Cultural+Influences+on+OCD

**__Celebrity Culture and the Social Influence of Speaking out on OCD: Howie Mandel and the 'Character of Monk' as case examples__**

Until 1998, there was a small amount of interest in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder until a 1980s study reported that OCD was more common (approximately 2% total population) than previously recognized (Wahl, 2000). In 1998, the National Mental Health Association found that the population had a poor understanding of what OCD was, and actively sought to establish an education-oriented awareness campaign (Wahl, 2000).

Celebrity culture and films from Hollywood can glamorize and idealize obsessions as passionate or romantic love. Celebrity gossip offer on demand the most racy information from the lives of the stars. Tabloids that advocate celebrity worship serve to promote the rituals that accompany obsessive thoughts serve as fodder for hungry fans. The media plays a role in how society understands what OCD, and can popularize the condition through stars that suffer with the condition.

Numerous celebrities, including David Beckham, Leonardo DeCaprio, Billy Bob Thorton, Megan Fox, Howie Mandel have been quite outspoken about their condition.Within these examples, common problem areas include sidewalks, symmetry, repetition and germs (ABC News, May 2011).