MATCHSTICK MEN 1

Matchstick Men Michael Arneson Bryant and Stratton College PSYC101, Principles of Psychology, Thursday Section Professor Kelly Pearson January 13, 2011

MATCHSTICK MEN 2 Introduction Matchstick Men is a movie about the exploits of two con men. The main character, Roy Waller, is played by Nicholas Cage. He is an experienced con-artist who has amassed over one million dollars during his brilliant career. He keeps his fortune in a safety deposit box at the bank. Although successful, Roy suffers from at least four distinct psychological disorders. He has been treating these disorders though self-medication, using illegally obtained drugs. His accomplice, Frank Mercer, is played by Sam Rockwell. Roy has worked with Frank for many years and together they have operated many successful cons. Recently, Roy has been unable to acquire any more drugs, causing his mental disorders to worsen. Frank seems concerned about Roy and wants him to get treatment for his psychological problems. He suggests that Roy find a therapist to treat his conditions. Psychological Conditions/Diagnosis Roy suffers from four major psychological disorders related to anxiety. The first issue is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. This causes obsessive and repetitive behaviors. The second major issue that Roy must deal with is an anxiety disorder known as Agoraphobia, which is a fear of unfamiliar or open spaces. The third major disorder is Mysophobia, also known as Germ phobia. This is a fear of contamination due to germs. The final issue, which is an accompanying condition to anxiety, is called Facial Tics. These are spasms of the facial muscles that cause unintended facial movements and expressions. All of these conditions have prevented Roy from having any meaningful personal relationships, and have caused him to become withdrawn and increasingly anxious.

MATCHSTICK MEN 3

Supporting Events/Conflicts Exploring these disorders in more detail will shed some light on how they affect Roys everyday life. The most prominent problem is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder whenever Roy opens a door or checks a window latch for security, he must operate the lock three times. As he is working a doorknob or window lock, he counts to three out loud, and then he opens the door or window. When Roy checks out after grocery shopping, he arranges his items very carefully: eight cans of tuna stacked together with their labels facing the same way, eight packs of cigarettes stacked in a similar fashion. At home, he stacks his clothes neatly in their drawers. He arranges the food in his pantry in tidy rows and every item is set with precision. Roy also washes his hands frequently, several times a day. He scrubs his empty tuna cans thoroughly and seals them in plastic bags before throwing them away. He constantly patrols his home, looking for lint and fuzz on his carpet. Whenever he finds it he must remove it immediately. Also, he cannot stand any leaves floating in his swimming pool and must promptly remove them. Another disturbing problem is Agoraphobia Roy has a severe panic attack whenever someone opens a window or door that exposes him to the outdoors. He is alright as long as he opens the door or window himself, using his three-count, OCD method. He prefers to be indoors and only goes outside out of necessity. To make matters worse, Roy suffers from Mysophobia, or Germ Phobia Roy always wears socks to keep his feet free of germs. His bare feet must never touch the floor. He must clean everything thoroughly. If he finds any dirt in his home, he meticulously cleans everything in the

MATCHSTICK MEN 4 house. He cannot stand people wearing shoes in his house and yells at them if they do not remove them before entering. When putting his shoes on, he will not touch them with his hands. He uses a long shoe horn, and only wears slip-on shoes. Roy will also not touch a doorknob or door handle with his bare hands. He must use a cloth to protect his hands from germs. He had a panic attack while digging through his trash can to look for an item. Last are Facial Tics Roy has several panic attacks during the film. Each time he feels anxious, his facial muscles would contort and twitch uncontrollably, his head would jerk randomly to the side, and his lips would quiver. Treatment or Therapy Roy visits a psychiatrist at the urging of his partner Frank. He just wants drugs initially, but discovers that the only way to get medication is to tell the doctor about his problems. Roy begins to reveal some of his issues to the therapist. In return he gets a weeks worth of medication. Roy takes the medication and many of his symptoms begin to fade. He continues to see his psychiatrist and receive therapy, including the medication. During a session, the therapist suggests that Roy should reunite with his estranged daughter. The therapist claims this will help to cure Roy of his afflictions. Roy reconnects with his daughter and many of his psychological problems begin to fade. His daughter, along with the medication, seems to be curing him. He is able to live a mostly normal life until he discovers that the pills he is taking are just vitamins. He regresses and becomes much worse than before. Resolution Ultimately, Roy discovers the real cause of all his psychological problems; they are caused by the guilt he feels from conning people and stealing their money. In an attempt to free himself

