Aviator the Firm - Research Paper Example

Analysis of the Film Aviator and the Effects of Obsessive Compulsive Behavior Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is a condition that can affect different aspects of a person’s life. The paper is focused on the movie Aviator and its main theme which is the condition of the main character Howard Hughes, a known personality in the movies and in the field of aviation. There is a two-fold objective in the research conducted. One is the analysis of the theme of the movie Aviator which is directed by Martin Scorsese. Another is focus on the condition referred to as the obsessive compulsive behavior of the main character and the effects of such disease to the person and to other people. Analysis of the Film Aviator Aviator is a film based on the life of one of the most significant personalities in the field of aviation, Howard Hughes. His story is exceptional due to his achievements in two fields namely filmmaking and the field of aviation. The story presented his feat in his first movie which is entitled Hell’s Angels, a war film that he had made through his trait of being perfectionist. At around the same time, Hughes explored the construction, engineering and production of different types of planes (Aviator film 2004). Howard Hughes explorations and successes in different fields are the main highlights of his life. He is one of the greatest Americans of his time because he is known as an not only as an aviator but also engineer, industrialist, film producer, director, and one of the wealthiest man in the world. His endeavors and projects were financed on his billion dollar inheritance from an equally inventive father who had developed the drill bit or the Hughes rollerbit which became the main apparatus for 75 percent of the world oil wells (Brown and Broeske 10). Through his life though, Hughes had one considered flaw which was his behavior. He is considered by people around him as a person who was very hard to get along with. His exaggerated attention to details often caused and escalated problems in his work and his interactions and relationships with other people. His behavior ranges from minor actions described by people who know him as bizarre to serious and threatening circumstances that often lead to accidents in his flight or lost of relationship with a woman or with work acquaintances (Brown and Broeske 165). Hughes profound personality attracted the interest of medical experts. Thus in the long run he was considered as the most well known example of a condition referred to as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). One of the experts who studied Hughes life, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz who is a professor in UCLA School of medicine and a forerunner in the research on OCD confirmed that the aviator’s ‘four decades of profound emotional anguish.’ Upon recognition of Hughes’ case, his life and behavior became one of the most studied cases of OCD in countries all over the world. Another expert who concluded that Hugh Hughes has OCD is Dr. Anthony Dietrich. He is the son of Noah Dietrich who is the Hughes Empire Chief Executive Officer. Hughes characteristics namely nonconformity, over adventurous disposition can be considered as general signs of his struggle to control obsessions and compulsions (Brown and Broeske 184). In his life, the effects of OCD covered different aspects of his life such as his job, his behavior, his life choices and his relationships and interactions with people surrounding him. It is then important to study the present knowledge, information and developments on the condition which is one of the main themes in the film Aviator. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder. It is described as a condition which is based on the fixation to undertake ‘recurrent, unwanted, thoughts or obsessions and/or behaviors that are repetitive or referred to as compulsions.’ Compulsions are performed to be able to achieve a feeling of satisfaction and temporary relief. Failure to perform such rituals can lead to more anxiety (NIH Website). OCD affects both the cognitive and the behavioral aspects of a person. The obsessions are considered the cognitive feature of the condition because it can affect the manner by which a person thinks. The compulsions on the other hand are considered as the emotional features of OCD because the actions undertaken by the person often become habits that control them and take over their life. Cases vary in terms of the occurrence of pure obsessions, compulsions or the presence of both. Anxiety is the main driving force of the disease thus it is can disrupt the life of the person affected by OCD (Swinson 51) The condition is known to affect 2.2 American people of different ages since OCD can develop even in children, adolescents and in any age as an adult. It is often related to different mental and behavioral conditions such as eating and other anxiety disorders (NIH Website). Symptoms of OCD There are indications and signs commonly observed in people with OCD. These signs vary on the basis of the severity of the condition. One is the repetitive performance of different actions caused by the thoughts that are often unwelcomed and persistent. Examples of acts that are considered indicative of OCD are hand washing, counting, checking or cleaning which are repeated numerous times. One of the most significant views is that the repeated action is to be able to relieve themselves of doubts regarding different factors that trigger the abnormal behavior such as dirt, germs, or mistakes (NIH Website). Obsession Obsessions are related to the cognitive aspect of the disorder. Common examples of the obsessions of OCD patients are thoughts of causing harm to children or elderly people; blasphemous thoughts in preying; unnatural sexual acts; abnormal impulses such as violent attacks to animals, and thought of disrupting social gatherings (Swinson 51). Based on the description of OCD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), there are four criteria of obsession. The first indication is ‘recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that can be considered intrusive and inappropriate.” The recurrence of the thoughts is the main reason for the distress and anxiety that a person with OCD experience. The second criterion of obsessive aspect of OCD describes the thoughts, impulses and images of the person which are ‘not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.’ This means that sources of anxiety can even be products of imagination of the person. The third criterion is the need to ‘neutralize the said thoughts, impulses, or images with other thought or action. This is often the reason for the development of compulsive behavior. The fourth criterion for obsession is the knowledge that the person’s own mind is the source of such thoughts (Medscape Website). With these criteria, an obsessive person is recognized. Compulsions Compulsions are related to the behavioral aspect of the disease. There are different types of compulsive behavior which include compulsive cleaning, compulsive cleaning, compulsive reassurance seeking. Compulsive cleaning has similar characteristics of checking compulsions but with act of prevention on any factor that can trigger the act of cleaning. For example, repulsive behavior can be observed in relation to dirt. In addition, the said type of compulsion had similarities with phobias on the basis of the fear of being in contact with the stimuli leading to cleaning (Swinson 54). Another type is compulsive checking which is common to people oriented towards the future thus they form preventive behavior in an attempt to prevent possibility or occurrence of adverse events. Common indications of the said type of compulsion are doubt, indecision, slow completion of task, slow onset of task, and feelings of anger and tension. Compulsive reassurance seeking is another form of obsession which is acted upon through continuous attempt to seek help in doing the repetitive tasks that he/she is into (Swinson 55). Based on the DSM-IV-TR, there are 2 criteria for the determination of compulsion. One is that the person can be observed to ‘perform repetitive behaviors or mental acts as a reaction to the obsessions.’ One factor of importance is that such act or behavior is undertaken in ‘rigid’ fashion. Another criterion is that the action done is to be able to ‘reduce or prevent distress or dread over a particular situation. But it had been perceived that the act is not related to the feeling of relief (Medscape Website). Acts of Obsession and Compulsion There are different examples of common obsessions and the common corresponding compulsions. One example is the fear of contamination which is commonly acted upon by compulsive washing or cleaning. Another is the obsession for symmetry and precise arrangement of tasks and things. This is acted upon through ordering, arranging, balancing and straightening of things. An obsession related to unwanted sexual or aggressive thought or images is another example which is corresponding to the compulsion of checking, praying, ‘undoing’ actions and asking for reassurance. The obsession related to doubts is acted upon through checking in repeated manner. Another example is the concern of throwing away valuable things that are owned which can result to compulsive hoarding (Medscape Website). Effects of OCD The effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder can affect not only the person but also the people that surround him or her. Effect on the Person Himself/Herself The person himself/herself is the primary affected party in terms of OCD. The said situation adds tension and anxiety to the person with OCD. The effects can range form inconvenience to severe distress. One of the most difficult aspects is that the urges of OCD cannot be controlled, thus, the person is often powerless when it comes to obsessions and compulsions. In such cases, professional medical support is important (Patient UK). Conflicting feelings in terms of both the physical and mental area is another common effect of OCD. This leads to self-absorption which can be considered to make the condition worse since the person dwells on his or her symptoms while being alone. The worst part of the said effect is the feeling of being alone and trapped by unwanted obsessions and compulsions (Collie 37). Another effect of the obsessive-compulsive disorder is the disruption of the normal activities in a person’s life. Due to the time spent on performing acts of compulsions, normal activities are hindered. These activities can be both seen by other people or done in private, which are referred to as ‘rituals.’ It is important to note that most people with OCD can lead seemingly normal life but they are affected by obsessive thoughts (Patient UK). A higher level of intellect compared to other people can also be observed in people with OCD. Although this is the case, they are lacking in terms of emotional intelligence that is required to cope better in different situations in life. Another effect is the difficulty of classifying and describing the personality of a person with OCD. They cannot be classified as introvert or extrovert since in most cases they appear normal with repressed OCD symptoms. In certain cases symptoms can be perceived but can be judged as bizarre or weird qualities. The main result of the said effect is the failure to achieve intimate relationship with other people (Collie 38). Shame and denial of the disorder is another effect of OCD. This is problematic because patients tend to neglect the symptoms. They refuse to seek medical help on the primary reason that they do not want to be perceived as crazy. Shame can intensify anxiety specifically those whose object of obsessions and compulsions are related to harmful or sexual thoughts for other people. These situations have the possibility of leading to depression of the person with OCD (Patient UK). Secrecy is another related effect which occurs due to the prevention of being perceived as not normal or crazy (Collie 37). As a result then OCD can affect different aspects of a person’s life significantly. These effects include performance in work or school, relationships with other people, social interactions and the quality of life. Effects on Other People One of the effects of OCD is anxiety and distress to the people that are in close contact with the person. There are impulses for the person with OCD to mend the interpersonal relationship but in most cases the obsessions and compulsions will take over. This worsens the situation for the relationship of the person with other people (Patient UK). People with OCD have the constant objective of pleasing others, thus, they are considered as nice persons. Common reason for the trouble that OCD patients might get involved in is based on the need to please. In general, they have the loathing for hurting people or their body, thus, they suffer more in cases wherein their obsessions are thoughts that are harmful to other people (Collie 40). One effect of OCD is conflict with classmates, workmates or family members which is due to the continuous need for certainty. In times of doubt, the symptoms of OCD can be observed. One example is the need to have certainty in relation to religion which commonly leads to controversy and conflict (Collie 40). The need for perfection is another common characteristic of a person with OCD which can affect the interaction and relationship with other people. One example is the tension between couples on simple issues such as cleaning areas in the house in a certain way and arranging items in a