Introduction
Mental illness is an issue that has a detrimental impact on an individual’s life. It includes symptoms that affect a person’s thinking, perception, mood, or behavior (Weiner & Greene, 2017). Dexter Morgan came for a therapy because he believes he has mental issues. Based on this, I carried out two personality tests on Dexter to identify symptoms and traits for the diagnosis of mental health issues. In addition, I conducted a clinical interview before each test to enhance the accuracy of the outcome and avoid errors. From Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and Personality Assessment Inventory, I obtained subjective data that helped in the diagnosis. Therefore, using the DSM-5 criteria, I found that Dexter has an antisocial personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Background of Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan is a 35-years old serial killer and a sociopath. He lives in Miami and works as a blood splatter analyst for the Miami Police Department. When he was about 3-5 years old, Dexter witnessed the murder of his biological mother by a criminal gang after becoming an informant for Harry Morgan, a police officer (Berryessa & Goodspeed, 2019). She was killed in front of him in a storage container. Dexter was left at the crime scene for about two days, locked in the container with his mother’s body, until Harry found him. Harry’s guilt over his mother’s death caused him to adopt Dexter. He was raised as a foster son and stepsister to Debra Morgan, Harry’s daughter Therefore, Harry became a foster father to Dexter Morgan after the death of his mother.
Dexter and Debra work at the same station as police officers. As Dexter got older, Harry noticed that he was showing signs of trauma, like being alone, having trouble making friends of his age, and aggression toward animals (Berryessa & Goodspeed, 2019). As a police officer, he extended this aggression to humans when he began killing people who committed an offence and were not jailed. Dexter’s main task was to get individuals who slipped through the cracks of the justice system by getting information from the existing records and committing the murders. After Harry died, Dexter kept killing people he thought his father would approve of and who fit the rules his father had made for him. Thus, working in the field as an officer enabled him to conceal the killings.
Ethical Testing of Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan has sought help, and as my client, I have a mandate to determine whether he has an antisocial personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder or not. To achieve this, the first step was to conduct a clinical test on Dexter to collect subjective data. Then, for ethical testing, I ensured that the client understood he has the right to decide, such as terminating the process. I made Dexter know that I have clear intention, which is to help solve the problem and enable him to live a comfortable life. In addition, I made sure that personal and sensitive information remains with me. Finally, throughout the process, I convinced the client to trust me and reveal information that may help with the diagnosis.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
MMPI is a commonly used test that determines personality traits and psychopathology. After a clinical interview with Dexter Morgan about the test, usability, and instructions, I requested him to take the test online. I was there to help in case Dexter needed some assistance with the test. Firstly, I asked the client to ensure that all the information entered for accurate result. In addition, I informed him that there are 10 clinical sub-scales with different questions (Weiner & Greene, 2017). He took about two hours to complete the test and the computer-generated results for clinical interpretation. Finally, I observed the four validity scales to determine the viability of the data.
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)
PAI is a test that provides a platform for understanding an individual personality. It has a questionnaire with a series of statements or questions (Weiner & Greene, 2017). Participants get a score on each of the scales of the PAI based on how they answer these questions. Firstly, during the testing period, I informed Dexter that the test has four validity scales consisting of 11 clinical scales, five treatment scales, and two interpersonal scales. Secondly, I explained how he could access the website and do the test. After the clarification, I asked Dexter to take the assessment online and share with me the result. He took about 45 minutes to complete the test and send the outcome to me. Thus, I ensured that Dexter understood the test before starting the process.
Diagnosis
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Differential diagnosis is usually undertaken using the DSM-5 to assess the outcomes. The DSM-5 asserts that shocking, unexpected, and poor emotional interactions with others are the most important parts of a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (Weiner & Greene, 2017). As shown in the background information, Dexter fails to conform to all social norms as well as the legal laws as indicated by his continuous killing of people. He intentionally commits many murders and shows traits such as a lack of empathy. To support this observation, MMPI test results reveal that Dexter scores high on psychopathic deviate, hypomania, social introversion, and schizophrenia. As a result, he is deceitful and constantly lies to achieve his purpose of killing others in the name of a failed justice system.
An effective diagnosis demands various symptoms of antisocial personality disorder to exist and should be observed in an individual who is 18-years old and above. Dexter fits at least three of the antisocial personality disorder symptoms outlined in the DSM-5. Firstly, he has few actual and personal relationships because he does not have feelings like most people. In addition, he disregarded right and wrong by claiming that he is killing murderers who do not deserve to live and have escaped the justice system. Therefore, Dexter’s affective and interpersonal traits such as deceit, poor relationship with others, lack of empathy, and manipulativeness have played a central role in the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Dexter’s symptoms meet most of the conditions stated in the DSM-5 for an individual to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The first aspect is direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic event. For example, Dexter experienced the murder of his mother by a gang at a young age. The second issue is strong and persistent distress to cues linked with the event. For instance, his actions of killing people are related to the brutal murder of the mother. The third symptom is that Dexter avoided activities and situations that remind him of the killing. He does not want anybody to ask him about how his mother died. Fourthly, he has persistent and elevated negative evaluations of other people and the world. Therefore, DSM-5 provided a platform for the diagnosis of Dexter.
Drawing from the test results, Dexter has post-traumatic stress disorder. As detailed above, all the signs and symptoms points towards the disorder. For example, the brutal murder of his mother had a negative impact on his life. He became selfish, lacked empathy and disregarded moral laws. Apart from witnessing her death, Dexter remained in the container for two days before the police could locate them. After being adopted by Harry, a police officer, he started displaying aggression towards animals. He began hunting and mercilessly killing animals during his childhood under the watch of Harry. As a result, Dexter’s actions were due to the episodes leading to the death of his mother at the hand of a criminal gang.
Conclusion
Dexter has an antisocial personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder owing to the experience of the brutal murder of his mother at a tender age. The two personality tests revealed some traits that link him to his mental health issues. I used the DSM-5 conditions to classify the obtained behavior and confirm the disorders. The DSM-5 can be used to evaluate the results of differential diagnosis. The DSM-5 says that dramatic, unpredictable, and emotional interactions with other people are the most important parts of a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. As the background information shows, he doesn’t follow all social rules, but he does respect the law, as shown by the fact that he keeps killing. He kills many people on purpose and shows things like a lack of empathy.
References
Berryessa, C., & Goodspeed, T. (2019). The brain of Dexter Morgan: The science of psychopathy in Showtime’s season 8 of Dexter. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 44(6), 962-978. Web.
Weiner, I. B., & Greene, R. L. (2017). Handbook of personality assessment (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.