MATCHSTICK MEN 5 from his disorders, Roy becomes a law abiding citizen and gets a legitimate job at a carpet store. Here, the movie neatly wraps up all of Roys problems. His Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Agoraphobia, Mysophobia, and Facial Tics completely vanish. He is able to live a normal life, free of anxiety. Personal Reaction to the Movie There are a lot of things wrong with poor Roy. It has to be nearly impossible for him to get through each day. Nicholas Cage plays his role convincingly. Overall, the story is interesting and entertaining and I can personally relate to some of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder scenarios. It is difficult to accept that someone with so many problems can be cured as easily as this. The viewer must understand that it is part of the story. I would definitely recommend the movie to students of psychology: it is well worth watching. The portrayal of the psychological disorders, their symptoms, and the resulting dysfunction is accurate and informative. Conclusion Psychological problems can affect the lives of many people. Friends and family members of those afflicted are also victims. They are subjected to the abnormal behaviors associated with the mental disorders. This can add stress to an already volatile situation, and create even more psychological problems. The best solution is to seek professional treatment for these problems as soon as they are recognized. Friends and family members should not be afraid to speak up if they notice loved ones behaving strangely. The rewards of having fully functional and rational relationships with family far outweigh the risks of alienation and anxiety.

MATCHSTICK MEN 6

Addendum Obsessive Compulsive DisorderSymptoms/Diagnostic Criteria:

Unwanted thoughts (obsessions). Unwanted feelings to perform certain actions (compulsions), against the victims will. (Feldman, 2010, p. 401).

Victims of obsessive compulsive disorder often come to realize that their actions are unreasonable, but cannot stop or ignore the particular behavior. This causes even more anxiety, and causes them to commit compulsive acts in an effort to ease their stress, or feelings of stress. They may also obsess over a particular thought, such as whether they forgot to unplug their irons before leaving home. They may also obsess over a particular song lyric, repeating it over and over. (Mayo Clinic, 2010). Agoraphobia-

MATCHSTICK MEN 7 Symptoms/Diagnostic Criteria: Fear of being in places where help is not readily available. (Feldman, 2010, p. 400). Fear of crowds or unfamiliar places.

Victims of Agoraphobia may be fearful of leaving the security of familiar surroundings. Being outdoors or around crowds of unfamiliar people can cause great stress and anxiety. Sufferers of agoraphobia also assistance would be difficult or impossible to obtain in the event of an emergency. These feelings of stress and anxiety are usually relieved when the victims returns to familiar surroundings. (Mayo Clinic, 2010).

MysophobiaSymptoms/Diagnostic Criteria:

Exhibiting anxious behavior when exposed to dirt or germs. Avoiding social situations. Unwilling to share personal items.

Victims of mysophobia suffer from panic attacks and anxiety when exposed to dirt or germs. Direct exposure is not necessary to bring on an attack. Seeing images of dirt or germs on television can also cause anxious behavior. Victims frequently wash their hands

MATCHSTICK MEN 8 and keep their surroundings impeccably clean. In severe cases, victims will avoid contact with others and refuse to leave the comfort of their homes. (Epigee, 2010). Facial TicsSymptoms/Diagnostic Criteria: Repeated grunting and throat noises. Squinting and eye blinking. Facial contorting, including wrinkling of the nose and twitching of the mouth.

Victims of facial tics will usually display these symptoms when suffering from anxiety or when encountering stressful situations. The cause of facial tics is unknown; most of the victims are children, with 75% of the cases occurring in males. (Medline Plus, 2010).

References Feldman, Robert S., (2010). Psychology and your life. The major psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

MATCHSTICK MEN 9

Epigee, (2010). Mysophobia. Retrieved from http://www.epigee.org/mental_health/mysophobia.html

Mayo Clinic, (2010). Agoraphobia. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/agoraphobia/DS00894

Mayo Clinic, (2010). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/DS00189

Medicine Plus, (2010). Facial tics. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001410.htm