particular manner. Such occurrences can lead to difficulty in relationships. Misunderstanding can also intensify the negative issues between couples due to the fact that there is lack of intimacy and the interplay of other symptoms such as need for perfection and reassurance (Collie 42). Another cause of conflict with other people is the habit of being messy. This is a very contradicting characteristic since people with OCD aims for perfection at all times. Included on the different types and indications of messy habit are laziness, procrastination, or hoarding. Laziness can be observed in activities that the person is trying to prevent or move himself away from, which can commonly affect work and school in a negative manner. Procrastination includes events when the performance of tasks and duties are put of to later time. Hoarding is related to the manner of keeping things and preventing the disposal of materials. Each of these actions or habits can negatively affect the relationship (Collie 42). Analysis of Hughes’ OCD Based on gathered information on the obsessive-compulsive disorder, specifically the symptoms and the effects of the condition, the life of Hugh Hughes matches most of the criteria. Based on the film, his compulsions includes washing of hands, holding things with tissue paper and pointing dirt on other people’s clothes specifically his subordinates and commanding them to clean up, checking and editing the films he produced or directed, and demanding changes numerous times on the details of the planes and aircrafts he invented and developed (Aviator film 2004). On the basis of the effects of OCD on a person tension and anxiety is a common indication. Hughes is a kind of person who always wants things done immediately even to the point of being unrealistic. Another indication is the experience of having conflicting physical and mental area. This is often seen by Hughes subordinates and partners as eccentric behavior. The months he had spent inside the viewing room, which is considered as the worst stage of his OCD symptoms, occurred due to the need for self assurance since no one understood him and since his lover left him. Disruption of normal life to make way to obsessive and compulsive behavior is another sign that had been observed in the life of Hughes. The days inside the viewing room watching movies non-stop naked and feeding only on milk is one of the most important examples of the effect of OCD that can disrupts a person’s life. Another example that can be cited is the disruption of the production of his film Hell’s Angels due to minor flaws that he cannot overlook after 3 years of making the film. Hughes also had an exemplary level of intelligence that made him excel in numerous fields such aviation, engineering, film making and directing. It is also a common characteristic for people with OCD since they are focused on perfection at all times. As the description presented above indicated, OCD can hinder emotional intelligence due to the inner struggles of a person. In such case, Hughes capability to cope to life’s emotional challenges is limited. Although a billionaire, he had to survive and live on his own ever since a very young age. Thus, he is considered to be insecure in certain areas of his life and his well being. After his major accident and the breakup with his girlfriend, Hughes turned to a life of secrecy in the struggle to get a grip of his own self and his personal life. This is the time when he questioned himself which conforms to the need of a person with OCD to please others. But upon deeper look at his relationships with people, his continuous need for certainty and perfection can be considered as one of the main reasons for conflict. Hughes did not accept things that are not based on his taste in everything he does. In movies, he did not allow a film to be shown when it does not meet his standards. His people had to continuously edit the final product until it pleased him, which means numerous numbers of times. In his relationships, he continuously monitored people around him to satisfy his own need for reassurance regarding their safety. This caused him one of his relationships since he put audio recording systems to monitor the woman, based on the movie Aviator. Being messy is one of the bizarre and ironic characteristics of a person with OCD. This had been observed in Hughes confinement inside the viewing room. He stayed there completely naked and relieving himself in milk bottles. In addition, after the said event, he went home and turned his house into a sight he referred to as germ-free but the whole house is littered with tissue paper which he used for picking things up. These behaviors are important examples of OCD. He was considered as the well-known example of the condition. Being messy, procrastinating and hoarding had been observed in Hughes in different points in his life. On the other hand, the compulsion to clean and prevent germs and dirt is the most common and prevalent examples of his condition. Even the compulsive cleaning of the hands with hand soap that he carried with him all the time is a classic example of OCD. Conclusion Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is a condition that can affect different aspects of a person’s life. In the life of the aviator Howard Hughes, OCD had greatly affected the manner he had led his life. He had achieved numerous recognitions and successes in different field but he had lived a life of sufferings in terms of the disease. This can be attributed to the lack of information on the obsessive-compulsive disorder at that time. But the most important contribution he had given is the development of the field of medicine that focuses on the OCD, thus, after him more knowledge had already been achieved which can be used for other people with the disorder. In conclusion, OCD can greatly affect the person’s life as well as the life of the people around him. Without proper knowledge about the condition and without proper care, it can hinder relationships and can cause conflicts. Works Cited Aviator. Dir. Martin Scorsese. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Kate Beckinsale. Miramax, 2004. Brown, Peter Harry and Pat H. Broeske. Howard Hughes: The Untold Story. Da Capo Press, 2004. Collie, Rovert M. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Guide for Family, Friends, and Pastors. Routledge, 2005. Medscape. 2011. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. WebMD LLC. 17 May 2011 NIH. 11 May 2011. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD. National Institute of Mental Health. 17 May 2011 Patient UK. 2011. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder . EMIS. 17 May 2011 Swinson, Richard P. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Theory, Research, and Treatment. Guilford Press, 2001. Read More