The Argument for Fight Club as a Representation of BPD in Males

The diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in females is approximately three to one versus males, according to the current research. In cinema, while BPD is not a disorder that is explicitly portrayed, there are some movies that are definitely implicit in their portrayals. These movies include such titles as Girl, Interrupted, Single White Female and Fatal Attraction. What is lacking among these movies is a portrayal by a person with BPD who is male. What I hope to accomplish here is, by going through the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for BPD, and comparing them to specific scenes in the movie Fight Club, to make a case that this movie can now be brought into that group as a movie that portrays BPD in a male character.
In this analysis, I will list each criteria separately, and then link it to a specific scene from the movie.
The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for BPD is as follows:

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image and affects, as well as marked impulsivity, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5
2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., promiscuous sex, eating disorders, binge eating, substance abuse, reckless driving). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5
5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats or self-injuring behavior such as cutting, interfering with the healing of scars (excoriation) or picking at oneself.
6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness
8. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation, delusions or severe dissociative symptoms (APA, 1994).

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1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5

At one point in the movie, the main character, Jack, realizes that his friend (and, unbeknownst to him, his alter ego), Tyler, has left him. At this time, Jack, in a dejected and depressed state, says “I'm all alone. My dad dumped me. Tyler dumped me. I am Jack's Broken Heart.” After this scene, Jack races around the country in what can only be seen as a tireless effort to track Tyler down so that he can be reconnected with him again. In other words, Jack engaged in a frantic effort to avoid the abandonment that he believed Tyler was putting him through.

2. A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.

Most of Jack's relationships in this movie can be characterized as unstable and intense, from the imagined relationship that Jack has with his alter ego, Tyler, to Jack's relationship with Marla, to Jack's relationship with his boss. Throughout the movie, there are idealizations and devaluations of relationships from Jack's perspective, from thinking that Tyler is his savior, to thinking that Tyler is out to destroy him.

3. Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.

Jack's identity is constantly in flux throughout the movie, going from a corporate drone, to a mischief making, anti-social rebel. At one point, Jack can only see his identity through the reflection of the people with who he attends chronic illness support groups. Although Jack absorbs the identity of Tyler in the end of the movie, who Jack really is remains up in the air until the end, and confusion remains the only constant.

4. Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., promiscuous sex, eating disorders, binge eating, substance abuse, reckless driving). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-injuring behavior covered in Criterion 5

There are numerous marks of impulsivity in the movie, in many areas. For example, there are many examples of promiscuous sex, substance use, and in one scene, the main character is involved in a car crash that he impulsively decided to be involved in. As well, there are numerous incidents of crime and vandalism that Jack engages in.

5. Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats or self-injuring behavior such as cutting, interfering with the healing of scars (excoriation) or picking at oneself.

The most prominent feature of this criteria in the movie is when the character gives himself a chemical burn on the back of his hand (in conjunction with his alter ego), as well as the bare knuckle fighting that he engages in on a regular basis. As well, in near the end of the movie, Jack attempts suicide and shoots himself in the face as a means of ending the troubles that he now sees he has created.

6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).

This criteria is a little bit more difficult to identify, but there are many examples of some reactivity of mood throughout the movie. A clear cut example does not stand out, however. Thankfully, to meet diagnosis (especially “arm chair diagnosis”), one only needs to meet five of these criteria to be acknowledged at having Borderline Personality Disorder.

7. Chronic feelings of emptiness

In some of the opening scenes in the movie, we see Jack talk about his life in terms that imply a certain amount of emptiness, and his unhappiness with living in a culture that is obsessed with consumerism. Jack makes distinct attempts to connect to meaning by attending support groups and connecting with his alter ego, Tyler.

8. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

In a fit of anger, Jack beats the face of another character, Angel Face, who he is jealous of, to the point where Angel Face is forced to be taken to hospital. In response to a question about why he did it, Jack responds “I felt like destroying something beautiful.”

9. Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation, delusions or severe dissociative symptoms

This criteria is the easiest to argue, as the whole movie is about the delusions and dissociation of the main character. Jack splits his identity to create a side of himself that he longs to be, in the character of Tyler.

In order for an individual to meet the clinical criteria for BPD, they would have to match five of these criteria. I believe that I have made the case that the character of Jack meets much more than five of these criteria, and thus, Fight Club should be now be a part of that list of BPD movies that populates the web.
Any ideas that anyone has about what I have written here is welcome to comment below.