the beast so quickly. In her sessions
she stated, “because they do not want an intimate relationship with me, there is not
pressure for me to get married and leave my father”, this is clear evidence of her entering
her subconscious and surfacing her inner thoughts.
Conclusion
Psychosocial rehabilitation aims at providing essential life skills and goals that are
required for anyone to live a fulfilling life, regardless of their limitations. As for Belle,
she is suffering from schizoid personality disorder, which is contributing to her lack of
intimate relationships and a driving factor in her relationships with nonhuman objects. It
is evident that by using the concepts related to PSR, assessment, planning and
implementation, she would be able to alleviate her symptoms and still flourish in the
community.
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Running head: PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE
References
Mayo Clinic. (2014). Schizoaffective disorder. Diseases and Conditions. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizoaffectivedisorder/basics/symptoms/con-20029221
O’Hagan, M., Cyr, C., McKee, H. & Priest, R. (2010). Making the case for peer support.
Mental Health Commission of Canada. Retrieved from
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/system/files/private/document/PS
_Making_the_Case_for_Peer_Support_Report_ENG.pdf
Parpottas, P. (2012). A critique on the use of standard psychopathological classifications
in understanding human distress: The example of 'schizoid personality disorder'.
Counselling Psychology Review, 27(1), 44-52.
Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=720655
31&site=ehost-live
Sundeen, S. J. (2005). Recovery support. In Stuart, G (Eds.), Principles and practice of
psychiatric nursing (9 ed.) (pp. 199 – 214). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Inc.
Yalom, I.D. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th Ed.).
Cambridge, MA: Basic Books Publishing
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