What About Bob : Movie Analysis

1436 Words6 Pages
What About Bob: Traits, Techniques, and Theories Rachel Rose Seminole State College Professor Leonard Abstract There are several personality features present in the film What About Bob, seen in the Psychologist, Dr. Marvin, and the patient, Bob. It is clear from the start that the patient, Bob, shows most meaningful features that allow us to believe he has severe OCD ,Agoraphobia, and Hypochondria just to name a few. It is also safe to assume that Dr. Marvin displays features including; perfectionism and narcissism. There are different theories and a variety of therapeutic techniques observed throughout. Some of these approaches to therapy show healthy examples and perspectives originally developed to enlighten the patient or assist in overcoming unwanted behavior, but later become very un-ethical and abusive on Dr. Marvin’s behalf. Analysis of Traits and Features What About Bob focuses on two main characters. Bob is the patient who was passed along to Dr. Marvin for reasons that are made apparent shortly into the film. Bob Wiley is a middle aged man whom is stricken with fear of just about everything and has severe anxiety about normal everyday activities. He can barely motivate himself to leave home, without experiencing Panic attacks, an excruciating experience of terror; about half of panic-disordered patients develop the symptoms of agoraphobia (Gassner, 2004). Once out the door, and on his way to his initial interview with Dr. Marvin, Bob continues to overtly promote the symptoms of anxiety disorders and OCD. He walks sideways in the hall afraid to touch anything and carries a hanky to open doors. He uses avoidance to keep off the elevator and prevent facing his phobia of germs and small spaces which is a technique considered to alleviate
Open Document