OCD and The Big Bang Theory

~Psychology Basis~

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is defined as a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.This can lead to difficulties with friends and family members in social situations

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

While both sexes can have this disorder it occurs more often in men

Begins to manifest in teens or early twenties

Treatments include talk therapy and medication, though they work better when combined

Must be Diagnosed Professionally

~Media~

The Big Bang Theory

This is Sheldon CooperSheldon is a geniusSheldon is a physicistSheldon is a Student at the California Institute of Technology

~Connection~

ConnectionSheldon has OCPD as illustrated throughout the series, though it is most addressed in the episode The Closure Alternative With his couch Sheldon refuses to let anyone sit in what he has claimed is his spotThis shows a need for control and a lack of flexibility

Sheldons spot on the couch

Connection This Is Amy Farrah Fowler, a friend of Sheldons starting in season 3Amy is very much like Sheldon in many waysAmy tries to assist Sheldon with getting over his OCPD in The Closure Alternative

ConnectionAmy confronts Sheldon on his OCD (Truly it is OCPD) in the fact that he needs closure in all thingsSheldon denies this factAmy knocks to the tune A Shave and a Haircut but does finish itSheldon finishes with the knocks for Two Bits proclaiming that it proves nothing

ConnectionAmy devises multiple activities to do with Sheldon these includeTic-Tac-ToeSinging the National Anthem Blowing out Birthday candlesPlaying with a Jack-in-the-BoxKnocking over dominoesThroughout these activities Sheldon becomes increasingly frustrated as Amy does not allow him to finish them

ConnectionAt the end of the episode Sheldon seems to be getting over this compulsionThe moment Amy leaves, however, Sheldon proceeds to go around and finish all the activities Amy refused to let him complete, proving her correct in the process

My TakeThis episode shows that those with OCPD will find a way to do what they feel needs to be doneThough there was a slight mis-naming of Sheldons OCPD to OCD tendencies this can be ignored as Sheldon does display both of these throughout the series.Overall I like this episode and how it illustrates how this sort of neurological disorder can affect our lives.

ReferencesWikipediaSearch Big Bang Theory and/or Sheldon CooperBig Bang WikiBigbangtheory.wikia search The Compulsion AlternativeMedline Plus website for OCPD informationhttps://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000942.htmMost images taken from Google image or the above mentioned Wiki pages.