Research Paper on "Television Character Assessment"

Research Paper 4 pages (1163 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

TV Character

Brian Griffin is the family dog on the Family Guy, but plays an essentially human role as a sidekick, both to the show's central character and the baby character. The supporting role is more complex that just comic relief in this instance, and the darker side of the human condition is explored using the dog and baby characters. Brian is a substance abuser, who uses alcohol to cover up deeper issues. The character routinely drinks, and does so even in situations where one would not normally engage in casual drinking. Brian's drinking is often depicted as a response to stressful situations.

Substance Abuse

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual explains substance abuse as "more of a symptom than a disorder in itself" because "the use of substances (is) a means to cover up or get relief from other problems" such as psychosis, relationship issues or stress. To qualify for a diagnosis of substance abuse one of the following must be present within a twelve-month period: "(1) recurrent use resulting in a failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home; (2) recurrent use in situations which are physically hazardous; (3) legal problems resulting from recurrent use; or (4) continued use despite significant social or interpersonal problems caused by the substance use." (DSM-IV).

Brian does not fit the criteria for substance dependence. Substance dependence not only involves substance abuse but additional criteria as well. These are "continuation of use despite related problems; increase in tolerance in that more of the drug is needed in order to achieve the same effect; and withdrawal symptoms." Brian does not exhibit these signs of dependence, and so would be judged to fall into the category of substance abuse instead.

Brian's substance abuse largely falls into category 4. In part, this is because the character has no major responsibilities. The character does have difficulty maintaining relationships at times, but there is no conclusive evidence that this stems directly from the substance use. There may be some evidence of use in situations where it would be physically harmful to be intoxicated. Brian is also a struggling writer, unable to complete the novel on which he is working, although it is unclear the degree to which this is related to his drinking, as many struggling writers fail to complete novels for a wide range of reasons. When the novel is completed, it was of poor quality and was ill-received. However, the social and interpersonal issues that stem from the abuse, such as making out with his half-sister Meg while drunk and high, would qualify under category 4.

Potential Underlying Issues

There are a number of potential underlying causes of Brian's substance abuse. His inability to maintain stable relationships with females (the character largely acts human and dates humans) is symptomatic of his mostly-suppressed desire for the female lead Lois, who is married. With his true love unattainable, the ensuing sadness and sense of failure have led Brian towards drinking to drown his sadness. Complicating this issue is his failure to complete the novel, and when it is completed its subsequent lack of success. Brian views himself as a failure, but he also holds an inflated view of himself that contradicts the failure view. He cannot see how someone as gifted as he can fail, and this causes a significant amount of anxiety that is the likely underlying cause of his substance abuse.

Although genetic factors often play a role in substance abuse, there is no evidence that… READ MORE

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