WHAT ABOUT BOB? (Frank Oz, US, 1991).

THEMES: PSYCHOTHERAPY,
TRANSFERENCE PROBLEMS; DEPENDENCY IN THERAPY; COMIC
DEPICTION OF THERAPY PROBLEMS. Bill Murray is Bob Wiley, the psychiatric
patient from Hell, who manipulates and ingratiates with everyone, even fakes suicide,
in order to tag along on the family summer vacation of his new therapist, Dr. Leo
Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss). The humor is in the escalating battle between Murray
and Dreyfuss, as each struggles to outwit, if not damage, the other. This is in essence
a reprise of Dreyfuss' role in Down and Out in Beverly Hills, where his nemesis was
Nick Nolte, portraying a manipulative sociopath. In both films Dreyfuss does
pompous indignant rage with great skill - it's perhaps his only persona as a
comedic actor. One (professionally) unconvincing aspect of this film is that the
patient (Murray) has had only one brief visit with the therapist before the vacation
occurs. Ordinarily, patients with severe personality disorders - the ones most likely to
use any means to violate boundaries between patient and therapist - conduct
themselves in this manner only after forming strong attachments to their therapists as
a function of repeated contacts over time.
The more serious problem with the film is that Murray has all the charm of a water
buffalo caught in a drought. To manipulate people as adroitly as this screenplay
allows Murray to do requires the guile of a Nick Nolte, the seductiveness of a Johnny
Depp (the patient in Don Juan DeMarco), or the raw authority of a Robert DeNiro
(the patient in Analyze This). Murray has none of these qualities here. One keeps
wondering how anyone could possibly tolerate him. Murray himself often seems
incredulous, as if he's also thinking that he's getting away with far too much. It's no
wonder when Dr. Marvin really goes bonkers - he's the only one with any sense of
reality in this group. Still, there are enough honestly wrought laughs along the way to
(barely) save this movie from the scrap heap of failed comedy. Grade: BWhat About Bob: A Psychological Analysis
Agoraphobia
Bob shows many signs of agoraphobia, like not wanting to leave his
apartment, telling Dr. Marvin that he fears his heart will stop or he will not
be able to find a bathroom. He also avoids getting on the elevator and is
reluctant ot get on the bus to go visit Dr. Marvin.
OCD
Bob shows a few symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder during the
beginning of the film. The opening scene shows Bob sitting in apartment
saying "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful" to himself over and over
again. He repeats this to himself whenever he is nervous or in a new
situation. He also uses tissues to touch anything outside of his apartment
that may have germs from other people on it.
Dependent Personality
Disorder
When Dr. Marvin is first contacted about Bob, Bob's former therapist
seems to be rushing to get out of town, assumed to be getting away from
Bob himself. After a single session with Dr. Marvin, Bob calls him, day or
night, begging for his help and assistance. When he learns that the doctor
is on vacation and can no longer be contacted, he goes so far as
pretending to be Dr. Marvin's sister, calling with an emergency, as well as

