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Finn Osman Robiann Broomfield PSY 3310 July 19, 2019 Courage the Cowardly Dog Courage the Cowardly Dog, which aired on Cartoon Network from 1999 to 2002, is a children's cartoon that takes place on a farm in the small town of Nowhere, Kansas. The show follows the adventures of a dog named Courage along with his owners, Muriel Bagge, a sweet old woman who loves Courage dearly, and Eustace Bagge, her grumpy husband. Despite being cowardly, as the title of the show suggests, Courage does whatever he can to protect his owners from the villains of the show who intend to cause them harm. Several characters from the show, from Courage himself to Freaky Fred, display symptoms of psychological disorders that affect the characters themselves as well as those around them. Courage himself would display symptoms of more than one disorder. It is apparent by the last episode that came before the series finale that he seems to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which was caused by losing his parents as a pup to a malevolent vet who launched them into space. This traumatic experience made him want to protect his owners the way he failed to protect his parents. Ever since being found by Muriel, he has experienced and suffered from frightening thoughts or dreams. In the particular episode involving the vet and his parents, Courage drinks milk from a carton, looks at the list of missing pets advertisement on the carton, and begins experiencing flashbacks of the time he lost his parents, which is very common for those with PTSD. Courage also experiences hyperarousal symptoms such as being easily startled and feeling anxious. Being constantly worried and easily startled could even be

part of generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD. However, I believe the disorder this character deals with that stands out the most is paranoid personality disorder. I seek to describe this disorder, how Courage fits the criteria, the challenges that this disorder creates, and how it could be treated. Paranoid personality disorder, or PPD, is when one is suspicious of other individuals, whether they are complete strangers or close friends and family members. In fact, the DSM-5 literally states that paranoid personality disorder is “a pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts” (Vyas and Khan, 2016). There should be at least four symptoms present for someone to have this disorder, such as unjustifiably suspecting that others are harming or deceiving them, unjustifiably doubting the loyalty and honesty of those close to them, being unwilling to confide in others due to the unjustified thought that information would be malevolently utilized against them, and reading hidden condescending or ominous meanings into kind and compassionate remarks as well as peaceful events. In addition to these symptoms, a person who is likely to have this disorder would tirelessly hold grudges over anything such as a simple insult or injury, would see attacks on their reputation that are not obvious or clear to other individuals and are quick to respond furiously or counterattack, and have recurrent unjustified suspicions regarding their partner’s loyalty. This is, however, only one criterion. Another criterion explains that it “does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar disorder or a

depressive disorder with psychotic features, or another psychotic disorder and is not attributable to the physiological effects of another medical condition” (Vyas and Khan, 2016). In addition, we add “premorbid” if the criteria are met prior to the development of schizophrenia. Once added, the disorder is known as paranoid personality disorder (premorbid). This disorder is presented very well in the show because as Courage does meet the criteria. First, it is quite obvious that he holds a grudge over what the vet did to his parents, which is a form of emotional injury. During that episode, Courage is taken to the vet after experiencing flashbacks of his past and is aware of what’s to come. He tries to escape but is captured by the vet. Eustace and Muriel try to intervene in the vet’s plan to launch Courage into space, but instead get trapped in the rocket themselves. Courage fights with the vet and eventually gets him trapped in the rocket instead of the Bagges, causing the vet to be launched to space. Later that day, him and his owners are enjoying their time at the porch of their home as Muriel states that she wonders what happened to the vet. Courage growls in response, which could indicate that he is not worried about what happened to him but is rather glad to be rid of him after everything the vet put him through. Other ways to interpret his growl is that he is hoping that the vet did not make it alive or is getting his just desserts. Also, he does unjustifiably suspect that other people are out to harm him and the Bagges. Most of the times, his fears are confirmed whenever a villain strikes. However, there are situations where this is simply not the

case. For instance, in the episode featuring Freaky Fred, Courage misinterprets the actions of Fred. While there are fan theories surrounding Fred, such as him being a pedophile, Courage takes his suspicions a little too far and thinks that Fred is just like every other supporting character on the show. In other words, he actually thought Fred was going to harm him when all Fred did was shave his fur. Another instance involves the episode The Mask, where a masked anthropomorphic cat named Kitty attacks Courage at the beginning of the episode while stating that all dogs are bad. One might think that Courage’s suspicion of her is justified until Kitty opens up about her best friend, Bunny, dating a violent and misogynistic anthropomorphic dog, which indicates her hitting Courage was all a big misunderstanding. However, Courage takes things too far by having thoughts of Kitty wanting to eat the Bagges. Courage also does read hidden meanings into kind and compassionate remarks. While his ability to read between the lines has been handy in helping him see what certain villains, like Katz and Le Quack, are up to, it has also led to some misunderstandings. This is especially true in the episode Stormy Weather. In this episode, a woman with a dark, rainy cloud over her head comes over to the front yard of the Bagges’s home. This woman lost her dog, Duncan, and wants a replacement. She sees that Courage bears a resemblance to Duncan and walks over to him, showering him with compliments. But because Courage noticed a cloud over her head, he did not accept her compliments and viewed them as suspicious. When Courage

