MovieChat Forums > Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996) Discussion > Do you think Dawn was bound to become a ...

Do you think Dawn was bound to become a sociopath/psychopath? ?

posted 11 years ago by cookie1919-361-891757
35 replies | jump to latest

Let's ignore Dawn's tragic suicide from Palindromes and pretend that she didn't die:

What IF Dawn grew up to be an adult and actually becomes a full fledged sociopath or psychopath?
To the point where she would become a dangerous, angry serial killer.

There were numerous evidence that Dawn displays signs and symptoms of an antisocial person:

She has no empathy - Dawn treated her best friend Ralphie (the ONE person that always treated her with kindness) like crap and felt no remorse about it. She also felt no remorse about having Missy go missing. Yes, she was trying to go look for her, but if you pay attention to her dream about being loved for finding Missy, you would understand her motive. She's just that selfish and thought that finding Missy would make her feel loved and popular (example of narcissistic personality disorder). When Dawn was walking home, she hit a ball out of a kid's hand for no reason. Again, she felt no remorse.

She's a liar - Dawn lied to the police about giving Missy the note, when she didn't. She lied to Missy about not sawing her doll's head off.

Destructive behavior - Dawn sawing missy's doll's head off. Dawn smashing her parents' home movie video of their anniversary with a hammer. Dawn standing by Missy's bed holding the hammer as if she was going to kill her.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kartoon-1 11 years ago

Dawn was like that because she was given no love or understanding from her loathsome parents, teachers and students.

She was having all feelings in her beaten out of her.

I have a relative who went through all of that and they grew up angry and distant. Thankfully they got a little support from certain somebodies and gained back their ability to love...with NO thanks to their @$$-hole parents.

After all she TRIED to be nice to Missy and what did it get her? A drink in the face and her Mother (whose conduct towards Dawn exceeds ANY vile word that could be hurled at her) stood there and laughed.

Dawn CAME from a family of Sociopaths!

[–] sarasong101 11 years ago

How are they even sociopaths? I thought they were just dysfunctional

[–] kartoon-1 11 years ago

OK dysfunctional.
But it was those dysfunctions that wore on Dawn to the point she grew numb and unfeeling.

[–] BlackMagikWoman 10 years ago

Dawn CAME from a family of Sociopaths!

Sorta. Can't really say they could all be clinically defined as sociopaths (I mean, Missy is only a kid, after all), although everyone she seemed to come across was either a bully or a malignant narcissist.

The world created the person Dawn became. Dawn tried to be nice and to fit in normally with others, but she was already labeled and classified as an outcast and the victim. She had no one to turn to for help or compassion. Even her teachers hated her. Empathy *towards her* was non-existent, not the other way around. Dawn was actually a very empathetic person, which is probably why her plight was that much harder. Everyone turned her into the angry, frustrated and awkward person she became. I mean, how do you expect someone to turn out who is constantly bullied and abused from the time they are a child? The most logical long-term explanation is that they either A) kill themselves, or B) make everyone else's life a living hell and turn the tables when they get in a position of power when they are older. It's rare to find a third option, where the person finally becomes well-adjusted and fights their own demons and rises above the absolute torture and hell they've been put through by others. I mean, how can you trust a world where everyone is against you and trying to hurt you and sabotage your life? When you don't even have a family member to turn to who can support you and show you kindness, I mean, then why is everyone so surprised at how Dawn turned out so angry and bitter at the world she was trapped in?

And the funny thing is, the more the bullying and mind games happen to Dawn, the more closed off and self-righteous she becomes, thus everyone thinking *she's* the sociopath or narcissist. Nope. It's just her way of dealing with the abuse before it happens. It's called being hyper-vigilant. It's her method of self-preservation. Sadly, all that does is alienate people even more so and creates more enemies for her, since most people are narcissists and looking for people to victimize anyway and take their frustrations out on (i.e. projection). It's ironic how everyone thinks *she* has the problem, when the real problem all along has been that she never had any real love or support and was taught to be a victim and punching bag for everybody from day 1.