faking his own suicide, which finally gets him the address. Bob then
follows the family, begins participating in all of their vacation activities
instead of planning his own, eats dinner with them, takes part in Dr.
Marvin' s interview with Good Morning America, and even stays with the
Marvins. He is dependent on the doctor for everything from psychiatric aid
to everyday decisions.
Plot Summary
What About Bob?
portrays realistic psychological issues a from comedic perspective through
the characters Bob Wiley and his therapist Dr. Leo Marvin. After having just
one session with Dr. Marvin (Dreyfuss), Bob (Murray) thinks the world of
him. Shortly after their first session, however, the doctor leaves to spend
the rest of the summer with his family, which throws Bob into utter
despair. Bob uses many tactics to find out where the doctor is and visits
him. The doctor's family begins to like Bob but Dr. Marvin himself sees Bob
as a nuisance. No matter what he does and how many times he asks, Bob
just won't go away. The rest of the Marvin family thinks Leo is being rude
and too harsh on Bob, which pushes him to the point of trying to kill Bob in
the woods. Dr. Marvin's plan backfires, however, and Bob ends up blowing
up the Marvin household instead, sending the doctor into shock. Bob goes
on to earn his degree in psychiatry and Dr. Marvin becomes a psychiatric
patient.
Legit or Nah?
Bob's agoraphobia is stated as "classic". In the DSM-IV, agoraphobia is
defined as "anxiety about, or avoidance of places or situations from which
escape might be difficult or help may not be available." The depiction is
accurate in the movie because he chooses to work from his apartment has
difficulty leaving home, gets scared in elevators, and he confides in Dr.
Marvin that he thinks "public places are impossible". The problem in the
portrayal of this disorder is how it is cured. We learn that Bob has been in
therapy for years, and by that point should have made some progress,
since phobias are relatively easy to cure or at least help. Suddently,
without any real help from Dr. Marvin, Bob's symptoms seem to disappear
after meeting him.
Legit or Nah?
The portrayal of his dependance is mostly accurate, with a few minor
flaws. While his lack of self confidence and decision making skills are
depicted perfectly, as well as his need for almost constant contact with the
doctor, he is not imperatively concerned with the Dr. Marvin's happiness. It
is clear that the doctor is unhappy when Bob stays with his family, and
people with dependent personality disorder always put the needs and
happiness of those they are dependent on over their own. Also, as with the
other disorders in this film, the disorder seems to miraculously go away as
time goes on, which does not happen in a typical case.
Bob Wiley (Bill Murray)
Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss)
Legit or Nah?

Although these are the only two symptoms of OCD that he shows, they are
legitimate. The compulsion of talking himself into everything he does
paired with the obsession with germs makes it clear that he does have
obsessive-compulsive disorder, however similar to the portrayal of
agoraphobia, the symptoms "magically" disappear by the end of the film,
with no help from the doctor.
Conclusion
Overall, this film did a really good job of depicting many symptoms and
effects of each of these disorders, with the main error being in the lack of
treatment and sudden relief of all symptoms. If this film was meant to be a
teaching tool for psychological disorders, it would probably only get one or
two stars from us, however it is meant to be a comedy and the disorders
that Bob has are purely for comical effect, not educational. Not a bad job
for a funny movie.
Relation to Psychology
Bob suffers from several psychological disorders, such as agoraphobia,
dependent personality disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder
throughout the film.
Therapy session scene

Analysis of What About Bob

What About Bob is a comedy film that is not only enjoyable to watch,
but also provides some perfect examples of psychological disorders characterized
through the star, Bob Wiley. While being somewhat ridiculous and exaggerated, this
film is also able to convey the reality of these disorders and the often extreme affects
that they are associated with. While there are many other characters that could be
assessed and diagnosed with some condition, the most pertinent character in regards
to this study is Bob Wiley and due to the fact that he portrays so many different
disorders, I will focus solely on his interesting and outrageous character.
Based on the relationship between a therapist and his bizarre patient, this film conveys
realistic issues through a comedic perspective. The movie begins by established Dr.
Leo Marvin as a successful, composed, professional therapist that is at the top of his
game and feels ready to take on any patient. What he does not know is, that his next
client, while drive him to the brink of insanity. Dr. Marvin is introduced to Bob Wiley,
a man of many disorders, from a friend and suggested to take him on as his new
patient. Marvin quickly realizes, however, that Bob has immense dependency issues
which eventually lead to deathly tensions between the two. Bob instantly becomes
attached to Marvin and goes to extreme measures to be near him. Along with many
other issues, Bob has a fear of germs, fear of elevators, and fear of sleeping unless
pointed in the proper direction according to a compass along with more serious issues
such as anxiety disorders and specific phobias. The epitome of Bobs attachment is
demonstrated when he goes so far as to find the address of Marvins vacation spot and
consequently follow him there and proceed to make his life miserable. He
accomplishes this by not only sticking to him like glue, but by winning the affections
of Marvins family. The movie continues to progress as Marvin continues to rise in his
insanity levels, causing him attempt to kill Bob who is of course ignorant to his plans.

