Borderline White Female PDF

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Psychological movie...

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Borderline White Female Without any dispute, the 1992 feature film "Single White Female" is an excellent example of a psychological "thriller", which it was initially touted as and seemingly confirmed by grossing several million dollars. However, the one particular aspect of this film that truly confirms to the label of psychological is the characterization of Hedy Carlson, who functions extremely well as a case study for Borderline Personality Disorder. By definition, Borderline Personality Disorder is a condition in which someone exhibits "A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts"¦" (APA 2000). A fairly comprehensive examination of Hedy's actions and personality within "Single White Female" lends credible evidence that she is in fact suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, and also alludes to forms of treatment that may be of assistance in any attempts to counteract the effects of this condition. Although there are nine criteria that are used in determining whether or not a particular individual is afflicted with Borderline Personality Disorder, such a person need only adhere to five of these conventions in order for such a diagnosis to apply. One of the principle facets of Hedy's personality is that she suffers from a feeling of loneliness which she attributes to the death of her twin sister early on in her life. This

A broad diagnosis taking in a range of characteristics, Borderline Personality Disorder is marked by emotional difficulties with the self and in relationships, including in regards to self-image, impulsivity, intense emotional responses to situations, and extreme fear of and reaction to abandonment or rejection. The disorder bears a strong correlation to child abuse and especially sexual abuse, affects women more often than men, and has frequent comorbidity with depression, substance misuse, and eating disorders, as well as a very high suicide rate—around one in ten. As a diagnosis it is not without

controversy; onscreen, it has a degree of popularity given how it makes for unpredictable characters with a broad emotional range, although it is also prone to falling into stereotypes if not executed with sensitivity.

Released five years after Fatal Attraction, Single White Female brings us another example of a female character suffering Borderline Personality Disorder in Hedra “Hedy” Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a troubled young woman who is selected by Allison “Allie” Jones (Bridget Fonda) to be her new roommate. Gradually, Hedy becomes more and more obsessed with Allie and her life, mimicking her look and identity, impersonating her, and ultimately committing a series of violent acts that hasten a deadly showdown between the pair.

In Hedy’s attempts to copy Allie’s identity, we encounter the disorder’s lack of a defined sense of self, which is only compounded by the sense of rejection when Allie asks her to move out of her apartment. In the course group’s discussion, we reflected back on how, in the disorder’s lack of a clear sense of selfidentity, it is similar to narcissism. We also drew comparisons back to Shame and Carey Mulligan‘s character, Sissy, as a further—and arguably more nuanced—example of the disorder onscreen.

Here we do have some sort of background for Hedy, who had a twin sister that drowned at a young age; Hedy lies about this, though, claiming she was stillborn, leaving us to speculate as to precisely what were the circumstances of her death. This loss of her twin enhances or at least mirrors her lack of a sense of

self, too. Nevertheless, she is hardly sympathetic, even down to the rather tired trope of her ensuring Allie’s pet dog falls to its death from their apartment to signal the nature of her character.

Popular public perceptions of Hedy weren’t all that removed from those of Fatal Attraction‘s Alex, with Jennifer Jason Leigh winning the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 1993. It seems that moviegoers’ views of such a character were—and arguably still are—prone to being simplistic in nature. Single White Female offers a more rounded character in Hedy than Fatal Attraction‘s final screen version of Alex, but its narrative nonetheless sensationalises her condition in its audience-grabbing reliance upon sensationalism and cliché.

David Robinson, MD in Reel Psychiatry uses Hedra as an example of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). While I agree this character displays some such characteristics I believe trauma associated with the loss of her twin sister might better explain her behaviors.

In the opening scene (0:00) we see twins at play. Hedra tells Allison her sister was stillborn (0:19), but Allison discovers a photo of the twins and a newspaper clipping about one drowning at age 9 (0:53). We first see evidence that Hedra might suffer from mental illness when we see her pills (0:18, 1:35). When Hedra talks to her father on the phone he refers to a "doctor" (1:07).

Let's look at the criteria for BPD: Hedra does engage in "numerous physical fights" but these do not seem to arise out of "displays" of temper. Does Hedra's attempt to dress and look like Allison reflect identity

disturbance, or was her need to mimic Allison (0:25, 0:44, 0:52) an attempt to replace her twin and undo her death? Hedra does react to threats of loss of Allison with anger or sullen behavior (0:31), but should we equate this with fear of abandonment? But some criteria for BPD seem completely absent. I see no evidence of "chronic feelings of emptiness," or paranoia or dissociation. Almost all her behavior seems calculated rather than impulsive, for example when she drops the puppy to its death (0:41). Hedra goes to great lengths in attempting to maintain her relationship with Hedra, but can we describe this as "frantic?" Neither does she seem to exhibit alternation "between extremes of idealization and devaluation" even of Allison (Hedra does criticize Allison for being "weak": 1:06). Hedra never tries to kill herself or engage in self-mutilation. When we see her composing a suicide note while taking pills we see Allison keying the text into her computer (1:35). Hedra appears intent on killing Allison, but leaving the appearance that Allison killed herself.