I'm glad Dawn finally killed herself in the films. Poor kid never stood a chance. She was an empathetic person living in a world full of sociopaths. Can you blame her for shutting down and deciding to end it all finally? That was probably the kindest thing she could have done for herself and that anyone could have done for her-- to release her from her perpetual suffering.

[–] ThoseLittleRabbits 9 years ago

wait when did she get a drink in face??

i've got feelings too, ya know - inbetweeners

http://melanoidnation.org/white-man-warns-all-black

[–] morrise18 10 years ago

Palindromes is kind of a sequel to this movie. They say she got obese and eventually killed herself.

[–] I_Love_Hutch 10 years ago

No, Dawn showed courage and empathy and maturity when she stood up to those bullies who were harassing that boy at the beginning of the movie.

She says "Are you allright, Troy?" "Get away from me, Weinerdog!"

I've never seen a movie that so perfectly pitches humor, tragedy and horror all at the same time. And we get to see how Dawn responds and eventually changes/shuts down. But even at the end of the movie, Dawn is still holding on.

[–] chilone 10 years ago

Thanks for spoiling Palindromes for me, asshat!!

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] ldm-mcdonald 10 years ago

What's there to spoil? The sequel is over 10 years old, you dumbass.

[–] chilone 10 years ago

So you've never seen a movie for the first time, years after it was released? Retard.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] ldm-mcdonald 10 years ago

It came out in 2004. this is 2015, numb nuts so you're bound to hear spoilers because the movie is fvcking old.

You deserved to be cussed out because you were unnecessarily rude to the OP.

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

So you've never seen a movie for the first time, years after it was released? Retard.

So, according to your logic, nobody is ever allowed to talk about any aspect of any movie, no matter how old the movie is, for the slight chance that it might be a spoiler for someone who hasn't seen it? Well, that's retarded.

Hey, I've got some more spoilers for you:

Vader is Luke's father.

The planet of the apes is Earth.

The hero wins at the end.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Are you that thick? Giving spoiler warnings isn't hard.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

Yeah, sure. And you always consciously think about adding the sentence "Attention, spoiler!" to each and every statement that you make about every movie, right?

"What do you think about [spoiler] Luke's reaction when his aunt and uncle were killed? Don't you think his reaction [spoiler] was a bit emotionless? It looks like this was the best thing that could happen to him after he met [spoiler] Obi-Wan Kenobi who [spoiler] told him about the Jedi and [spoiler] gave him his lightsaber."

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Ummm.... Why just not say "like the ending of Palindromes"? Anyone who saw it would know what was being referred to. Yeah, yeah, it does require a little thought and uncommon consideration for others.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

Could, would, should. It's a movie that's age old. If people always have to be that cautious with every old work of art just because it might spoil something for some random idiot who starts insulting people, then we would have a lot to do.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Like I said, UNCOMMON consideration. Congrats.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

The funeral happens right at the beginning, not at the end. Dawn isn't shown in this movie at all, only the closed coffin.

I'm just telling you this to spoil the movie even more for you and piss you off because you have acted like an a**hole to the people here.

Oh, and there's one more thing that I like to tell a**holes like you:

She killed herself because she was raped and got pregnant.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Wow!! So I guess hitting the nail right on the head about you sure hurt your widdle feewings. So sawee!

Not to let anymore wind out of your sails, but it's been quite a while since I saw this and while I liked it, I won't be watching it again and I really don't remember what ever it is that you're trying to spoil for me.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

Wow!! So I guess hitting the nail right on the head about you sure hurt your widdle feewings. So sawee!

Erm, I wasn't talking about you insulting me. When you started your insults, I wasn't even part of the discussion yet. I was talking about your general a**holeness.

Not to let anymore wind out of your sails, but it's been quite a while since I saw this and while I liked it, I won't be watching it again and I really don't remember what ever it is that you're trying to spoil for me.

The spoiler was regarding "Palindromes" because you said (to someone else):

Thanks for spoiling Palindromes for me, asshat!!

Now I spoiled it a bit more for you.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

Lol!! I wrote that in 2014. I've already seen it.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

O.k., you got me there. But at the same time it proves how moronic you are:

You answered a post from December 15, 2014 on May the 8th, 2015. A post that was directed at you personally.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

And??? You're not coherent. A little too much New Years drinking?

