Gary Daughtry
English 1213
Professor Hammett
24 April 2023
Word Count: 1006
Alfred Hitchcock: Epidemic Eureka!
Alfred Hitchcock was a visionary director of films such as "The Birds" and "Vertigo," which are household names in the world of cinema today. In his absurdist films, he would place his characters in states of high suspense and psychological torment, such as in the film “Rebecca,” where the title character is trapped in a marriage with a manic narcissist. Author Tamar Jeffers McDonald of the University of Kent Melodrama Research Group states it best when discussing Rebecca's husband: "His narcissism leaves little room for anyone other than himself" (McDonald). Hitchcock would most definitely agree that narcissism is a social epidemic. Knowing he would hold such an opinion is true due to his interest in the psychological state apparent across his works, such as the film "Vertigo," and what is known about his personal thoughts on psychology and the natural human state. To understand why he would think narcissism is a social epidemic, you will need to understand Hitchcock's opinions on psychiatry, how he treats psychological conditions in his works, and how he thinks the world can affect the mind, especially in the growing landscape of media.
Hitchcock's opinions on the effects psychiatry can have on a person provide evidence that he would think narcissism is a social epidemic. Francesco Carelli, Professor of Family Medicine, used a quote from Hitchcock in his article "The Psychology of Alfred Hitchcock," saying, "Television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it as well as contributing to the need for it" (Carelli). Drawing from Carelli's information, it is logical to conclude that, with Hitchcock's view on how television can create a need for psychiatry, he realizes the need for psychiatry. Carelli further goes on to explain how "Hitchcock was skeptical of psychoanalysis (as he was of other explanations for human behavior) and Freudian concepts and motifs recur in many of his films. Repression is one of the Freudian concepts that recur in Hitchcock's films" (Carelli). The topic of repression is interesting when it comes to Hitchcock's belief that a psychiatrist's need is caused by outside influence due to the link between repression and narcissism. The way repression and narcissism are linked can be best explained by Christopher Lasch in his book "The Culture of Narcissism." In this book, Lasch remarks, "Psychoanalysis, a therapy that grew out of experience with severely repressed and morally rigid individuals who needed to come to terms with a rigorous inner "censor," today finds itself confronted more and more with a poorly organized and impulsive character" (Lasch). This "character" that is being referred to is narcissism. These two being related further showcase Hitchcock's conviction that an outside force is responsible for a psychiatrist's needs.
Hitchcock shows an understanding of psychology, specifically Freudian psychology, through the characters in his films, which leads to how we know he would recognize narcissism as first a psychological condition, then an epidemic. As authors Kifah Ali Al Omari and Baker M Bani-Khair write in their paper, "The Psychological Makeup of Scottie's Character in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo," when looking at Hitchcock's character Scottie they wrote that "Scottie's behaviors and actions come out of the deep conflicts he had in his past. These unconscious conflicts and traumas are kept repressed at some point until a later stage in his life. As a result, Scottie has undergone what Freud anticipated to be the problem of the century, repression." The fact that Hitchcock uses Freudian psychology through his characters shows his understanding of the human mind. He would certainly be able to acknowledge narcissism in action. An example of how he could utilize his understanding of the mind is on full display for the film "Vertigo." Hitchcock takes the character of Scotty and has him confront his psychological barriers, which propels the plot. Hitchcock having these skills and knowledge of psychology are clear indicators he would be able to see the effects of the narcissism epidemic.
The most important part to consider when discussing Hitchcock's view on narcissism is how he believes the world can affect one's psychology. Looking once more at Hitchcock's quote about how "television has done much for psychiatry by spreading information about it as well as contributing to the need for it" (Carelli), In this quote, television can be likened to society as a whole, with television itself being an extension of a view of society. It is as if Hitchcock is saying society and all of the torment it puts one's mind through are causing the rise in people needing psychological aid. This could very well be true in the conversation surrounding the narcissism epidemic. With Hitchcock stating he believes television is what is causing a high need for psychiatry, society through television and other media could be what is allowing narcissism to spread.
A further look at this viewpoint is echoed in a quote from Hitchcock provided by Charlie Rose in an interview. Hitchcock was quoted as saying that "a glimpse into the world proves that horror is nothing other than reality" (Rose). The quote suggests that Hitchcock saw the world as a horrific place. With him seeing the world as horrific, it is logical to assume that he believes the world to be harmful for people as a whole and, by extension, causing detriment to their state of mind. Some of the effects of this world which are deemed "horrific" could be aiding the rise of narcissism. With him seeing the world as harmful to the mind, it is reasonable that the narcissism epidemic benefits from the harm.
It is clear that Alfred Hitchcock would believe that narcissism is a social epidemic. It is apparent now because of his opinions on psychiatry and how those are linked to narcissism. Also because of the way he experiments with psychology in his works, showing his understanding of the mind. And finally, with how he has shown how the world affects the psyche of the people living in it, these are all abundantly clear reasons why Hitchcock would recognize narcissism as a social epidemic if he were here today.
Works Cited
Carelli, F. (2016). The psychology in Alfred Hitchcock. TheSynapse. https://thesynapse.net/the-psychology-in-alfred-hitchcock/
Charlie Rose (2013). "Alfred Hitchcock, qtd. by e, interview by Charlie Rose, "Conversation with Guillermo del Toro," Technology Wire, December 3, 2013
Lasch, C. (1991). The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in an Age of Diminishing Expectations. W. W. Norton & Company.
Omari, K. a. A., & Bani-Khair, B. (2021). The Psychological Makeup of Scottie's Character in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies, 5(4), 172–179. https://doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol5no4.13
Tamar Jeffers McDonald, melodrama research group. (2015, October 27). Summary of Discussion on Rebecca | Melodrama Research Group. https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/melodramaresearchgroup/2015/10/27/summary-of-discussion-on-rebecca/
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