Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”

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Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho"� A Psychological Approach Dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder is a rare psychological phenomenon in which a person displays two or more distinct and alternating personalities (Myers, 2001). In Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho"� the main character Norman Bates, is initially portrayed as a sensitive and kind-hearted young man, dominated by his over-bearing mother. It isn't until the end of the film however, that the audience discovers that Norman is both himself and his mother.

Norman Bates, manager of Bates Motel, is introduced as a quiet and friendly character. He appeared to be ruled by his psychotic mother throughout the extent of the movie. However, the audience doesn't see the mother until the end. Up until that point, we only hear her demanding voice and see her silhouette in a rocking chair in the top window of Norman's house, that neighbored the motel. Two violent acts were committed during the movie, both by Norman's disturbed mother.

She killed a female client who her son seemed to be taking an interest in and also a detective who came to find the missing woman. After both murders, the horrified Norman covered up the crimes by mopping up the blood and hiding the bodies and evidence to protect his mother. As the story unraveled and more characters were brought in to find the missing people, Norman's secret was revealed. His mother had been dead and buried for eight years, and he was simply impersonating her and pretending that her corpse was still alive.

Norman was a victim of dissociative identity disorder. At the end of the movie, it was revealed that Norman's father died when he was very young and that him and his widowed mother lived for years as if no one else existed in the world. Several...