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Johnny Depp- The Psyco’s Savior

By: Lacey Desper

The following is intended as Satire. Some quotes have been taken slightly out of context for the

purpose of the story. The author has purposely done so to convey a purpose and a story line.

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Lacey Desper

Professor Dixon

Comp 1

5 May 2011

Johnny Depp – The Psyco’s Savior

We all know Johnny Depp. I have discovered through my research and combing of his

personality a secret nobody has uncovered before. My research has led me to believe that Johnny

Depp has Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD.) In this paper I shall explain why I believe this.

People with MPD get labeled as crazy. I believe MPD has been a blessing for Depp. It has

evolved Depp into a superstar.

Most people have seen the excessively exaggerated view of MPD from the movie Me,

Myself, and Irene and others, like it. This view is how most people actually view MPD. The

actual scientific definition is:

Existence within an individual of two or more distinct

personalities, each of which is dominant at a particular time. The

personality dominate at any particular time determines the

individual’s behavior. Each individual personality is complex and

integrated with its own unique behavior patterns and social

relationship. (Theory Psychology)

In general the extra personalities are not crazy as portrayed in the media. The research I have

done on MPD has amazed me especially when I correlate it to Johnny Depp.

I would first like to talk about the causes of MPD. All research that I have read has stated

that MPD is caused by some form of trauma. It is believed to be an off branch of Post Traumatic

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Stress Disorder. I could not find any actual verbalization of Depp admitting that he has suffered a

trauma but, his behavior leads me to believe there is. Stating, himself that he has “hillbilly rage”

and is a known suffering alcoholic. There was even an incident in New York in 1994 which led

to him being arrested. Which when asked about it he stated. “I had these sort of self- destructive

periods” (Smith). As well as the director of the Pirates movies stated that “within minutes,

Johnny was in Marlon’s lap with, I think a bottle of gin.”(Smith.) When you realize that he is an

A list actor and the number of celebrities that have the same problem for example Lindsey

Lohan, Brittany Spears, and Heath Ledger to name a few. It leads one to believe that being

famous is very stressful. Which I believe is the stress is causing the MPD in Depp.

I believe that the MPD has been a blessing in disguise for Depp. When you think of the

characters that he has pulled off Jack Sparrow, Sweany Todd, Willy Wonka, Edward

Scissorhands just to name a few. He is the greatest actor to have ever lived in my opinion. Depp

himself stated that he is not ready to give up on Jack Sparrow stating “I’ll be in a deep, dark

depression saying goodbye to him.” (Smith) also explaining how it is rough to get himself out of

the out of role of Jack Sparrow once he is in character. “It’s a horrible process. I didn’t want to

go through yanking them off and putting them back on” (Smith). He went as far to say that

Sparrow made him feel like he was an outsider on the inside a part of him had become Jack

Sparrow.

This goes a long way to explain how I believe Depp could be diagnosed with MPD.

Though most psychological disorders are not permanent there are ways to find clarity. Johnny

believes that he has found a cure for all of his problems. Stating that when his daughter was born

there was clarity and he was not angry anymore. That it was the most purely selfless moment he

had ever experienced in his life. Which I believe explains a lot about his career. He had an epic

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career before his daughter was born and now we are seeing the beginning of the end of his career

from my point of view. Two of Depp’s most recent movies Rango and The Tourist in my opinion

are the worst of his career. I fear for what is to come with Depp in control of himself and the

inner demons repressed.

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Annotated Bibliography

Smith, Sean. ”Johnny Depp: Unlikely Superstar.” The Norton Field Guide to Writing with

Readings, Bullock, Richard, Goggin Maureen Daly, 2007, pg. 768-775

The author sits down with Johnny Depp to talk to him about his career and his rise to

fame. How being a movie star has affected his life and where it has taken him from where he

began.

Paris, Joel. “Review-Essay: Dissociative Symptoms, Dissociative Disorders, and Cultural

Psychiatry.” Transcultural Psychiatry (1996) 33: 55. Web PDF

The author takes a look at five different psychologist’s books and their views on

dissociative personality disorder and MPD. Discuss what the different viewpoints are on if MPD

actually exists and what causes it.

Oppenheimer, Louis. “Self or Selves?: Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complexity of the

Self-System.” Theory Psychology (2002) 12: 97 Web PDF

To discuss the difference and the new discoveries in psychology about dissociative

identity disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association. Also to discuss what causes

the occurrence of dissociative identity disorder.