Robinson describes Hedra's commission of "murders and assaults" as a response to feeling abandoned, but in fact she assaults Graham (1:02) with no obvious intent to kill him and only after he approaches her, and when she kills Sam, the circumstances are similar. In fact his death (1:13) when she strikes him in the eye with the stiletto heel of a shoe seems accidental. It seems unlikely she would have the skill needed to accomplish this on purpose. Furthermore, nothing leads us to believe she wanted to kill him. She does murder Allison's client, but she has no reason to fear that he will take Allison away from her. In fact she may have assaulted him to protect Allison, then killed him to get him out of the way and to protect herself.

Is there a connection between childhood trauma and Borderline Personality Disorder? How often does BPD occur in twins? Were Hedra's expressed jealousy (1:37) of and hostility toward her twin an attempt to reduce her pain, or were they the emotions that might have motivated Hedra to drown her sister? Even if she did kill her twin she might have suffered from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and survivor guilt (Hedra's parents tell Allison Hedra never forgave herself for surviving: 1:44). Once more, however, criteria are wanting. We see no evidence of reexperiencing, avoidance or increased arousal. Hedra does seem to displace her envy of her twin onto Allison (0:33).

We should consider the possibility that our ability to understand behavior and emotion in psychological terms may not always imply the existence of a mental disorder. This film should also serve as a reminder how easy it can be to vilify by diagnosis. Too often I have heard "Borderlines" defined as problem patients or patients professionals dislike. Maybe the treatment providers, not the patients, should own that problem.

Plot Allison "Allie" Jones is a software designer in New York City, engaged to Sam Rawson. Sam's ex-wife calls, and it is revealed that he slept with her recently. Allie throws Sam out, breaking off their engagement, and is comforted by neighbor Graham Knox, an aspiring actor. The next morning, Allie attends a business lunch with Mitchell Myerson, a fashion house owner looking to buy Allie's revolutionary new program. He manipulates her into significantly reducing the price; as he is her first and only client, she accepts.

Allie advertises for a new roommate to share her apartment in the Ansonia. She settles on Hedra Carlson, whom she nicknames "Hedy", and they become friends. Hedy explains that her twin was stillborn, leaving her with constant loneliness. Hedy becomes overly protective of Allie, erasing Sam's voice-mail asking Allie for a reconciliation. She buys a puppy named Buddy to bond with Allie, but becomes jealous when Sam wins Allie back and they seek a new apartment for themselves. Perceiving Allie as having rejected her, Hedy is upset and becomes further frustrated when Buddy does not come to her even when she coaxes him. Allie and Sam later find Buddy's corpse on the ground below her apartment's window. Returning to the apartment, Allie sees that the window was open with a gap that Buddy could get through. Hedy claims that Buddy's death was an accident because she had thought the bars outside the window had been fixed.

Mitchell tries to coerce Allie into performing fellatio on him on completion of their deal, threatening to warn off future clients and not pay her, but she fights back and escapes. To comfort Allie, Hedy takes her to get a haircut, but after Hedy appears dressed exactly like her, including her haircut, Allie is unnerved. That night, Allie follows Hedy to an underground nightclub and witnesses Hedy passing herself off as Allie. Allie finds a shoebox containing letters addressed to Ellen Besch – Hedy's real name – along with a letter from Sam to Allie, and a newspaper clipping on the accidental drowning of Hedy's twin sister when she was nine years old.

While Allie tells Graham the truth about Hedy, they are unaware Hedy is listening. Allie leaves, and Hedy attacks Graham. When Sam returns the following night, Hedy impersonates Allie and performs oral sex on him. She begs him to leave Allie alone, but he refuses and insists on telling Allie the truth. Furious, Hedy kills him by gouging his eye with her stiletto heel.

Hedy tells Allie she is about to leave. Allie sees a news report on Sam's death and realizes what has happened. She tries to leave, but Hedy takes her hostage at gunpoint, explaining that everyone will believe Allie killed Sam. To "protect" Allie, Hedy tries to convince her that they must run away. Allie attempts to send a distress message, but Hedy catches her.

Mitchell notices his files being erased (a security program initiated by late payments), and rushes to find Allie. He finds her bound and gagged with duct tape, but is shot by Hedy while attempting to free Allie. Hedy then tries to persuade Allie to commit suicide via drug overdose, but Allie resists. Hedy points the gun at Allie as she tries to run, begging Allie not to leave her. Allie coldly tells her, "I'm not like your sister, Hedy. Not anymore. I'm like you now." Graham regains consciousness and assists Allie. Allie drags Hedy off her friend, flees, and is shot in the shoulder by Hedy. After seemingly strangling Allie to death, Hedy drags her towards the incinerator, but Allie recovers and escapes. Screaming for Allie to come out, Hedy lashes out at a mirror inside a closet. Allie stabs her in the back, and they struggle before Allie watches in horror and sadness as Hedy dies.

In an epilogue, Allie narrates that she has finally moved on. She forgives Hedy for killing Sam, and tries to forgive herself for Hedy's death, stating that Hedy's survivor's guilt was her downfall. The film finishes with a photo of both Allie and Hedy's faces combined into one....