In this blog, we will be discussing the Harry Potter universe and personality disorders amongst the characters, we will also cover about Harry Potter series, what are personality disorders, and understand each character from the lens of psychology.
Do Characters in the Harry Potter Universe have personality disorders?
Yes, characters in Harry Potter have been depicted to have various personality-related issues that might not catch someone’s eye in the first look but as you look at them and deeply analyze them, you might find out that they are not as perfect as we assume them to be.
Some of them seem to be suffering from personality-related issues, psychological disorders, etc.
So let’s board the train from platform 9 ¾ once again and visit our home Hogwarts to meet the characters from the lens of a psychologist.
Harry Potter Universe and series
Harry Potter movie series is based on the novels written by J.K. Rowling who shot to fame after struggling with the publication of her fantasy novels but when she finally got her work published, she shot to fame and became one of the highest-paid authors.
The movie series consists of seven films that revolve around the life of Harry Potter, an orphan boy whose parents died and he was living with his mother’s sister and his life changed after being introduced to the world of wizardry.
What are personality disorders?
Personality disorders are the type of disorders that affect a person’s thinking, actions, and feelings deeply. Anyone struggling with a personality disorder often faces troubles in the perception of situations and also faces problems in relating with the people and situations around them. Personality disorders can deeply affect a person’s life including their work, relationships, studies, etc.
Personality disorders can be divided into different clusters:
- Cluster A
Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior. They include paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder.
- Cluster B
Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking or behavior. They include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.
- Cluster C
Cluster C personality disorders are characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior. They include avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Characters in Harry Potter suffering from Psychological disorders
- Harry Potter- Imposter syndrome
Let’s start with the main character of the story- Harry Potter. Harry suffers from Imposter syndrome despite being a sweet, sensitive young man who is always willing to help.
This is a psychological condition in which a person is always terrified of not meeting other people’s expectations, has doubts about their own ability, and worries about not being enough and worthy. Despite external evidence to the contrary, those who suffer from this syndrome believe they do not deserve their achievement.
Harry has unrealistic expectations of himself, and he is frightened that if he fails, everyone will laugh at him, and he would be labeled incompetent. He attributes his successes to being at the right place at the right time, to the assistance of others, or even to deny his own talents.
A humiliating home environment and abuse as a child are frequently the cause of the development of such a syndrome.
Since it is difficult for a person to display leadership talents after such an event, it is difficult to think that they are a unique individual who deserves respect. We know about Harry’s childhood, including the mockery and bullying he endured at the Dudley’s.
As a result, he worries about not living up to Dumbledore’s expectations or doubts about defeating the Dark Lord by himself.
- Ron Weasley- Anxiety, Phobia, and Low self-esteem
Like many of us who suffer from anxiety, Ron Weasley appears to be constantly on edge, waiting for the next shoe to drop so that he is not caught off guard — especially by the things he fears the most.
He has a specific phobia of spiders and it gets very clear when he sees Aragog as his boggart and casting the Riddikulus Spell to navigate through that but he
The reason he suffers from anxiety, phobia of spiders, and low self-esteem is that he is the youngest of many children in a large family. Ron continually compares himself to his older brothers, who are talented, energetic, and often in the spotlight, and he feels he can never fill their shoes.
He has low self-esteem and feels himself to be too “ordinary.” Ron is sensitive to other people’s criticism and comments, he is reluctant to express his own creative ideas, and he craves praise and approval from others.
Such individuals are particularly receptive to comments from others (for example, Ron easily believed that Harry did not consider him his friend). Low self-esteem causes anger, envy, and self-condemnation, as well as a lack of belief in one’s potential to succeed and be fascinating to others.
- Hermoine Granger- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Hermoine has meticulously prepared every detail, and everything has been thoroughly thought out and systematized. She is well-organized, serious, focused, and tenacious. She has unrealistic expectations of herself and feels compelled to prove her superiority in order to boost her self-esteem.
The worst thing that could happen to her is for her to be expelled from school. She has a clear fixation with academic excellence, as well as some major obsessive tendencies.
Hermione’s trouble with time management is a major indicator of her likely OCD. Punctuality is a common problem for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Hermione is only able to avoid that setback thanks to the time-turner given to her by Professor McGonagall.
Perfectionists, fascinated with details, regulations, timetables, and so on, are people of this personality type. The obsession with order and control has become so strong that it has come at the expense of efficiency.
- Lord Voldemort- Antisocial personality disorder/ Psychopathy
Voldemort is all about heartlessness, lack of compassion, and callousness. His actions are eerily similar to those of a psychopath. This is a significant nervous system disorder that can be congenital or acquired in early life. To achieve their objectives, such a person is capable of deception and criminality.
He is aided in this by pathological deception and a predisposition for dishonesty. Such people are typically persuasive and know how to persuade others to join their cause, but solely to further their own goals.
