Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Psychological Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Essay

Other manifestations of OCD Udall exhibits include bringing his own plastic cutlery to the restaurant and his difficulty in sustaining personal relationships. These are all valid portrayals of the signs and symptoms of OCD.

Part III -- Application to Social Psychological Concepts

Stereotyping is a generalization about a person or group of persons. Stereotypes are developed when one is unable or unwilling to obtain all of the information needed to make fair judgments about people or situations. Society and the media often innocently create and perpetuate stereotypes. These stereotypes may lead to unfair discrimination and persecution when the stereotype is unfavorable. Stereotyping often leads to prejudice and bigotry.

Attribution is a concept in social psychology referring to how individuals explain behaviors of others. The two main types of attributions are internal and external. Internal attributions assign behavior to a person's personality, attitudes, character, or disposition. External attributions assign behavior to the situation in which the behavior was seen. These two types of attribution lead to very different perceptions of the individual engaging in a behavior. Dispositional attributions involve assigning behaviors to not to individuals but to whole groups of individuals. This leads to the assumption that whole groups have similar dispositions or personality characteristics and fosters the belief that positive characteristics cause the behavior of members in favored in-groups, and negative characteristics cause the behavior of disfavored out-groups. Attribution errors may lead to misunderstand motivational factors in a person's or group's behavior.

Part IV -- Conclusion

Though the signs and symptoms of OCD are essentially accurately portrayed in the movie as Good as it Gets (1997), the assertion that a patient suffering from this disorder can overcome this disability through a pill and shear will power are not. This film contributes to the misconception that individuals suffering from OCD have greater control over their behavior than they actually do.

There are many instances in both the movies and television of individuals who suffer from psychological disorders who function extremely well in society. The television show Monk is an example of this. Unfortunately, individuals who suffer psychological disorders are more likely to be unemployed, be of lower socio-economic status, and have disrupted social and marital relationships. It is essential that the general public understands the causes of the disorders that affect the mentally ill and the capacity these individuals have to control their behavior.

Works Cited

Brooks, J.L. (Director). (1997). As Good as it Gets. [Motion picture]. United States: Tri Star.

Cassin, Stephanie E., Margret a. Richter, K. Anne Zhang, and Neil a. Rector. "Quality of Life in Treatment-Seeking Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Without Major Depressive Disorder." Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Vol. 54, Issue 7 (July 2009): 460-467. 20 November 2010.

Storch, Eric a., Jonathon Abramowitz, and Mary Keely. "Correlates and Mediators of Functional Disability in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." Depression & Anxiety. Vol. 26, Issue 9 (September 2009): 806-176. 20 November 2010.

Taylor, Steven, Meredith Coles, Jonathan Abramowitz, Dean McKay, Se Kang Kim, Chery Carmin, Kiara R. Timpano, and David F. Tolin. "How are Dysfunctional Beliefs Related to Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms?" Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. Vol. 24, Issue 3 (Fall 2010): 165-176. 20 November 2010.