# Psychiatric conditions of cartoon characters
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 21, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428 "2001-08-21T21:54:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bitterdrunk_Kid)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/1 "2001-08-21T21:54:05Z")
Reading the list of unanswered questions about cartoon characters, I started wondering about if these cartoon characters were analyzed, what would the diagnosis of their mental condition be?
I think someone mentioned Wile E. Coyote being obsessive-compulsive.
Donald Duck clearly has a rage problem.
Jon Arbuckle has social anxiety disorder. He has trouble leaving his house, when he does he’s incredibly awkward, and his only friend is a cat.
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### Author:  [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2001, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/2 "2001-08-21T21:57:26Z")
Daria has problems. Esteem problems.
\*I don’t have low self-esteem.
Well that’s good.
I have low esteem for everyone around me.\*
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### Author:  [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2001, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/3 "2001-08-21T23:21:35Z")
Homer Simpson clearly has an eating disorder, at least according to self-help guru Brad Goodman.
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### Author:  [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2001, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/4 "2001-08-21T23:27:41Z")
Eyore has a deep deep depression.
Bucky from Get Fuzzy is a narcissist.
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### Author:  [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/5 "2001-08-21T23:56:13Z")
Analyzing [Sluggy Freelance](http://www.sluggy.com):
Zoe suffers from low self-esteem. And a curse that turns her into a camel.
Aylee is an obsessive perfectionist (her therapist said so 🙂 ).
Gwynn was possessed–before that she also had self-esteem issues. It’s too soon to be sure of the outcome of her “therapy”.
Bun-bun is homicidal and has severe rage issues. He’s also totally amoral–and likes it that way.
Riff displays some signs of obsessive-compulsive behavior and a possibly unhealthy fascination with weapons of mass destruction.
Sasha is suicidal–she’s dating Riff, after all.
Kiki is stupid, but happy.
Torg is stupid, and “incompletely socialized”. He occasional suffers from severe delusional episodes under stress.
Sam is _really_ stupid, and undead. He may be trying to mask an inferiority complex with his boasting…or he may be dumb enough to believe it.
Oasis is dangerously obsessed with Torg, as well as being arguably sociopathic (and definitely spathic).
That’s it for this episode of Sluggy Psycosis. Be sure to tune in next time, when we analyze the denizens of the Dimension of Pain.
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### Author:  [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/6 "2001-08-21T23:56:16Z")
I love the show, but you have to admit that Ally McBeal herself is somewhat cartoonish. I am guessing she might have a streak of “defiant child” disorder, coupled with bipolar tendencies. I have never known anyone who remotely resembles her.
Now poor Kenny on South Park is another story. I can relate to him 100%. Life shits on him over and over, and he comes back for more. Masochistic tendencies, definitely,
yet oddly charming and optimistic.
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### Author:  [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/7 "2001-08-22T00:21:46Z")
Bluto appears to have developed an unhealthy obsession with Popeye and Olive Oyl. I think he probably counts as a stalker.
Gargamel from the Smurfs has some kind of psychotic disorder, being as how he constantly sees smurfs everywhere. I know they don’t exist; you know they don’t exist. Try telling Gargamel.
Opus from Bloom County is a hapless eccentric who could probably use about ten years of therapy to get him over his abandonment issues, but it may be safer to leave him be.
The President in Doonesbury is invisible. Therefore the entire populace is hallucinating.
Cartman has problems with anger, malice, and perhaps tourette’s syndrome.
Steve Dallas from Bloom County is a narcissist and a sexual compulsive. On having his brain flipped by the aliens, he is clearly suffering from the conviction that he is Alan Alda. Delusional, at best.
Charlie Brown is neurotic to the point of insanity. Lucy has control issues, and may be obsessed with Schroeder. Linus is suffering from religious mania over the Great Pumpkin. Pig-pen, however, does _not_ suffer from low self-esteem. He just stinks.
Marvin the Martian is xenophobic.
Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther cartoons is an obsessive.
Tank Girl has problems with authority.
Spy vs Spy are both obsessives. And given the length of time the strip’s been running, it’s probably time they were called out of the field. Chances are their countries have been friends for decades by now.
Bam-Bam is hyperactive. And destructive.
Judge Dredd is a 100% Grade-A loon on a bike.
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### Author:  [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/8 "2001-08-22T00:31:37Z")
Ah.
Buttercup has anger issues.
Blossom has control issues.
Mojo Jojo feels underappreciated- his intelligence is rarely rewarded.
Princess has spoiled child syndrome. Okay, that one was fairly obvious.
Professor Utonium may have a social problem. After all, he’s spent his whole life obsessing over three little girls.
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### Author:  [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/9 "2001-08-22T00:42:44Z")
i always was waiting for the 90’s version of Winnie the Pooh, when everything was solved: Eeyore was on Prozac, Piglet on Anafranil, and Tigger was on Ritalin.
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### Author:  [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/10 "2001-08-22T00:53:15Z")
Bugs Bunny has gender identification issues, since he often slips into drag and pretends to be a female rabbit to elude Elmer Fudd, whose stutter may stem from low self-esteem, and Yosemite Sam, who needs to work on anger management.
Snoopy is a delusional schizophrenic who believes that he is a WWI flying ace.
Race Bannon is a repressed pedophile; after all, his only significant relationships are with two pre-pubescent boys, Jonny Quest and Hadji.
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### Author:  [@The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bitterdrunk_Kid)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/11 "2001-08-22T01:58:12Z")
Brutus Thornapple suffers from low self esteem and a persecution complex.
