Research Paper Stanley 1

Amber Stanley

Dr. John Howie

Abnormal Psychology

September 29, 2017

Black Swan

Darren Aronofskys film, Black Swan, features a ballet dancer who has trans-

formed from controlled, innocent, perfect White Swan to impulsive, seductive, and agi-

tated Black Swan during the movie. The film articulates Nina Sayer (Natalie Portman) as

a ballet dancer who desires to become successful leading dancer in the competitive

world of ballet. Nina displays number of symptoms that could be diagnosed to different

disorder. In this paper, Ninas abnormal behavior will be examined by her symptoms and

other relevant components will be discussed. This paper will particularly focus on Ninas

alteration in mood and affect, behavior, thinking and cognition. Ninas abnormal behav-

iors such as Anorexia Nervosa, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, Post

Traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive

Disorder, will be discussed in depth in order to diagnose her symptoms.

Throughout the movie Nina suffers from number of symptoms which seems ab-

normal. While her anxiety is clearly expressed, Obsessive compulsive disorder may be

the prominent disorder which Nina is experiencing. Below description delineates Ninas

symptoms from OCDs and other disorder which may relate back to her OCD. Nina con-

tinuously receives criticism that she is trying to be perfect from Thomas during the

practices. Obsessive compulsive disorder associates psychological distress leading to

Research Paper Stanley 2

anxiety which is a critical marker of this particular disorder. It is defined by unreasonable

thoughts and fears along with repetitive behaviors. Dream experiences, affect valence,

magical ideation, splitting defense and superego functions may accompany with OCD.

(Kai & Yu, 2012). Throughout the film Nina sees hallucinations, experience eating disor-

der deriving from anxiety, and articulates scratching behavior. From earlier at the movie

Nina sees herself passing by in the subway and at the end of the film she perceives

herself transforming to a Black Swan. Both of these symptoms suggest that she is suf-

fering from hallucination which may come from her obsessive thoughts. Also Ninas

scratching behavior and self-harming behavior suggest her compulsions. Nina

scratched her back until her mother prevented her from damaging her skin by covering

her hand with clothes. This scratching behavior reflects her emotional tension and anxi-

ety Nina is experiencing (Vanier & Searight, 2012). It seems that through the competi-

tive occupation influenced Nina to develop such symptoms. Her desire to achieve suc-

cess and pressure from her mother and Thomas may be the important factor of devel-

oping OCD. Throughout the movie, the symptoms of OCD are expressed with very

strong visuals in order to convey the dramatic mood.

Nina is a white female who lives in an extremely competitive and stressful situa-

tion occupation that puts her under pressure to thin and physically light. Research indi-

cates that ballet dancers are at higher risk of developing eating disorder and receive

stress from their body image. (Ravaldi, Vannacci, Bolongensi, Stefania, Faravelli & Ric-

ca, 2006). There are number of scene where Nina vomits in the toilet which suggest that

she is possibly bulimic. It is unclear if the vomiting happened because of the stressful

situation or the reason derives from her attempt to keep her weight light. However the
Research Paper Stanley 3

cinematography suggests that after she vomits, Nina seems to be somewhat relieved

from her anxiety. Also her surprisingly thin body shape and her perfectionism suggest

possible anorexia nervosa to be diagnosed. Anorexia nervosa consist with symptoms

such as refusal to maintain body weight at or above minimally normal level, intense fear

of gaining weight, and/or inappropriate evaluation of ones or shape, or denial of the se-

riousness of the current low body weight (Durand & Barlow, 2010). The scenes where

Nina refuses to eat the cake suggest that she has fear of weight gain. Also her extreme-

ly thin body shape suggests that her bodyweight is at minimal level. In the cases of both

anorexia and bulimia, article supports that these eating disorder are form of OCD.

(Neziroglu & Sandler, 2009). Thus Ninas Eating disorder which may be evaluated as

anorexia with following of vomiting behavior may be a spectrum of OCD. The fact that

Nina is a white female who lives in competitive occupation hints that her environment

may acted as a factor to develop such symptoms. Also pressure of the new position

may have also influenced her to develop this disorder.

