Bugsy and Antisocial Personality Disorder

Bugsy and Antisocial Personality Disorder Bugsy (1991) and the Title Character's Symptoms of Antisocial Personality Disorder according to DSM-IV Criteria Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel (1906-1947) the Brooklyn-born gangster; visionary mastermind of Las Vegas, and title character of the film Bugsy (1991) appears within the movie and based also on available biographical information to meet diagnostic criteria for 301.7 Antisocial Personality Disorder. Key symptoms of that personality disorder "include:..

A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years" ("DSM- IV and DSM IV TR: Antisocial Personality Disorder, 2007), and "as indicated by three (or more) [abnormal behavior patterns including] "failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest"; " irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults"; and "lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another" ("DSM- IV and DSM IV TR").

Within Bugsy (1991) and according to various other accounts of Siegel's life (see Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel, 2000; Benjamin Siegel (1906-1947) 2007).

In addition, for such a diagnosis "The individual is at least age 18 years"; "[T]here is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years"; and "[T]he occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode" ("DSM- IV and DSM IV TR: Antisocial Personality Disorder") Within the movie Bugsy (1991) the Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel character is shown as being a ruthless Mafioso who participates, as a behavior pattern, in a wide range of illegal organized crime activities including murder, all without remorse, thereby showing "failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest" (DSM- IV and DSM IV TR: Antisocial Personality Disorder, 2007).

As the movie begins New York-born, Chicago-based Bugsy Siegel takes what is supposed to be a brief business trip to Los Angeles to look in on the L.A. rackets for his bosses, including Meyer Lansky. Here, he meets a Hollywood socialite named Virginia Hill and engages in an affair (one of many of his) with her. The movie shows Siegel as seductive and charming but also foul-mouthed, hot-tempered, violent, and ruthless as he single-mindedly pursues his goal of building and opening the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

Along the way to Bugsy Siegel's eventual murder after his Mafia bosses discover both that Bugsy has gone substantially over budget on the still unfinished Flamingo and that Bugsy's mistress Virginia has also all along been stealing mob money intended to finance the hotel, Siegel shows, in his day-to-day interactions " irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults" (DSM- IV and DSM IV TR: Antisocial Personality Disorder, 2007) (including murder) on anyone who crosses him on his way to founding his potential gambling Mecca in the desert.

Although within the movie Bugsy Siegel never actually leaves his wife and two young daughters, he also expresses no remorse about his long absences from home; his serial affairs, or even missing his child's birthday party because of some of the guests.

In one scene in the movie he is shown making his daughter a birthday cake, but in the next leaving the house with no regard for his daughter's feelings, thereby demonstrating "lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another" (DSM- IV and DSM IV TR: Antisocial Personality Disorder, 2007).

In addition, in order for Antisocial personality Disorder to be diagnosed, "The individual is at least age 18 years"; and "[T]here is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years." Further "[T]he occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode" ("DSM- IV and DSM IV TR: Antisocial Personality Disorder"). Based on the movie Bugsy (1991) and available biographical information on Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel combined, Siegel's behavior meets all of these criteria.

First, Siegel's behavior as an adolescent, according to biographies of him, shows evidence of Conduct Disorder (according to DSM-IV criteria) before age 15. For example "When he was 14 years old he was running his own criminal gang" (Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel, 2007).

DSM-IV criteria for Conduct Disorder include that a person "often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others"; "often initiates physical fights"; "has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others (e.g., abat [sic], brick, broken bottle, knife, gun)"; "has been physically cruel to people"; "has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage"; "has stolen while confronting a victim (e.g., mugging, purse snatching, extortion, armed robbery)"; and "has forced someone into sexual activity" (DSM-IV: Conduct Disorder, 2007).

According to the article Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel (2007): Employing tactics that were a foreshadowing of what was to come, Siegel began his gang by offering, in return for regular payments for his services, to.