The majority of people probably have warm or sentimental associations with their favorite childhood movies and television shows. The lessons they teach, the lovable characters they create and the catchy tunes they perform are all hallmarks of the best children’s theater.
As is the case with most things, however, as time passes and we become @dults, we get a more nuanced understanding of these works and begin to pick up on nuances we missed as children.
This gives many movie and TV program characters and scenes new significance, and often gives rise to fan-generated theories that are then widely disseminated via social media.
It’s commonplace for movies and TV shows to inspire fan theories today. In fact, fan theories help the production as a whole by drawing in more viewers and providing ideas for how the movie or show could be improved in the future.
One of the many theories floating around online centers on a classic children’s book character: Winnie the Pooh.
The modern teddy bear may trace its roots back to 1926. Winnie-the-Pooh is a fictional bear created by British authors A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard, who also provided the illustrations for the first of many books chronicling the bear’s and his pals’ adventures.
After purchasing the rights to this character in 1961, Walt Disney launched one of its most successful franchises, which has spawned numerous films, television shows, video games and other media. The bear and his buddies, according to the Winnie the Pooh idea were inspired by various forms of mental illness.
Winnie the Pooh Mental Illness
Winnie the Pooh is without a doubt one of the best-loved children’s characters of all time. Many people’s formative years were enriched by his presence and he continues to do so today thanks to film and television adaptations of his and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood cast.
In addition, his relationship with Christopher Robin has resonated with everyone because, let’s face it, who didn’t have a teddy bear or other toy as a playmate when they were a kid? Books, movies and TV shows starring Winnie the Pooh have helped millions of kids learn important lessons.
These are only a few of the possible explanations for the significant reaction to the 2000 publication of an article about this teddy bear and his companions.
Dr. Sarah E. Shea, along with Kevin Gordon, Ann Hawkins, Janet Kawchuk and Donna Smith wrote a study titled “Pathology in the Hundred Acre Wood: A neurodevelopmental perspective on A.A. Milne” (via Yorkshire Post).
The Canadian Medical Association Journal published a study that connects several of Milne’s most well-known characters to various neurological illnesses.
Winnie the Pooh is dissected as the study’s entry point. Researchers conclude that this tiny bear has multiple neurological disorders, the most prominent of which is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder based on his activities (ADHD).
They also think that Pooh may have OCD since he frequently displays symptoms of the disorder, including extreme impulsivity, intellectual functioning on the border, fixations (like his honey addiction) and repeated actions (OCD). His long-term weight gain is likely due to his honey addiction.
Piglet, on the other hand, has GAD which explains his chronic worry and terror as well as the twitch in his ear. The most obvious diagnosis is that Eeyore is depressed, but the article’s authors have been unable to tell whether this is genetic or the result of a traumatic event.
This small creature has clearly always had a pessimistic outlook on life, as it has never displayed any signs of joy or enthusiasm. While the original article does not provide a diagnosis for Tigger, it does note that he is extremely impulsive and frequently makes extremely risky choices without considering the potential outcomes.
Dr. Shea later speculated that, like Winnie the Pooh, this hyperactive tiger may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Is This Theory Real?
While this theory is supported by a number of plausible findings, it is ultimately disproved by the fact that the mental diseases presently linked to Winnie the Pooh and the other characters were hardly being examined as such when Milne conceived the character in 1926.
Milne’s son Christopher Robin and his collection of stuffed animals served as the true inspiration for Winnie the Pooh and the other characters (per Country Living). Shepard, on the other hand was inspired to draw Pooh after seeing one of his son’s stuffed animals.
Hence, even though there are some parallels to mental illness in Winnie Pooh’s cast of characters, it was not the author’s purpose. According to Dr. Shea, the primary author of this paper from the year 2000, the study’s aim was to serve as a reminder that mental illness can affect anyone.
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