At the conclusion of the movie, Marvin somewhat returns to his normal self, however,
Bob forever maintains his perpetually annoying characteristics and disorders.
While there are many characters that could be psychologically analyzed, Bob Wiley is
the one that will be given all of the attention for his disorders are numerous and
fascinating. According to Dr. Marvin, Bob has a multi-phobic personality
characterized by acute separation anxiety. To begin with, Bob is faced with ongoing
anxiety issues throughout the movie. According to Myers, generalized anxiety
disorder is when a person is continually tense, apprehensive, and in a state of
autonomic nervous system arousal, which perfectly describes Bobs character. He
has a difficult time leaving his house, riding the elevator and performing simple tasks.
However, many of his anxiety symptoms are caused from his multitude of phobias.
Because he is afraid of so many things, he is constantly in a state of panic and anxiety.
Additionally, Bob is characterized by a collection of phobias, a phobia being an
anxiety disorder in which an irrational fear causes the person to avoid some object,
activity, or situation, according to Myers. Most prominently shown in Bobs behavior
is agoraphobia which is marked by anxiety about being in places where escape may
be difficult or embarrassing if panic-like symptoms occur. Bobs agoraphobia is
classic as defined in DSM-IV, and is alluded to in his working out of his house, his
difficulty leaving his home, and his telling Dr. Marvin that public places are
impossible as well as fearing that his bladder may explode while he is out and
looking for a bathroom. Another mainn specific phobia is Bobs nosemaphobia, the
fear of illness, accompanied by spermaphobia, the fear of germs. We see other
examples of these phobias throughout the movie such as Bobs constant use of
Kleenex to touch things and spraying disinfectant on telephones and other public
areas. Besides these two major fears, Bob shows signs for being a classic multiphobic and fearing just about anything. Bob is afraid of elevators, demonstrates
acrophobia or fear of heights we see when Bob looks out the 44th floor window, fear
of buses evident in Bobs difficulty getting on a bus, as well as possible hydrophobia
fear of water, achluophobia fear of darkness, and tonitrophobia fear of
thunderstorms. Because Bob is afraid of so many aspects regarding his daily routine,
he is constantly dealing with anxiety issues, stemming from his multitude of phobias.
As hinted at earlier, Bob also demonstrates a slight personality disorder, in that he is
completely dependent and attached to Dr. Marvin. He even states himself that his
behavior drove his earlier therapist out of the psychology field. Additionally, when
Bob makes up stories, impersonates Dr. Marvins sister, and fakes his own suicide to
find out where Dr. Marvin is vacationing, these are all signs of Bobs increasing
dependence on the doctor. He further demonstrates his dependence through his
separation anxiety while laying in bed, not knowing where his doctor was
vacationing.
This film definitely presented these concepts well, and did so in a clear and accurate
manner. Instead of Bobs disorders being sublime and hard to discover, they were very
blatant and often exaggerated. The film is focused on a therapist addressing a patients
disorders, therefore, the script accurately reflected the role of the therapist as well as
addressing the actual symptoms of the various disorders Bob was facing on a daily
basis.

In conclusion, What About Bob? is a very comical film that effectively pokes fun at
the world of therapy and disorders by exaggerating the effects they can have on a
persons life. However, by watching this film, it provides an opportunity to become
better acquainted with the reality of disorders and phobias and helps us realize that
real people do struggle with these issues.
You think hes gone? Hes not gone. Thats the whole point! Hes never gone!

