The Joker
The Dark Knight: The Joker’s Psychological Analysis
Mackenzie Sirmans
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
The Dark Knight: The Joker’s Psychological Analysis Throughout comic book history, the Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis, has been characterized as one of the most infamous and fascinating characters. The most recent personification of the Joker in The Dark Knight shows a grittier, darker side, one that depicts him as a terrifying individual with no political agenda other than to create chaos for his own personal amusement. Batman is certainly in this film, but it’s the Joker who is really the star. He conveys a multitude of psychopathic qualities as a mass murderer, an anarchist, and a dangerous criminal that has no respect for authority, and appears to have no rules, morals, guilt, or empathy for the troubles of others. He laughs at his own terrifying actions through the eerie painted grin that barely covers the disfiguring scars on either side of his mouth. There is definitely something wrong with him, but what is that something? Throughout this analysis, I will be uncovering what exactly is wrong with the Joker, and if this diagnosis is well represented throughout The Dark Knight. From observing the film, the Joker’s most likely diagnoses would be antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), often referred to as psychopathy, sociopath, or dyssocial personality disorder. ASPD is a chronic and serious condition that is on Axis II of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-V) as a Cluster B personality disorder (APA, 2012). The diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder are as follows:
“A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following: (1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behavior, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are ground for arrest, (2) deceitfulness, as
Mackenzie Sirmans
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
The Dark Knight: The Joker’s Psychological Analysis Throughout comic book history, the Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis, has been characterized as one of the most infamous and fascinating characters. The most recent personification of the Joker in The Dark Knight shows a grittier, darker side, one that depicts him as a terrifying individual with no political agenda other than to create chaos for his own personal amusement. Batman is certainly in this film, but it’s the Joker who is really the star. He conveys a multitude of psychopathic qualities as a mass murderer, an anarchist, and a dangerous criminal that has no respect for authority, and appears to have no rules, morals, guilt, or empathy for the troubles of others. He laughs at his own terrifying actions through the eerie painted grin that barely covers the disfiguring scars on either side of his mouth. There is definitely something wrong with him, but what is that something? Throughout this analysis, I will be uncovering what exactly is wrong with the Joker, and if this diagnosis is well represented throughout The Dark Knight. From observing the film, the Joker’s most likely diagnoses would be antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), often referred to as psychopathy, sociopath, or dyssocial personality disorder. ASPD is a chronic and serious condition that is on Axis II of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-V) as a Cluster B personality disorder (APA, 2012). The diagnostic criteria for antisocial personality disorder are as follows:
“A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following: (1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behavior, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are ground for arrest, (2) deceitfulness, as