The Psychology of Dexter - Bella DePaulo [78]
Second, we might settle some of the concerns about Harry’s moral character. Early episodes had us convinced that he was the ideal father and super cop, but later episodes have made us question that, given the evidence of adultery, lack of compassion toward his daughter, and questionable cover-ups at work regarding Dexter’s past. The narcissistic family model suggests that Harry’s actions may not have been intentionally malicious, but instead caused by psychological immaturity as a parent and possible untreated narcissism.
Finally, the model shows us where Dexter and Deb can go from here. Healing and positive improvement can stem from the discovery that one’s family of origin was not in fact perfect. This is the journey that Dexter and Deb embark upon throughout the series. As brother and sister gain a more realistic view of their childhoods, they begin to change, as if they are just beginning to discover their true identities. And in a sense they are. Once they accept the reality of their childhoods, survivors of narcissistic families move forward in their personal lives because they can finally learn about themselves.
Marisa Mauro, PsyD, is a psychologist in private practice with a focus on forensics in Austin, Texas. She also works as a freelance writer and regularly contributes to her blog, Take All Prisoners, on PsychologyToday. com. Previously, Dr. Mauro worked as a clinical psychologist at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Much of her work there was focused on violent offenders, gang members, and inmates serving life sentences. She has also taught as an adjunct professor and conducted research on personality, academic success, career success, eating disorders, and suicide.
Are these people diagnosable? If you ever wonder about that while watching the characters on Dexter, this essay is for you. Take Lila, for example. She can’t possibly be “normal,” can she? If not, which official clinical category would she fit? Was there a sense in which Rita was right when she pegged Dexter as an addict? Those are some of the questions Adi Jaffe confronts. Be careful, though—he may just convince you that you have a glimmer of some of these troublesome personality traits yourself!
THE KILLER WITHIN
ADI JAFFE
There’s something a little bit off about Dexter Morgan. While this may not seem to be an outlandish claim for a man whose primary recreational pastime is the abduction and dismemberment of some of society’s least savory characters, it has nevertheless been at the core of the series bearing his first name from the very beginning. Dexter’s disconnect from the societal norms that surround him, and the extraordinary amount of effort it takes for him to effectively pass for normal, to “keep the mask in place,” make for the most interesting and complex moments in the show. We are fascinated by this portrait of a brilliant killer, infinitely more capable than we could ever be when it comes to brutally incapacitating a violent gang member, and yet on the verge of a complete breakdown when ordering a mocha latte. The cold indifference, relentless self-interest, and capacity for sadistic violence that make up Dexter’s Dark Passenger capture our attention not because they are completely foreign to us, but because we have all known people with similar traits. This, luckily, is not to say that we all know a secret serial killer, though you might do well to avoid anyone who collects doll legs or has a homemade leather suit. Rather, the source of our uncomfortable familiarity with Dexter’s antisocial behavior was made evident in the show’s second season, when his then-girlfriend Rita made a fairly accurate, if incomplete, assessment of the mounting evidence: Dexter is an addict.
Dexter’s response, a misleading admission that he is, indeed, an addict, is not far from truth—while drug addicts feel a need to consume a substance, he is gripped