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Psychological Analysis: 'The Psychology Of Diane Downs'

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The Psychology of Diane Downs Lena Turnbull Fanshawe College SOCW-1004 Psychology: Theories of Personality Michelle VanGrunsven Who is Elizabeth Diane Downs? Diane Downs is a 53 year American woman who is sentenced to life plus fifty years in prison for two counts of attempted murder and one count of murder. Diane gained notoriety in 1984, when she was convicted of shooting her three children; Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3. The shooting took place in Springfield Oregon in May of 1983; resulting in the death of her daughter Cheryl, and the paralysis of her son Danny and injuries to Christie (Dooley, 2010). …show more content…

This can be seen in Diane’s attempt to reduce basic anxiety through her intense and continuous movement toward other or compliant personality (Shultz & Shultz, 2013). As a child Down’s did not feel loved or secure, and the relationship with her parents fostered hostility of which Diane could not express due to fear and dependence. Rather than express her true feelings Diane adapted by expressing the opposite urges. Diane has stated that although her parents provided her the necessities of life, they did not give her love or affection. In addition to an environment devoid of love, Diane has said that her father molested her (Rule, 1987). Resulting from her inability to express her hostility toward her parents Diane adopted the defense mechanism of securing love and affection. Similarly to HPD the compliant personality attempts to gain love and affection not only from family or loved ones but from everyone they come in contact with in order to control and manipulate (Shultz & Shultz, 2013). Histrionic personality disorder and the compliant personality have similar traits in their pursuit of love and attention. An individual with the compliant personality display the need for approval, affection, and a strong desire to be both wanted and loved (Shultz & Shultz, 2013). The aforementioned traits are also found in the description of HPD. Diane Downs displays these drives in her continuous pursuit of Lew Lewiston, her flirtatious manner of interacting, and her ongoing desire to reproduce. In an interview Diane explained the pregnancy during her trial as an

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