I can hardly believe this, and it deserves a post for the pure laughing involved.
According to Reuters, students at the University College London have analysed the character of Gollum from the Lord of the Rings trilogy (books and movies) and presented their findings:
The students noted his solitary habits, spiteful behaviour, odd interests, difficulty in forming friendships, emotional changeability, nervousness and paranoia.
“He fulfils seven of the nine criteria for schizoid personality disorder, and, if we must label Gollum’s problems, we believe this is the most likely diagnosis,” Dr Elizabeth Sampson, who headed the research team, said in the British Medical Journal on Friday.
His two personalities — Gollum and Smeagol — convinced some students it was a case of schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder.
But schizophrenia was ruled out because delusions were not in keeping with Gollum’s culture. The interaction between the two personalities shows Gollum is aware of both Smeagol and Gollum at the same time, which is inconsistent with multiple personality disorder, in which one is usually suppressed.
Just for the record, I merely have an HND in Computer Studies and nothing at all to do with a degree in Psychology, but I’d like to say that it’s bloody obvious what was wrong with him, and I’m sure just about everyone of you could have said the same (apart from psychology students hungover from too many parties and struggling to find something to present on a Monday morning after a long weekend!).
The final quote made me giggle:
His bulging eyes and weight loss also suggests a thyroid problem, they added.
I wonder if they recommended any treatment to him and referred him to a local GP? He’d probably have a five year waiting list, not to mention the third degree burns he’d now be sporting. I reckon there’s an entire career here.
Wow. After that brief description of schizoid personality disorder, I finally understand why I could relate to Gollum. Maybe I’m schizoid.
Yeah, the analyses are pretty darn funny, especially considering that his thinness was due to his fish diet and his large eyes came from trying to see in a dark cave for about 500 years.
I go to UCL. Lotta weird people there.
They have to much time on their hands.
Donna A.
thanks for pointing out the blindingly obvious for everyone, Alfredo, but does being evil incarnate really count as a mental disorder? if it does, then may god have mercy on us all…
How would you act when your ring of power was stolen from you and is going to be destroyed?
The schizo scene in Two Towers is one of the best scenes in cinema history.
Maybe they should conduct a case study on the Ninja Turtles.What makes them so radical?Where does the obsession with pizza stem from?
Cowabunga Shred Head.
Gollum is the best movie villain of all time! Why you ask? That’s because he’s evil incarnate. The whole time they’re on their way to Mordor he’s telling them “I’m your friend. You can trust me.” But the whole time he’s really plotting your death! That‚Äôs real evil.
I had a girlfriend with a thyroid problem. The buggy eyes and thinness is a good indication. Tell the G-man I know some good physicians
I think it’s all the fish in his diet too, Gollum needed some processed food too you know.
I know a chick online who has Graves disease and she acts just like Gollum on the best of days, so I MUST concur with Richard on his diagnosis. ;-)