reunites her with Duncan, however, he begins seeing her for the good person she is. Another episode in which this happens is Heads of Beef, where Eustace is forced to take Courage to a diner with him per Muriel’s request. At the diner, Courage sees that the patty of his burger has a picture of the face of a previous customer and goes into a private room within the diner to investigate. In the room, he overhears a conversation between the owner and his wife. The couple give compliments to Courage, but he thinks they want to kill and eat him and Eustace. Towards the end of the episode, it is revealed that the owner and his wife simply make models of their customers made of real hamburger meat. Eustace and the other customer who was supposedly killed appeared to be alive and enjoying a burger with the owner and his wife. In addition, Courage does indeed unjustifiably doubt the loyalty and honesty of those close to them. This usually happens with Eustace and, only in rare exceptions, Muriel. One of the only times in which this happens is during Night of the Weremole, where Muriel is turned into a weremole. However, his actions are justified in this situation as Muriel had no control over her actions after being bitten by a weremole. Courage’s suspicion towards Eustace, on the other hand, is another story. While Eustace is one of Courage’s owners, the fact that he engages in horseplay and bullying towards Courage is enough for Courage to lose trust in Eustace and question his loyalty to him. In almost every episode, Eustace insults Courage or wears

a mask or fake eyes to scare or startle him. This would also explain why Courage spends more time with Muriel but dreads the thought of spending any time with Eustace. Muriel rarely ever, if any, makes Courage feel uncomfortable or uneasy unless she is possessed by a villain. Since Courage displays at least four symptoms of paranoid personality disorder, it could be implied that he does indeed meet the criteria of the disorder. It is also important to note that his symptoms do not occur exclusively with any psychotic disorder and are not caused by a medical condition. In fact, the fact that his symptoms are not caused by a medical condition is implied by the physician who diagnoses him after he is sent to the emergency room after witnessing that Muriel’s transformation into a weremole in Night of the Weremole . It is unknown if either one of his parents has schizophrenia and he definitely does not appear to have it on the show. The criteria are not met prior to the development of schizophrenia, so we do not add “premorbid” in his case. People living with paranoid personality disorder face many difficult issues in their day to day lives. Some people with this disorder have a hard time working while others that also have it do not. But it is definitely important to note who they are working with and for. In other words, one should consider a person with PPD’s relationship with other people in the workplace. Since a person with this disorder would expect to be mistreated or deceived, it is possible they could think that their co-workers or their employer are secretly working against them. These intrusive thoughts could

make it hard for them to focus on completing tasks at their workplace as well as working with other people. Their co-workers would view them as difficult, hostile, and angry and could often complain about them to each other or their managers. However, this does not end at the person’s workplace. If this disorder could interfere with their work, then it could also interfere with taking care of themselves. A poor performance at work correlates to being unable to pay for one’s bills because a poor performance could lead to a low salary or getting fired. A person with this disorder would also have a hard time bathing, cooking, cleaning, and sleeping a reasonable number of hours. It is possible that this disorder makes day to day life difficult for the person who has it in the sense that there are long-lasting conflicts in the individual’s life. And unfortunately, these conflicts have to do with the individual’s paranoia, in that the battles they fight are proof that people cannot be trusted. As a result, most of these individuals become isolated and withdrawn. As someone who suffers from this disorder, Courage himself faces multiple difficulties in his life. He does have a difficult time completing chores that Eustace or Muriel assign him to do as he always thinks that a villain is going to strike any minute, even while working. Since he would expect to be mistreated or deceived, it is possible they could think that Eustace is secretly working against him. This is especially noticeable given how Eustace treats Courage. Such thoughts could make it hard for Courage to focus on completing tasks he is given. Eustace and even Muriel often find him difficult.

Courage also has trouble taking care of himself. This is noticeable in the episode Wrath of the Librarian, where Courage is trying to return a cursed overdue book. He raises enough money to pay the late fee through a sale and tries to give the money to the librarian. However, he still needs to pay a cent. He finds a penny stuck under his foot via gum. While he uses that penny to pay the full amount, one cannot help but wonder whether he bathes on a regular basis or not. This is also noticeable in the series finale, Perfect. There is a scene where he is told by the main antagonist to brush his teeth while he is in the bathroom. While he does as he is told, it has been apparent that Courage has not practiced good dental hygiene since the beginning of the series, especially since there is a large, circular hole in one tooth. And just like any other individual with PPD, the disorder allows Courage to engage in long-lasting conflicts that are correlated with his paranoia. It causes Courage to believe that people cannot be trusted, and thus, withdraws him from society. Individuals with PPD as a population could potentially face some risks. There would also be more legal battles with individuals or organizations that the people with PPD believe are trying to hurt them. While it is not known what precisely causes PPD, it is safe to assume that it could involve a combination of biological and psychological factors. It might run in the family of an individual as it is more common in people who have some relatives living with schizophrenia as well as delusional disorder. This would suggest a close genetic link between the two disorders. So, those whose predecessors