PART 2
Media source 1
This video clip is a preview for a new show on A&E called Obsessed. It is a
compilation of many different situations in which people demonstrate extreme anxiety
disorders and panic attacks over specific phobias. For example, this clip portrayed a
man who was afraid of germs and disease, just like Bob. This series then follows the
lives of these people suffering from anxiety in order to try to help them overcome
their issues.
Media source 2- anxiety disorder article
When researching various reports on anxiety disorders, I realized that there is an
abundance of work being done on understand anxiety disorders better and so there
were numerous articles relating to this topic. However, this article relates to the
emotional affects of these disorders and how it has been proven that people with
anxiety disorders have impaired senses of emotional control. This would make sense
after observing Bobs chaotic behavior resulting from his continual anxiety problems.
It is encouraging, though, to realize the immense about of research going into this area
because it does affect a high percentage of our population.
Media source 3- news report
This news report highlights the frequency of anxiety disorders as well as
demonstrating the larger likelihood of women developing this disorder as opposed to
men. In fact, women are twice as likely to progress to this state as opposed to men.
This news report demonstrates the affect that this condition has on even the simplest
behaviors in a persons life that can truly disrupt the way in which they live.
What About Bob? is my family's favorite movie. Not just my nuclear family, no, but
my entire extended family on my father's side. I have seen this movie at least once a
year since I was in the womb, probably more times than that. One requirement of my
future husband was that he has seen this movie at least twice (with my family talking
the whole way through) and that he likes it. So, with that brief introduction let's look
at the main characters of this movie. I will also include quotes to back up my
diagnoses.
Bob Wiley: Hypochondriac, Agoraphobic, possibly has Fibromyalgia, Dependent
Personality Disorder

Bob [after arriving at the psychiatrist's office]: Why don't I start? The simplest way to
put it - I have problems. I worry about diseases, so, I have trouble touching things. In
public places it's almost impossible. I have a real big problem moving.
Dr. Marvin: Talk about moving.
Bob: As long as I'm in my apartment I'm okay. But when I want to go out, I get weird.
Dr. Marvin: Talk about weird.
Bob: Well, I get dizzy spells, nausea, cold sweats, hot sweats, fever blisters, difficulty
breathing, difficult swallowing, bird vision, involuntary trembling, dead ends, numb
lips, finger nail sensitivity, pelvic discomfort -Dr. Marvin: So the real question is, what is the crisis, Bob? What is it that you're truly
afraid of?
Bob: What if my heart stops beating? What if... I'm looking for a bathroom, I can't
find it, and my bladder explodes.
Dr. Leo Marvin: Paranoid Personality Disorder, Perfectionism, Acute Stress Reaction
(or psychological shock (this is exhibited when he goes into his comatose state after
his house burns down))
Dr. Leo Marvin: You think he's gone? He's not gone. That's the whole point! He's
never gone!
[Leo opens the door; there's Bob]
Bob Wiley: Is this some radical new therapy?
Dr. Leo Marvin: YOU SEE?
--Dr. Leo Marvin: You understand, don't you? There's no other solution. You won't go
away.
Bob Wiley: I will.
Dr. Leo Marvin: No, you won't. You're just saying you will! But then, after I don't kill
you, you'll show up again. And you'll do something else to make everyone in my life
think you are wonderful and I'm a schmuck. But I'm not a schmuck, Bob, and I'm not
going to let you breeze into town and take my family away from me, just because
you're crazy enough to be "fun."
Sigmund (Siggy) Marvin: Depression, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Hydrophobiac
Siggy: I mean, my Dad just dropped me in the water, without warning me first. I
mean, I nearly drowned! My whole life flashed before my eyes!
Bob: Wow, you're lucky you're only twelve.
Siggy: It was still grim.
---

