Pontillo, John Almir M.

Biopsychology
Bs Psych 2-5

Dory in the Lens of Psychology

Finding Dory is a sequel to the classic animated Pixar movie Finding Nemo. Dory is a
regal blue tang fish claimed to be suffering from short term memory loss, an obstacle that
prevents her from reuniting with her long-lost parents. Dory as a child got separated from her
parents because she disobeyed her parents’ instructions not to venture to a certain part of the area
where they live because she might get transfer to the wide ocean when she gets too close to a
pipe. Technically, she didn’t disobey them, she forgot their instructions. She searches for her
parents but her claimed psychological condition intervenes in her attempt to be with them. Often
times she forgot her goal and get easily distracted to the point that she reached adulthood and
still couldn’t find them. She then met Marline, a clown fish who is looking for his lost son, the
plot of the Finding Nemo. Marlin and Nemo then help Dory accomplish her desire to with her
parents again and experience series of inconvenience on their way. Along their journey, Dory
display series of behaviors that is interesting to be examined psychologically.

Several times, Dory attend to someone she know already for quite a time, as if they just
met for the first time. She does this to Marlin, Crush (their sea turtle friend), Hank (seven-legged
octopus), and Destiny (her childhood friend. She also creates false recollections but actually have
no clue about her claims. Frequently, Dory also forget that she is on a quest to fin her parents.
She also doesn’t respond appropriately in times of danger as if she doesn’t recognize the
presence of threat in the situation she is in. This is displayed when she accidentally awaken a big
squid that hunts them ceaselessly. Often times she also acts as if she knows things that she
doesn’t truly understand like when she saw a attached to her fins. She displayed symptom of
forgetfulness, gets easily excited, impulsive, absent-minded, is frequently confused, Can’t
recognize familiar faces or places, can’t form new memories and is clumsy.

Dory forgets small pieces o information very quickly and forgets more important
information over a longer period of time. She also forget concept like associating certain
encounters as dangerous. In summation of this symptoms, it safe to conclude that Dory suffers
from anterograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia is the loss of the ability to create new
memories, leading to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past, even though long-
term memories from before the event which caused the amnesia to remain intact. Sufferers may,
therefore, repeat comments or questions several times, for example, or fail to recognize people
Pontillo, John Almir M. Biopsychology
Bs Psych 2-5
they met just minutes before. Anterograde amnesia may be drug-induced (several
benzodiazepines are known to have powerful amnesic effects, and alcohol intoxication also has a
similar effect) or it may follow a traumatic brain injury or surgery in which there is damage to
the hippocampus or medial temporal lobe of the brain, or an acute event such as a concussion, a
heart attack, oxygen deprivation or an epileptic attack. Less commonly, it can also be caused by
shock or an emotional disorder.

Furthermore, Dory consistently focuses on task at hand throughout the venture to her
parents. Despite being forgetful, she never loses memory of her own being, but often gets
distracted from what she is doing. She also manages to lose important and essential things that is
needed to find her way to her parents such the shell but forgot that she lost it. Based on this
symptoms, Dory can be diagnosed of unspecified Neurocognitive disorder. This disorder is
characterized by substantial impairment in cognitive performance, and require assistance with
complex instrumental activities of daily living such as remembering basic tasks, decline in
learning memory. She also exhibits signs of ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyper Active Disorder.
A disorder that is characterized by having difficulty sustaining attention in task, often dos not
follow through on instructions, having difficulty organizing tasks and activities, often loses
things necessary for tasks or activities and is often forgetful in daily activities.

Dory’s exhibition of unspecified neurocognitive disorder, anterograde amnesia and

Attention Deficit Hyper Active Disorder is presented realistically and not overly exaggerated.
Many watch this movie without background about Dory’s psychological condition and might say
that it is insulting to portray the disorder in a satirical or sarcastic way and is literally the source
of many humorous bits of the entire movie. However I have a different opinion. Various
characters associate with and put-up with Dory’s condition and is fact, very supportive and
understanding when dealing with her. In real life, it is really hard to believe that such a condition
is preventing someone from actualizing the full potential of living but it is a bitter truth that is
needed to be confronted responsibly and productively. Scient confrontation is displayed by
Marline, Nemo, Dory’s parents and several characters that is encountered by Dory’ on her way
to her adventure. What does this tells us? That like Dory, people who experience such disorders
in real life can still function and relate to the people around and still have the potential to
alleviate their condition with the help of a nurturing and supportive environment. The movies
Pontillo, John Almir M. Biopsychology
Bs Psych 2-5
portrayal of the disorders gives hope to individuals who experience this disorders and empathy to
the person who are experiencing inconvenience because of taking care with them.

References:

- Anterograde Amnesia: Symptoms, Causes, Illness & Condition. (2019, September

27). Retrieved from https://human-memory.net/anterograde-amnesia/
- Neurocognitive Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2019, from
https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm17.