who had PPD or schizophrenia are more likely to develop the paranoid thoughts specific to PPD. Early childhood experiences could also play a role in PPD’s development. Early physical trauma like bullying and emotional trauma like verbal abuse or neglect could lead to one having a difficult time trusting those around them. An individual with this disorder who does not get treated would be affected in multiple ways. If untreated, the individual with the disorder might suffer in terms of relationships as well as their ability to function in work and social situations. While they do not pose harm to themselves, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for these individuals to accept treatment as they usually mistrust the professionally trained therapists and physicians who are simply there to help. And while the symptoms might or might not lessen with time, taking medication to treat the disorder is not too bad. However, medication by itself is not by any means a substitution for therapy. A mixture of medication and psychotherapy will help the patient make progress and work towards full treatment by helping the patient learn to cope with it as well as boost their self-esteem. To cope with his condition, Courage has some social support at home. He mainly has Muriel keeping him company whenever he needs her while Eustace simply shows disgust and dislike towards Courage. Most of the time, he lies in her lap while she sits in her rocking chair. He even cooperates with her in cleaning the house by doing the chores she or Eustace assign him to do. And while Muriel is usually the one who is in danger, she does come to

Courage’s aid in Muted Muriel. In other words, she had to save Courage from a giant starfish by talking after she refused to do so because of Eustace ignoring her. Other than Muriel, Ma Bagge, Eustace’s mother, showers Courage with affection whenever she visits him or he visits her. In the episode Mother’s Day, this is apparent as she treats Courage kindly in contrast to Eustace throughout the whole episode. Also, while he only appeared in one episode, the Hunchback is also part of Courage’s social group. The Hunchback of Nowhere is the episode where Courage makes good friends with the Hunchback. Unlike most people he meets and becomes fearful of, Courage does not fear the Hunchback and instead takes an immediate interest in him. He mostly spends time with the Hunchback by ringing bells with him for fun. This all proves that Courage is never alone and has people who care for him and will always be there no matter what. Visiting the vet is one of the known ways in which dogs or any other pet could get help for their medical issues. Assuming Courage were to have human-like qualities, however, he could visit an experienced therapist or counselor. He could also visit his local family physician who would refer him to a psychiatrist. The best form of therapy for Courage would be psychotherapy, or more specifically, CBT, which is short for cognitive behavioral therapy. This effective form of psychotherapy could be empirically supported to treat this disorder as it adjusts dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. The

goal of CBT is to identify destructive thoughts and analyzes whether they are an exact representation of reality. If they are not, CBT utilizes methods to dispute and surmount them. Using medication to treat this disorder is generally discouraged as it might increase the symptoms of paranoia and suspicion. Unless the person suffering from the disorder has severe symptoms that would result in the individual wanting to self-harm or harm other people, medication should not be used. If daily function has been obstructed, anti-anxiety medication like diazepam and anti-psychotic medication like thioridazine or haloperidol could be prescribed. However, these medications should be prescribed for only a short period of time because they cannot substitute therapy. Only a mixture of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy could fully aid in the treatment of the severe symptoms of paranoid personality disorder. Overall, the show depicts Courage’s mental disorders, especially paranoid personality disorder, very well and gives one insight on how people are with mental illnesses viewed, treated, and tolerated. It digs deep into the minds of people with mental disorders and gives us a view of the world from their perspective. Courage goes from an ordinary puppy to a full-grown dog who assumes the worst in other people, including Eustace who is close to him. While he does find a couple of ways to cope with his condition such as spending time with Muriel, his paranoid personality disorder tends to create challenges that affect his relationships and his performance in completing chores.

Works Cited Kring, A. M., & Johnson, S. L. (2018). Abnormal psychology: The science and treatment of psychological disorders (14th Edition). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Vyas, A., & Khan, M. (2017, May 16). Paranoid personality disorder. American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajprj.2016.110103

Paranoid Personality Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brightquest.com/paranoidpersonality-disorder/#causes-and-risk-factors Mental Health: Paranoid Personality Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/paranoid-personality-disorder#2-7 Paranoid Personality Disorder Management and Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9784-paranoid-personality-disorder/managementand-treatment Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Psychology Today Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/basics/cognitive-behavioral-therapy Paranoid Personality Disorder | Psychology Today Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/conditions/paranoid-personality-disorder...