Paula is a 23 year old Hispanic female attending southwest community college. Paula is in her last year of community college and stays with her mother and also father in a 2 bedroom apartment. Paula believes that she is the best thing since sliced bread. She believes that she is the smartest student in her class and feels that the professor should recognize her greatness and give her an automatic A just for showing up. She has a secret fear of rejection and loss, so when she received a C in her course, she was completely devastated and complained to the dean about her grade, and trumped up allegations against her professor. What diagnosis will you provide her with?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Understanding Paula’s Behavior: A Psychological Analysis
Paula’s behavior and reactions to receiving a grade lower than her expectations indicate potential underlying psychological factors at play. Based on the information provided, it is plausible to consider a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) for Paula. NPD is characterized by a pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.
Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
1. Grandiosity: Paula’s belief that she is the smartest student in her class and deserves special treatment, such as an automatic A, showcases a sense of grandiosity and entitlement commonly seen in individuals with NPD.
2. Need for Admiration: Paula’s expectation that her professor should recognize her greatness and give her preferential treatment suggests a strong desire for admiration and validation from others, which is a key feature of NPD.
3. Lack of Empathy: Paula’s reaction to receiving a C grade, including making false allegations against her professor, indicates a lack of empathy and an inability to consider the feelings or perspectives of others.
4. Fear of Rejection: Paula’s secret fear of rejection and loss may also align with the hypersensitivity to criticism or perceived slights that individuals with NPD often experience.
Impact on Relationships and Behavior
Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder may struggle in their relationships due to their self-centeredness, manipulation of others, and difficulty accepting criticism or failure. Paula’s actions of blaming others for her perceived shortcomings and seeking external validation through dishonest means are consistent with this pattern of behavior.
Treatment and Support
If Paula were to seek help, therapy focused on building self-awareness, developing empathy, and addressing underlying insecurities could be beneficial. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy may help her explore the root causes of her behavior and learn healthier coping mechanisms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while only a trained mental health professional can provide an accurate diagnosis, the behaviors exhibited by Paula suggest traits commonly associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Understanding the underlying psychological factors contributing to her actions can help guide interventions and support strategies to promote personal growth and healthier interactions with others. It is important for individuals like Paula to seek professional help to address these patterns and work towards more adaptive ways of relating to the world around them.