During the film, Nina experiences number of incidence which associates delu-

sions, hallucinations and uncontrolled-disorganized behavior. Schizophrenia is defined

by the symptoms that influence individuals cognitive process and perception. DSM-5

includes symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior,

and absence of normal mental behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Ninas delusion may be classified as paranoid delusions since her growing suspicion led

her to see Thomas having sexual encounter with Lily-which she may have perceived as

the reason of Thomas favoritism to Lily. The paranoid subtype of schizophrenia may be

defined with a person who has preoccupation with one or more delusion or frequent au-
Research Paper Stanley 4

ditory hallucination but disorganized speech, catatonic behavior or inappropriate affect

symptom is not prominent. Although paranoid subtype is not included in DSM-5 any-

more, it is important symptoms which suggest Nina is experiencing Schizophrenia be-

cause of her obsessive thoughts. While the cinematography never confirms where the

delusion begins and ends, it is clear that some of the delusions are developed from

Ninas suspicion toward Lily and the stressful environment. The research found that

there is high possibility of OCD and Schizophrenia coexisting (Kruger, Braunig, Hoffer,

Shugar, Borner & Julia, 2000). Thus Ninas paranoid delusions may have come from her

obsessive thoughts. Again, her paranoid delusions and hallucinations are articulated in

much dramatized tone throughout the movie.

Below is a chart of both symptoms retrieved from the OCD newsletter (Neziroglu

& Sandler, 2009)

Research Paper Stanley 5

What Ive gathered is that, Ninas fragile mental condition is the result of a gaping

disconnect between the external and internal, aspects of her being. Externally, she is

enormously talented and accomplished. Internally, she feels empty, unloved, and never

sufficiently perfect. This has created a false self and she's living in a psychological

shell. The hallucinations experienced are visual manifestations of her subconscious and

of her ego. The feathers growing from her body exhibit the consumption of her subcon-

scious by the incessant need to perfect the role. The Devil-Nina is the embodiment of

her insecurities and egotistical fears.

Each of the 3 main characters that stand opposite to Nina represent a element of

Freudian Psychoanalysis. First, Thomas Leroy, the teacher, he represents the Id, he is

the aspect of Ninas subconscious that yearns for her to let go and to use her sexuality

to improve her performance. Second, Erica her Mother, she is the super-ego. Shes

moralizing, rigid and the rule following component of Ninas life. She controls her as if

she was still a child and imposes her morality on her. She tries to protect her from Lily

and Leroy. Third, Lily, she represents Ninas ego. This is who she wants to be, this is

why when shes hallucinating about killing Lily she actually stabs herself. She envies

Lilys free-spirit and affection that Leroy has for her.

Ninas different symptoms eventually relates back to OCD. Through different re-

search studied, the relationship between OCD and other different disorders draws into a

conclusion that Nina is suffering OCD with comorbidity of other disorders.

Research Paper Stanley 6

References

1. Kai., C., & Yu, C. (2012). Obsessive-compulsive distress and its dynamic associa-

tions with schizotypy, borderline personality, and dreaming. Retrieved September

29, 2017, from http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/drm/

2. Ravaldi, C., Vannacci, A., Bolongensi, E., Stefania, M., Faravelli, C., & Ricca, V.

(2006). Gender role, eating disorder symptoms, and body image concern in ballet

dancers. Journal of Pyschosomatic research, 61(529-533)

3. Ravaldi, C., Vannacci, A., Bolognesi, E., Mancini, S., Faravelli, C., & Ricca, V.

(2006). Gender role, eating disorder symptoms, and body image concern in ballet

dancers. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 61(4), 529-535.

4. Schirmbeck, F., Swets, M., & Haan, L. D. (2015). Epidemiology: Prevalence and

Clinical Characteristics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compul-

sive Symptoms in Patients with Psychotic Disorders. Obsessive-Compulsive Symp-

toms in Schizophrenia, 47-61.

5. Kruger, S., Braunig, P., Hoffer, J., Shugar, G., Borner, I. & Julia, L. (2000, Winter).

Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder in schizophrenia and significance of

motor symptoms. Retrieved from http://psychiatryonline.org/data/Journals

6. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental

th
disorder (5 ed.). Arlington, VA: Amaerican Psychiatric Publishing.
Research Paper Stanley 7

7. Durand, V., & Barlow, D. (2010). Essential of abnormal psychology. (5th ed.). Belmont,

CA: Wadworth.

8. "What is Psychoanalysis" Sigmund Freud Life and Work. (n.d.). Retrieved October

02, 2017, from http://www.freudfile.org/psychoanalysis/definition.html

9. Boeree, C. G. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2017, from http://webspace.ship.edu/cg-

boer/freud.html

10. Neziroglu, F. & Sandler, J. (2009, Summer). The relationship between eating disor-

der and OCD: part of spectrum