Cruella on the Couch

What comes to mind when you think of Cruella de Vil, the infamous villain in “101 Dalmatians” ruthlessly seeking to make a puppy skin coat? Thanks to a book I recently received as a gift called, “Tigger on the Couch” by Laura James, my mind immediately goes to Histrionic Personality Disorder!

This book presents case studies of fictional characters and presents diagnoses for which they meet criteria, after discussing case notes and patient histories. Many of these are personality disorders such as Willy Wonka who appears to have Schizotypal Personality Disorder or The Wizard of Oz who meets diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. 

 

So does Cruella de Vil actually meet criteria for Histrionic Personality Disorder? According to “Tigger on the Couch” Cruella’s insatiable desire to draw attention to herself impairs her functioning and is detrimental to the wellbeing of people in her life. Her wild hair, half black and half white, coupled with her elaborate wardrobe of exotic furs serves to ensure that she is constantly the center of talk and attention. The author argues that Cruella’s behavior constantly serves to meet her own needs at the expense of others; continually ordering others around and demanding that they comply with her wishes. She shows little, if any, empathy or appropriate behavior, which can be seen in her reaction to Roger and Anita’s newborn Dalmatian puppies, remarking what an excellent fur coat they would make and demanding to purchase them.

This behavior (the book goes into more detail) aligns with HPD in that this disorder is marked by an extreme desire to be the center of attention at all times, which is accomplished through dramatic behavior, speech and appearance. Laura James ends her case study in a discussion of prognosis and treatment for Cruella, stating that psychotherapy is the most appropriate type of treatment for Cruella. Specifically, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which would help teach her to allow other people to share the spot light and improve her interpersonal relationships. That is, if she would be willing to engage in therapy in the first place. Finally, Laura James provides a check list of HPD criteria for readers to review so they have the ability to knowledgeably spot any Cruella de Vil like behaviors such as exaggerated and theatrical behavior, inappropriate provocative or seductive behavior or appearing to express emotions without actually feeling the emotion.

I absolutely love this book, not only for the creative way that Laura James identifies fictional characters with diagnosable mental illnesses but also for her approach to discussing mental illness. In every case study, Laura James discusses the character in a holistic fashion discussing what factors may have led to the development of the disorder and how the fictional character still has value despite their deficits. This approach serves to destigmatize and demystify mental illness for adults and children alike and provides an opportunity to understand mental illnesses in a unique way. I highly recommend this book for anyone, professional and lay person alike, who is interested in mental illness and has a love of fairy tales.

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For this week’s post, PJ chose not to contribute, as the thought of coats made of animal fur makes him wildly anxious. Instead, he opted for a cat nap.

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James, L. (2007). Tigger on the couch. London: HarperCollins Publishers.