Character Psychological Profiles - Umbridge

[fanofminerva]

No: HPFGUIDX 127502


<Took page from Kemper's thread and snipped his post to his 
question> 

Thank you, SSSusan, for starting this thread.  I've amended the 
subject as an overal "Charcter Psychological Profile" and the 
character can be changed to fit the post.


>He seems to fit criteria.

I agree wtih your assessment of Lucious as being Antisocial PD.  The 
only real reservation I had was a lack of canon regarding his youth 
and adolescence.  While I think your assumption is accurate, we have 
to recognize it as an assumption.  For that reason only, I would 
keep Antisocial PD a "Rule Out" and go with Narcissistic PD for now 
given the canon.
 
> I have a new question.  Umbridge.  She wears a lot of rings.  For 
me, 
> this is almost always a sign of a Borderline or a Histrionic.  But 
> she doesn't quite read/feel like one.  She does seem to have a 
> psychosis.  Maybe bipolar? 
> 
> Kemper


Umbridge is difficult for me as well.  Having read OOTP when it 
first came out and not having my book with me, my comments will be 
brief.  However, I would like to continue this thread and comment on 
what Kemper has proposed.

Umbridge is an odd bird.  As a professor of mine said, some people 
are hard to diagnosis because "Mean Old Battle Axe" ain't in the 
DSM!  I do not think she is Bipolar because I do not see the 
fluctuation of her mood.  Even if she were a "mean manic," I see her 
presentation as too consistent to be Bipolar.  Could she be 
Dysthymic?  It is a chronic depressive condition, with hers being 
expressed as irritable, unhappy, and generally nasty?  I don't know.

I agree with Kemper.  Some parts of her presentation are like 
Borderline/Hystrionic, but not enough to be diagnosed as such.  I 
know what you mean by "she just doesn't read/feel like one."  

What would you think of Paranoid Personality traits?  I will write 
the criteria and what my impressions are, but I certainly will defer 
to someone with more canon knowledge on this one.

"A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their 
motives are interpreted as malevolent...

1. "Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are explointing, 
harming, or deceiving him or her"

2. "Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or 
trustworthiness of friends or associates"

3. "Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear 
that the information will be used maliciously against him or her"

4. "Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign 
remarks or events"

5. "Persistently bears grudges, ie., is unforgiving of insults, 
injuries, or slights"

6. "Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are 
not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to 
counterattack"

7. "Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding 
fidelity of spouse or sexual partner" -- eeeewww!!  the visual of 
Umbridge as a sexual being just turned my stomach!!!

Ok, now my thoughts in general.  What makes this possibility 
intriguing is that we would have to look at the Umbridge of the 
first half of the book, when she first arrives at Hogwarts.  What 
happens with many people with PPD is the old self-fulfilling 
prophecy.  THey expect people to treat them this way, so they react 
what they think of as in defense.  Their treatment of people then 
causes people to make demeaning remarks, attach reputation, etc.

So, if we look at Toady-Woman at the end of the book, then we might 
think, "Well, of course she thought that because that's the way she 
was treated."  The question is this:  Was her treatment at the end 
of the book the way she was treated at the beginning or was it a 
consequence of her perception and subsequent treatment of others?

Thanks, Kemper, for the exercise!  I look forward to reading others' 
opinions!

Julie