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### Author:  [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/12 "2001-08-22T03:35:06Z")
Droopy looks like he’s been hitting the hard liquor pretty badly with all those 'down’ish, features.
Olive Oyl from Popeye is an anorexic.
And let us not forget the beloved “Joker” from Batman. I believe his mental disorder could be diagnosed as “Waaay f#cked up inna head!”
-Ashley
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### Author:  [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/13 "2001-08-22T04:43:30Z")
Someone mentioned Ally McBeal, so I’ll go ahead and mention **Samantha** from _Sex in the City_ as she is equally cartoon-like. Sam has serious, _serious_ issues with men, and more than likely a very twisted relationship with her father (if there’s any relationship at all). The fact that she sexualizes everything as much as she does can be an indicator of being sexually abused as a child. (I think I may listen to a little too much _Loveline_ and Dr. Drew.)
I just try not to think about that while I watch the show.
Real cartoons:
**Charlie Brown** is, as previously mentioned, considerably neurotic, with esteem issues so interfering with him that his is nearly brought to non-function.
**James Bond** seems to have the kind of issues with women that Samantha has with men.
**The Simpsons** aren’t so fun to dissect, as they ARE all about dysfunction and celebrating it. Man, I love that show.
**Jerry** of Tom and Jerry is a sadist. Apparently, **Tom** is either a masochist or OCD…or both…or just too stupid to learn.
**Half the anime women ever made** need to grow some balls–or at least shell out from their existing ovaries–and stop being such passive, timid, spineless little pieces of arm candy.
**Batman** is, as has been often discussed, serious effed up. Social disassociation, post traumatic stress disorder, etc.
Oooh, this was fun. Who else?
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/14 "2001-08-22T05:48:09Z")
IANAP but some of these folks might need a little analysis
Angel (David Borneaz vampire series)
Buffy
Barkley from STNG
Garabaldi from Bab 5
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### Author:  [@Galan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galan)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/15 "2001-08-22T05:58:45Z")
In Superman, we see an extreme example of child abandonment (whole planet), and its effects.
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### Author:  [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/16 "2001-08-22T06:00:36Z")
Every single member of the Family Circus is EVIL.
Oh wait, that’s not what we’re discussing.
Margaret (from Dennis the Menace) has control issues. And probably penis envy.
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### Author:  [@January](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/January)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/17 "2001-08-22T08:45:35Z")
Wile E. Coyote had an unquenched thirst for a mindless mutant bird… he had issues releasing the fact that, from his point of view, he **needed** to eat Roadrunner. He was one of those silent geniuses… rembember when he used to speak…? Gotta watch out for 'em.
Tail (which was attached to Magellan) felt it had to express its rage for never being seen as having its own intelligence by destroying things.
Oh dear, Sesame Street is a huge window for judgement…
Elmo was molested. Most likely by Big Bird. Big Bird is actually very sleazy… he speaks with an oily voice, eyes half open… slightly condescending at all times… he was probably kicked out of the nest a bit too young, and was rejected by his peers for being weird.
Snuffleupagus is very much like Eeyore. Slow-speaking, shy, unwilling to open up to the world… the big/lumbering factor comes into play too. (he was always my favorite… I’m big and clumsy, too.)
Oscar the Grouch wasn’t really such a grouch. He was actually very good with company, he just didn’t work well with children.
I’ll have more later, it’s getting a little late and I can’t remember any of my childhood cartoons other than David the Gnome and Maya the Bee… though the boy bee she hung out with had issues as well, he was always in the limelight since Maya always saved the day. Anyhow… off I go.
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### Author:  [@Anal\_Scurvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anal_Scurvy)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/18 "2001-08-22T08:57:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Zoggie \*
> \*\*Ah.
>
> Buttercup has anger issues.
>
> Blossom has control issues.
>
> Mojo Jojo feels underappreciated- his intelligence is rarely rewarded.
>
> Princess has spoiled child syndrome. Okay, that one was fairly obvious.
>
> Professor Utonium may have a social problem. After all, he’s spent his whole life obsessing over three little girls. \*\*
Ah, not so for the girls. I must observe them to have a NANCY DREW disorder.
Blossom is the red-haired thinker, the leader of the group. (Nancy Drew)
Bubbles is the blond, emotional one of the group. (Bess Marvin)
Buttercup is the dark haired, straightforward tomboy of the group (George Faye)
Boom. Case closed.
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### Author:  [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/19 "2001-08-22T10:41:25Z")
bugs bunny is a bisexual transvestite
daffy duck is a schirophrenic narcissic
porky pig
marci and peperment patty have a unrequiented sub dom lesiban thing going on
sally and lucy have a stalking syndrome on schroder and linus
linus has a addictive personality ie the great pumpkin and blanket will end up joining a cult but never will be a good member of it
cathy is now a middle age woman seeing her life go by as the stereo typical career girl shes unmarried and alone
heres a better thought what part of the animantors writers or creators psyche comes out in their charactors ? id say cartoonist are a strange bunch going by their cartoons
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### Author:  [@The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bitterdrunk_Kid)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychiatric-conditions-of-cartoon-characters/77428/20 "2001-08-22T17:23:22Z")
Johny Bravo has a narcissistic personality disorder and delusions of grandeur.
Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes suffers from psychotic hallucinations. Calvin has problems with taking responsiblity, and shifts the blame onto a stuffed animal. He also has problems dealing with reality, and often escapes into complete fantasy situations to avoid situations. Calvin clearly needs serious help.
Dennis Mitchell is a classic case of ADHD.
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