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] chilone 9 years ago

By the way, you're pretty free with the insults, yourself. Hypocrite.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

You insulted someone who made a valid claim. I insulted someone who insulted someone else. That's not hypocritical.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

I'm sorry. Could you send me the rule book on insulting because I didn't know that you were justified.

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

So, according to your logic, nobody is ever allowed to talk about any aspect of any movie, no matter how old the movie is, for the slight chance that it might be a spoiler for someone who hasn't seen it? Well, that's retarded.

I'm going to repost what I said to another user.

Look. Just because a movie is "old," that doesn't mean everyone has seen it. As Lauren Bacall wisely said, "It's not an 'old' movie, if you haven't seen it yet."

We're all movie fans here (I'm assuming), so it's good to have some consideration. I wouldn't want to inadvertently spoil a movie for anyone; especially movies outside of that particular movie's message board- those kind of "surprise" spoilers just aren't fair at all.

So, it's good to have some consideration and *not* spoil critical details of movies, books, comics, etc. for anyone that may not have been it yet. That's what spoiler tags are for.

PS: Those spoilers you posted may have been intended for someone else, but may have, inadvertently spoiled someone else's future viewings. Think about that. -_-"

[–] NESPlayer 9 years ago

I'm going to repost the statement that you even quoted, yet, you didn't acknowledge the contents of it at all:

So, according to your logic, nobody is ever allowed to talk about any aspect of any movie, no matter how old the movie is, for the slight chance that it might be a spoiler for someone who hasn't seen it? Well, that's retarded.

You know what that means? You cannot discuss any plot points in public. Ever. The whole communication about movies in non-closed groups would have to be boiled down to:
"Hey, you liked that movie?"
"Nah, not really."
"Why not?"
"I would tell you, but: Spoilers."
"Oh right. Of course. Let's make an appointment in a secure surrounding to make sure nobody can accidentally overhear our conversation."

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

I'll repost another part of my post that you failed to acknowledge.

That's what spoiler tags are for.

If the person wants to finish the message, they can look at the spoiler tag. Otherwise, they can move on spoiler-free. Seriously this shouldn't even be an issue with such a practical issue that works for both sides.

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

What's there to spoil? The sequel is over 10 years old, you dumbass.

Look. Just because a movie is "old," that doesn't mean everyone has seen it. . As Lauren Bacall wisely said, "It's not an 'old' movie, if you haven't seen it yet."

We're all movie fans here (I'm assuming), so it's good to have some consideration. I wouldn't want to inadvertently spoil a movie for anyone; especially movies outside of that particular movie's message board- those kind of "surprise" spoilers just aren't fair at all.

So, it's good to have some consideration and *not* spoil critical details of movies, books, comics, etc. for anyone that may not have been it yet. That's what spoiler tags are for.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] kellycallie (728) 7 years ago

No. Not a psychopath but I agree about the evolving Narcissism though. You see for some people, especially girls who are bullied though their child and teen years may decide as adults that they're not going to bother with people anymore and instead they focus on themselves. Eventually they become apathetic to others and their emotional needs and only serve themselves satisfying their own interests. It happens a lot.

[–] Goodgirl1980 (47) 3 years ago

Dawn did show empathy though , she helped that kid who was being picked on in the beginning , and he had the nerve to call her a Weiner dog!
Nobody ever really showed Dawn any sympathy or empathy though so she was just fed up . I don't think she should have taken it out on Ralphie, but I think she didn't feel like talking to him because she figured he was an outcast too and was only gonna bring her down more...especially after that guy Steve who she crushed on told her that her "Special People" club house was for "retards"

As far as her being a becoming a psychopath killer , I suppose it's possible, she was considering killing her sister that night with a hammer...but she did stop so hard to say.

However, the sequel Palindromes as mentioned, she ended up killing herself instead. Then later on they made another sequel called Weiner dog -which completely ignored Palindromes and she seemed to turn out ok and ended up working at a vet clinic.