Dr. Marvin: Why are you always wearing black? What is it with you and this death
fixation?
Siggy: Maybe I'm in mourning for my lost childhood.
Anna Marvin: Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder
Anna: I have problems, the same as anyone else. The same as you.
Bob: You're afraid your bladder will explode? What other ones are the same? Like
what?
Anna: Well, like analyzing everything to death, to see what I'm feeling is normal.
Bob: Yes, I have that!
Anna: Do you freeze up and turn into wood when you're around a good looking guy
you don't know if he likes you or not?
Bob: Well, not a guy, but yes, I freeze.
Mr. Guttman & Mrs. Guttman: Tourette's
Mrs. Guttman: [says expletives that aren't allowed on the Board.]
Mr. Guttman: She never says that!
And there you have it! Those are the main characters and their possible disorders.
"But Mico," you whine, "what about Fay and Lily Marvin?" (That would be Leo's
wife and sister, for those of you unfortunate enough not to have seen this film.) All
signs suggest they are normal, level-headed people. I would love to call them both
narcissistic because they are so darn pleasant. Or maybe they are harboring some
serious sociopathic tendencies under those kind eyes. Yet, I can't prove any of it. It is
interesting to note that the two adult women in this movie are the only "sane" ones.
Then again, Fay seems to be deluded by Bob's nice persona into believing he doesn't
have any real psychological problems, so maybe that is some sort of disorder of her
own.
One thing I love about this movie is that it puts everyone on a thin line between
"sane" and "insane." I don't really think any of the children (Siggy and Anna) have
psychological disorders, nor do Mr. and Mrs. Guttman. Bob and Leo are the only ones
with real mental issues here. But the movie blurs the line between these two extremes
and, as evidenced in the conversation between Anna and Bob above, reminds us that
we all have some "insane" quirks. A little insanity is normal.

What about Bob? Film Questions

(Please answer the following questions while you watch the film.)
1.
List the different symptoms that Bob Wiley exhibits in the video. What
specific illnesses are presented?

2.
Do you feel that these are true representations of what the illnesses entail? Do
you think that they are over exaggerated?
3.
What are the different treatments and/or cures that Dr. Leo Marvin offers to
Bob Wiley? Do you think that they are appropriate and true representations of
treatments available today? Could the treatments be effective or are they just for the
movies sake?
4.
Do you feel that the representation of Dr. Marvin is a true representation of a
psychologist? Why or why not?
5.
Is Bob Wiley truly mentally ill or is it all an act? What are your reasons for
feeling this way?
6.

Do you believe that there is a Bob Wiley in the world today?

7.
Would a psychologist allow a patient to get that close to their family? Why or
why not?
8.

Why does Bob have a fish?

9.
Could you apply Baby Steps to any mental illness? Explain why or why not
it would apply to one or two that you pick.
What About Bob? Questions
1. What kind of positive self-talk does Bob use at the beginning of the
movie? What does he say to himself?
2. Why does Bob pretend to have certain psychological disorders?
3. What is Dr. Leos diagnosis of Bob? Explain how Bobs behavior reflects
the disorder you indicated.
4. What is the name of Dr. Marvins book? In what way does Bob apply the
method discussed in the book?
5. What method does Dr. Marvin use when his daughter does not want to
talk to him?
6. Who is Dr. Marvin's son named after and what is that person famous
for?

What About Bob?

Comedy, 1991
Review written February, 2001
Having driven his psychiatrist to the verge of a nervous breakdown, Bob
Wiley (Bill Murray) is hastily referred to another psychiatrist, Dr. Leo

Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss). Unfortunately for Bob, however, Dr. Marvin is

about to leave for a month long family vacation and is rather preoccupied
by the release of his new book; entitled "Baby Steps." Suffering from
acute anxiety, Bob is reluctant to be separated from his promising new
therapist and proceeds to follow Dr. Marvin on vacation.
At times, this film almost seems to patronize anxiety disorders; making
light of their severity and oversimplifying recovery. However, the film also
patronizes the psychiatric profession as well. Any therapist or patient who
has ever had frustrations with therapy can get some sadistic amusement
from this movie, so it's rather well balanced in this respect. Furthermore,
I've heard many positive comments from the anxiety community about
this film. Overall, "What About Bob?" is an enjoyable comedy and, as a
comedy, the film should not be taken too seriously.
Bob is somewhat agoraphobic and claustrophobic, with a few other
common phobias as well. Mostly, however, he seems to suffer health
phobias; i.e. hypochondria. During his initial, brief consultation with Dr.
Marvin, Bob describes a long array of physical symptoms. Presumably,
Bob's previous doctor ruled out any medical causes for his condition, so
Dr. Marvin attempts to explore Bob's psyche.
"So the real question is, what is the crisis Bob? What is it that you
are truly afraid of?"
Bob is more than happy to explore such concepts in detail, but the timing
could not be worse for Dr. Marvin. Desperately trying to avoid a full blown
psychotherapy session, Dr. Marvin quickly introduces Bob to the concept
of "Baby Steps" and sends him off with a copy of the book.
The "Baby Steps" concept presumes that anxiety disorders are the result
of being overwhelmed by life's stressors. By breaking down the
complexity of life into much smaller problems (i.e. baby steps) life can
seem less stressful and easier to cope with. In some ways, Baby Steps is
a simplified characterization of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Baby
Steps can also been seen as a parody of the many self-help books that
have flooded the anxiety community (for better or worse).
Bob understandably feels that the book and a temporary referral are
inadequate for his needs. In the film, this sets the stage for many
amusing scenes. However, this also hints at a real life problem that is far
less amusing. Anxiety patients have often had difficulty with access to
good clinical treatment. Appropriate therapists have not always been
easy to find, and can often be prohibitively expensive. Worse still, acutely
agoraphobic persons may not be able to leave their own homes, and
therapists have rarely made housecalls. Though Bob's fictional antics may
just seem outrageously comic to most people, many anxiety people may
find themselves amused more by empathy than anything else.
As the film continues, the tables are slowly turned. Bob's misadventure is
progressively therapeutic for himself, but also leads to Dr. Marvin's own
nervous breakdown. Consequently, Dr. Marvin attempts to have Bob
institutionalized and, when this fails, he later attempts to actually kill
Bob. However, Bob trusts his therapist so completely that he happily
views this murder attempt as a symbolic role playing exercise called
"Death Therapy." Here, the real life parallel regards trust in the

therapeutic relationship. Though most therapists are trustworthy, some

are not. Therapists have personal, professional and financial pressures
like anyone else, which can sometimes lead to excessive or inappropriate
therapy. Intentional or not, such therapy can harm patients on both a
psychological and financial level. Likewise, patients can excessively bond
with their therapists; just as Bob confuses his therapeutic relationship
with friendship. Such bonding can also motivate patients to pursue
excessive or inappropriate therapy when other approaches should be
considered.
Medications are also mentioned in the film, and Bob seems well stocked
and knowledgeable in this respect. True to the time, these medications
are basically viewed simply as sedatives or hypnotics; mostly just
passifying symptoms, but not treating an actual condition. In the early
1990s, the medical aspects of anxiety disorders were still very obscure.
The traditional view of anxiety disorders being purely psychological was
still the dominant perspective. Furthermore, Bob's anxiety attacks are not
spontaneous, but rather phobic responses or the result of neurotic
thinking. It is psychotherapy that ultimately 'cures' Bob, not medications.
Though such impressions can be very misleading, they do reflect the
beliefs of the time.

Questions for What About Bob?, Analyze This, The Prince of Tides,
Good Will Hunting, and Antwone Fisher

Give examples of specific ethical violations by the treating mental

health professional. Use the terms from the lecture notes.
Identify the Wedding & Niemiec theme which is consistent with the
treating professional. Give examples to support your conclusion.