If they do not succeed in achieving their goals, they become even more heartless and vicious. You never know what to anticipate from psychopaths since they can hit you with a wave of rage at any time.
It’s easy for such people to break established social conventions; they’d rather trample on people’s toes to achieve their objectives, and they’re just concerned with their own ego.
Voldemort isn’t used to feeling guilty; he’s only known for his apathy and contempt for other people’s issues. Voldemort is a classic psychopath who causes physical and psychological harm to others.
- Professor Snape- Schizoid Personality disorder and depression
People with Schizoid Personality Disorder don’t want or enjoy social interactions, and they rarely have close friends. They will often appear aloof, with no sympathetic or warm feelings for others. Severus Snape matches the description: he is aloof, avoids people, and speaks rarely.
“After all this time”… “Always”, are lines that can make any Harry Potter fan cry. Snape’s romantic feelings for Lily were always one-sided, although her death may have been one of the significant life traumas that influenced his predisposition for depression.
Snape’s irritability, like that of many others who suffer from depression, can be misunderstood for dissociation, but in the end, he reveals that beneath the grumpy exterior, he still has a lot of compassion.
- Luna Lovegood- Schizotypal Disorder
We can tell there’s something wrong with Luna from the moment we see her. Such people have a distinct sense of self, as though they are one-of-a-kind.
The schizotypal disorder is marked by detachment from reality, abnormal conduct, and a mental and emotional illness, although it is not yet schizophrenia. Such persons are prone to social isolation. Her demeanor and voice are also far from acceptable standards, in addition to the fact that she dresses in an incredibly unorthodox manner.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder is characterized by interpersonal difficulties similar to those of the schizoid personality, as well as strange ideas or magical thinking (such as clairvoyance or telepathy).
Luna Lovegood mentions “invisible Wrackspurts floating through your eyes and making your brain go fuzzy.”
- Bellatrix Lestrange- Histrionic Personality Disorder
Bellatrix is known for her strong emotions, theatricality, and feigned manners. She may have a histrionic personality problem, or she may love it. She enjoys dramatizing things, flirting, and doing so in an effective manner in order to draw attention.
She dresses provocatively, accentuating her sensuality and sticking out from the crowd, in addition to her eccentricity. Her actions are frequently controversial. Furthermore, she becomes overly attached to individuals and misinterprets relationships as closer than they are.
She is reliant on other people’s opinions and is readily influenced by other people or situations, and she yearns for fame and recognition. She experiences inner emptiness at times of loneliness and torments herself with the belief that she is unworthy of love.
- Draco Malfoy- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissism is a psychological trait in which a person regards oneself as a special, unique personality who thinks they are better than others, despite the fact that this is not necessarily the case.
Malfoy has an inflated ego and inflated self-esteem. He has pathological narcissism, believing himself to be of the highest social class and despising and exploiting the rest. He insults Hermoine by calling her a ‘mudblood’.
He displays his superiority and arrogance on purpose, believing that by doing so, he will acquire others’ respect. Draco is a natural manipulator and liar, and he can quickly find justifications for any heinous act if it will enrich him or delight his ego.
Draco Malfoy primarily considers individuals who are members of society’s upper crust; beneath his vanity, he hides his dread of being humiliated and unnoticed. Praise, privileges, and demonstrative servility are always in short supply for such people.
Conclusion
People neglect, overlook, or entirely misunderstand mental illness, which is just one of many invisible illnesses. It’s not always easy to lead others to a greater understanding. Preconceived notions, a reluctance to educate oneself, and a fear of what you don’t know.
These are all normal feelings experienced by people who first meet someone with a mental illness, especially if they are unprepared and under-educated. We hope that by bringing these problems to light, others would learn, accept, and eliminate the stigmas.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): Do Characters in the Harry Potter Universe have personality disorders?
Does Luna Lovegood have schizophrenia?
No, Luna Lovegood does not have schizophrenia. She seems to have schizotypal personality disorder.
What are the 4 personality disorders?
They include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.
What is Voldemort disorder?
Voldemort seems to be suffering from antisocial personality disorder and is often referred to as a psychopath or a sociopath.
What is a schizoid psychopath?
Schizoid psychopaths is a term often used to refer to people suffering from schizoid personality disorder. It is found to be affecting a person’s tendency to avoid social situation. They try to stay away from interactions with people and don’t express much emotions.
Is Tom Riddle a narcissist?
Yes, Tom Riddle seems to exhibit malignant narcissism that can be attributed to his traumatic childhood and as he grows up and becomes Voldemort, his narcissism turns into antisocial personality disorder.
Is Lockhart a narcissist?
Yes, Lockhart is a narcissist as he has this inflated sense of self, shows a grandiose of his abilities and qualities, and spends a lot of his time in fantasizing about his succes, and people praising him.
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