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Real life mafia godfathers seeking help on the psychiatrist's couch
Ananova ^
| February 18, 2003
| Ananova
Posted on 02/18/2003 7:22:30 AM PST by MadIvan
More and more real life mafia godfathers are seeking help on the psychiatrist's couch, according to new research.
Medical experts at the University of Palermo in Sicily say they are following the lead of James Gandolfini in the Sopranos and Robert de Niro in Analyse This.
Psychiatrist Girolamo Lo Verso says the mafioso are grappling with mental problems caused by the stress of organised crime.
''They come to discuss food disorders, anxiety, depression and sexual problems they are having," he said.
"We know of one case where a Godfather from Trapani in Sicily visited a psychiatrist because he could not cope with his son's homosexuality.
''The father had hopes of passing the family business to him but he rebelled and came out of the closet. It made his father go and talk about his own personal pain and the uproar from others in the clan.
''One interesting aspect we found from our research is that these men of honour as they like to call themselves have no feelings of guilt no matter how many people they may have killed.
''To them it is all part of a game and they are simply following the rules of that game to justify their actions and convince themselves.''
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: billycrystal; doctor; drmelfi; mafia; psychiatrist
It becomes a little dicey when real life starts resembling television and the movies.
Regards, Ivan
1
posted on
02/18/2003 7:22:31 AM PST
by
MadIvan
To: kayak; LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR; keats5; Don'tMessWithTexas; Dutchy; Focault's Pendulum; Clive; ...
Bump!
2
posted on
02/18/2003 7:22:46 AM PST
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
You know, they could just go to Confession. It's free and absolutely confidential.
3
posted on
02/18/2003 7:26:38 AM PST
by
Desdemona
To: Desdemona
Except the priests would tell them that they were wrong and they shouldn't kill people, unlike psychiatrists.
Also, priests can't prescribe Prozac.
Regards, Ivan
4
posted on
02/18/2003 7:27:42 AM PST
by
MadIvan
To: Desdemona
Wasn't that a movie with Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal?
To: MadIvan
''One interesting aspect we found from our research is that these men of honour as they like to call themselves have no feelings of guilt no matter how many people they may have killed. ''To them it is all part of a game and they are simply following the rules of that game to justify their actions and convince themselves.'' No different that most socialists.
6
posted on
02/18/2003 7:30:28 AM PST
by
monocle
To: monocle
Close the italics</i>
7
posted on
02/18/2003 7:31:43 AM PST
by
monocle
To: MadIvan
Ivan, this is the Mafia. Since when do they need a perscription for drugs?
8
posted on
02/18/2003 7:34:01 AM PST
by
Desdemona
To: Desdemona
The Mafia tends to deal in things a bit stronger than Prozac. Difficult to hold up the gun to whack some fellow who cheated you out of a business deal when you're on that stuff.
Regards, Ivan
9
posted on
02/18/2003 7:36:47 AM PST
by
MadIvan
To: MadIvan
Yeah, but why would they need a perscription? If they can get the rough stuff, they can get their hands on Prozac.
To: MadIvan
Just when I was out, they pulled me back in.
11
posted on
02/18/2003 8:08:29 AM PST
by
ricpic
To: ricpic
To: Tulsa Brian
Yep and now a new one is out "Analyze That."
To: MadIvan; aculeus; general_re; BlueLancer; hellinahandcart
Right, Italian men seeing shrinks about "food disorders." Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh!
14
posted on
02/18/2003 8:46:38 AM PST
by
dighton
To: Desdemona
Half the priests in Sicily work for the mob. Not safe. And remember they aren't having a problem with the blood on their hands, their problem is fagala sons and more mundane stuff, nothing to confess.
15
posted on
02/18/2003 8:50:27 AM PST
by
discostu
(This tag intentionally left blank)
To: dighton; aculeus; MadIvan; BlueLancer; hellinahandcart
After observing the men in my wife's family, my worthless snap judgement is that the major issue with Italian men is how to escape Mama's apron strings...
16
posted on
02/18/2003 9:57:53 AM PST
by
general_re
(ACTUALLY, adv.: Perhaps; possibly.)
To: MadIvan; dighton; general_re; BlueLancer; hellinahandcart
It becomes a little dicey when real life starts resembling television and the movies. Read this, courtesy of The Smoking Gun, "From Sing Sing to Bada Bing":
There's a good reason Tony Sirico is so convincing as the menacing Paulie Walnuts on "The Sopranos." Because before becoming an actor, Sirico was a mob-connected thug who dealt speed, packed a loaded Beretta, and was once actually declared a "danger to society" by a New York judge.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/sirico/sirico.shtml
17
posted on
02/18/2003 10:08:52 AM PST
by
aculeus
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