What About Bob

Genre: Comedy Year: 1991 Rating: PG-13

Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Bill Murray, Julie Hagerty
Topics: Psychopathology, Personality Disorders, Treatment, Marital/Family
Dynamics
Cute movie with Richard Dreyfuss as the competent (or burned out?) psychotherapist
and Bill Murray as the patient (who seems to have more insight...). Note the
difference in perception of Bob between the therapist and his family. Has its flaws,
but is a fun film.
What About Bob?
Each of the following is a short answer based on the movie What About Bob?
Please provide the most complete, most correct answer for each question. Support
your answers with textbook and class material.

Synopsis: Doctor Marvin, an egotistical psychiatrist in New York City, is looking

forward to his forthcoming appearance on a "Good Morning America" telecast during
which he plans to brag about Baby Steps, his new book about emotional disorder
theories in which he details his philosophy of treating mental patients and their
phobias. Meanwhile, Bob Wiley is a recluse who is so afraid to leave his own
apartment that he has to talk himself out the door. When Bob is pawned off on Dr.
Marvin by a psychiatrist colleague, Bob becomes attached to Dr. Marvin. Dr. Marvin
finds Bob extremely annoying. When Dr. Marvin accompanies his wife Fay, his
daughter Anna, and his son Siggy to a peaceful New Hampshire lakeside cottage for a
month-long vacation, Dr. Marvin thinks he's been freed from Bob. Dr. Marvin expects
to mesmerize his family with his prowess as a brilliant husband and remarkable father
who knows all there is to know about instructing his wife and raising his kids.
1. What kind of positive self-talk was Bob using at the beginning of the movie
2. List some of the disorders (minimum of 3) that Bob displayed in the movie
and explain what symptoms indicate each disorder.
3. What would be the prognosis of those who suffer from the above mentioned
disorders (i.e. does the person fully recover, do they or will they always have
struggles with their disorder, etc.)
4. Bob divided everyone in the world into two groups. What were the two groups
5. What was Dr. Marvins first name
6. Who is Dr. Marvins son named after and what is that person famous for
7. What was Dr. Marvin trying to teach his son to do
8. What explanation did Dr. Marvins son give for why he wore black
9. What is wrong with the poem that Bob recited at the mental hospital about a
schizophrenic
10. What medication did Bob recommend for Dr. Marvin after Dr. Marvins

breakdown
11. Who is Lily

12. What relationship did Bob have to Dr. Marvin at the end of the movie
13. What made-up game were Bob and Dr. Marvins son playing
14. Why did Bob pretend to have certain psychological disorders
15. Where did Bob and Dr. Marvin go on their first ride together

16. Indicate the name of Dr. Marvins book and explain the therapy it addresses in
the title
17. List and describe 2 other forms of therapy used in trying to help Bob
18. Do you think Bob could realistically function with the portrayed level of
anxiety in society? Explain
19. What errors or liberties did the filmmaker take with their depiction of mental
illness
20. What happened to Bob after the story ended

What About Bob: When clients rather than therapists violate therapeutic
boundaries.
In this comedy a client follows his rather neurotic analyst to the analyst's
family's vacation.
Most discussions about boundaries focus on the role of therapists in boundary
crossings and boundary violations. However, in reality, as in this movie,
clients are often the ones that violate therapeutic boundaries when they delay
leaving the office at the end of the session, do not pay their bills on time or
avoid paying them altogether, dress in sexually suggestive ways, use foul or
vulgar language or threaten and even stalk their therapists.

It is important for therapists to recognize the clinical and ethical meaning of

such clients' boundary crossings or violations and respond appropriately.

The exasperated psychiatrist in this comedy tries to manufacture an unethical,

involuntary hospitalization in order to get the client off his tail. We must watch
how we respond to clients violating our space and/or privacy.

We use this movie to teach therapists how to deal with situations when clients,
rather than therapists, violate therapeutic boundaries.

Consultation with experts is highly advisable in complex and potentially

violent or volatile situations.