Arthur Fleck: Joker

Put on a happy Face

Arthur Fleck :Joker

Tamara Walker

Abnormal Psychology Mary Elaine Rasco April 10, 2023

Introduction for the Infamous Joker

Arthur Fleck, famously known as the Joker, is a notorious DC Comics villain who has become a cultural icon in his own right. He is instantly recognizable for his trademark clown face paint, green hair, menacing grin, and unpredictable and violent behavior has made him one of the most feared and fascinating characters in the DC universe.

Arthur Before Joker

Before he became the infamous Joker, Arthur Fleck was just a struggling comedian trying to make a name for himself in Gotham City. However, his dreams were constantly shattered by the harsh realities of a cruel and unforgiving world. Arthur's life was a never-ending cycle of pain and disappointment, from his unfulfilling job as a clown-for-hire to his struggles with mental illness and a lack of human connection. Yet, even in the face of adversity, Arthur remained determined to find his place in the world, ultimately leading him down a path of darkness and destruction.

Arthur Fleck's (Joker) Childhood

That he doesn't remember?....

Arthur Fleck's childhood was plagued by abuse and neglect, which left him with multiple mental health issues, including delusional disorder and borderline personality disorder. He also suffered physical abuse from his mother's boyfriend. He repressed many of these traumatic memories, leading to dissociative episodes as a result which prevented him from fully comprehending the extent of the abuse he endured later on in life. The realization triggered a mental breakdown that led him to....suffocate his mother with a pillow and his transformation into the Joker.

Arthur Fleck's Disorders

Schizophrenia

Borderline Personality Disorder

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The disorder is characterized by a range of symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and negative symptoms such as emotional withdrawal or lack of motivation. Schizophrenia can cause significant distress and impairment in a person's daily life, and it is typically diagnosed in late adolescence or early adulthood.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and behavior. People with BPD may experience intense and unstable emotions, have difficulty controlling their impulses, and struggle with feelings of emptiness and identity confusion.

Treatment

Borderline Personality Disorder

Schizophrenia

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Teaches coping skills to manage intense emotions, regulate mood, and improve relationships.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifies and changes negative thinking patterns and behaviors.
• Schema-Focused Therapy (SFT): Indentifies and channges maladaptive schemas or core beliefs that underlie BPD symptoms.
• Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT): Focuses on improving the ability to understand one's own and other's mental states and emotions
• Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP): Explores the individual's interpersonal patterns relationships.

• Antipsychotic medication: Used to manage positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Psychotherapy: Helps individuals manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Social skills training: Improves communication and interaction with others.
• Family therapy: Educates family members about the illness and teaches strategies to support their loved ones.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): Uses electrical currents to stimulate the brain and treat severe symptoms.
• Cognitive remediation: Improves cognitive skills such as attention, memory, and problem-solving.

Arthur Fleck's Disorders pt.2

Pseudobulbar Affect

Delusional Disorder

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA), also known as emotional incontinence, is a neurological condition characterized by sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of laughter or crying that are disproportionate or inappropriate to the situation. People with PBA may experience these emotional expressions in response to minor stimuli or for no apparent reason at all. PBA can occur in people with a variety of neurological conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, or stroke, and is thought to be caused by a disruption in the brain's emotional control center.

Delusional disorder is a mental health condition characterized by the presence of delusions, which are persistent false beliefs that are not based in reality. These delusions may involve a variety of themes, such as persecution, jealousy, or grandiosity. People with delusional disorder may become preoccupied with these beliefs and have difficulty functioning in their daily lives. Unlike other psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, people with delusional disorder do not typically experience other symptoms such as hallucinations, disorganized speech, or disorganized behavior.

Treatment pt.2

Delusional Disorder

Pseudobulbar Affect

• Antipsychotic medication: Allevitaes delusions and other symptoms of the disorder.
• Psychotherapy: Helps individuals develop coping strategies to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
• Supportive therapy: Provides a non-judgmental and empathic environment in which individuals can express their feelings and discuss their experiences.
• Family therapy: Educates and supports family members about the disorder and teach them how to support their loved one. It can also help improve communication and relationships within the family.
• Hospitalization: This may be necessary in some cases, particularly if the individual poses a risk to themselves or others.

• Medication: Several medications have been approved by the FDA, including dextromethorphan/quinidine, are believed to work by suppressing excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Psychotherapy: Helps individuals learn to recognize and control their emotional responses.
• Speech therapy: Helps individuals improve their communication skills, including reducing the frequency and severity of involuntary outbursts.
• Alternative therapies: Acupuncture or mindfulness meditation may help manage symptoms.

Bonus Slide: Two of my favorite scenes

These scenes hold a deeper meaning...

The Iconic Stairs Dance

Gotham City Bursts Into Chaos

Quote

"The Child Who is Not Embraced by the Village Will Burn it Down to Feel its Warmth."

-African Proverb

thank you!

THE END