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1->''"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight I want to talk to you about the very serious subject of schizophrenia. -- '''No, he doesn't!''' -- SHUT UP, LET HIM TALK!"''
2-->-- '''Creator/RobinWilliams'''
3
4In RealLife, mental illness of any kind is never [[DudeNotFunny a laughing matter]]. In media, however, it can be [[PlayedForLaughs played with for humor]]. When a character [[SplitPersonality swings wildly back and forth between different versions of himself]], it's almost always used this way.
5
6It's also far too often referred to as "schizophrenia"; while the word literally means "split mind", [[ScienceMarchesOn Psychology Marches On]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia schizophrenia]] is a complicated condition affecting perception of reality[[note]]often featuring hallucinations (usually auditory, aka hearing voices) and delusions (often but not always paranoid). There are other aspects to it, like disordered thinking, but the losing touch with reality (psychosis) is the most important part.[[/note]], while "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder dissociative identity disorder]]" is the actual condition relating to SplitPersonality.
7
8See also TalkingToThemself, TheSchizophreniaConspiracy (a SelfDemonstratingArticle about the portrayal of the disease), and InsaneEqualsViolent, another widespread myth about psychosis.
9
10----
11!!Examples:
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13[[foldercontrol]]
14
15[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
16* The president of the school newspaper in ''Literature/NakaimoMyLittleSisterIsAmongThem'' suffers from schizophrenia. Why she's in charge of a newspaper and not in a mental hospital is anyone's guess.
17* ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'': Urd is split into her goddess and demon selves. The attempt to reunite them results in a single Urd that switches between their personalities. The change is shown by her [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience markings changing from]] [[RedOniBlueOni blue to red]].
18* In ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'', Kaere/Kaede's split personality as a stereotypical Japanese YamatoNadeshiko and stereotypical jerkass {{Eagleland}}er is played for laughs, as is [[ThePollyanna Kafuka's]] description of previously having two split personalities who differed in respect to a slight food preference - although the latter is also a sign that Kafuka is actually [[CuteAndPsycho cute, psychotic]] and AxCrazy.
19** More broadly, ''the whole class'' is some sort of crazy, and it all is played for laughs.
20** Well, everyone except for Nami Hito. She's pretty normal (but [[IJustWantToBeSpecial don't tell her that]]).
21* A decidedly dark take in ''Manga/AirGear'' has Agito/Akito, who swings from AxCrazy to "cute kid" depending on which side his eye patch is.
22[[/folder]]
23
24%%[[folder:Comics]]
25%%* Star Man in ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' under the pen of Creator/GeoffJohns.
26%%[[/folder]]
27
28[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
29* Stepper in ''Fanfic/UniverseFalls'' is a [[FusionDance fusion]] of [[{{Keet}} Steven Universe]] and [[TheCynic Dipper Pines]]. Unlike other fusions in the series, Stepper's individual personalities initially refuse to integrate (or at least Dipper's does). This causes Stepper to alternate between Steven's happy-go-lucky persona and Dipper's high strung grouchy persona ''every other sentence.'' At first it's PlayedForLaughs, but as Dipper's frustration with being fused mounts, it's PlayedForDrama instead.
30[[/folder]]
31
32[[folder:Film]]
33* ''Film/MeMyselfAndIrene'' had Creator/JimCarrey's character diagnosed with "Advanced Delusionary Schizophrenia with Involuntary Narcissistic Rage", which was really Multiple Personality Disorder that caused him to flip into his JerkAss alter-ego anytime he got angry.
34* ''Film/LarsAndTheRealGirl'' takes a man who is clearly delusional and incapable of connecting comfortably with other human beings, so he buys a life-size sex doll off the Internet and appears to be convinced that she's alive.
35* ''Film/TheNuttHouse'' has a protagonist with a half-dozen alternate personalities, such as Tough Guy (impervious to pain and will beat you up for looking at him funny), the Clown, the Magician (who can do actual magic) and the Dog (don't... don't ask). They tend to switch with the slightest stimulus, such as someone snapping their fingers.
36* Bob of ''Film/WhatAboutBob'' initially suffers from multiple phobias. This is {{played for laughs}} though, along with the issues of his psychiatrist and the guy's kids. While briefly held in a psychiatric hospital, Bob also makes jokes that the staff find very amusing.
37-->''"Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic... and so am I."''
38* ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'' plays it for laughs (at least the Eddie Murphy version does). In this one it's due to {{Phlebotinum}}.
39* ComicBook/HarleyQuinn in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016'' makes a joke about the voices in her head telling her to kill people, only to say she's kidding and they didn't really say that. Being Harley, though, her even hearing voices [[ObfuscatingInsanity could be a joke]].
40* Jan in ''Film/TheBradyBunchMovie'' hears voices in her head. Her character traits are exaggerated to the point where she is TheChewToy and is a frequent source of comedy.
41[[/folder]]
42
43[[folder:Literature]]
44* ''Literature/FelsicCurrent'''s Thendy Bravura (also known by himself and others as a dozen other names) is the embodiment of FunnySchizophrenia. We are even treated to a chapter written entirely from his point of view, complete with internal conversations and bickering between his various personalities. Although he tends to drive other characters up the wall, [[AstroTurf his antics are generally of great comedic appeal to the reader]].
45* The [[CharacterTitle eponymous]] protagonist in Geoph Essex's ''Jackrabbit Messiah'' has ''[[ShownTheirWork actual]]'' schizophrenia (not the "split personality" version), and has frequently humorous conversations with his auditory hallucinations. Sadly, though, his struggles with mental illness are [[MoodWhiplash not always so funny]].
46* Completely averted in ''Sophie's Choice'', where it's revealed near the end that [[spoiler:Nathan]] has schizophrenia, which explains his delusional jealousy and erratic behaviour throughout the novel. There is no mention of having a split personality.
47* Molly Michon, in Christopher Moore's ''Literature/TheLustLizardOfMelancholyCove'' and ''Literature/TheStupidestAngel'' is a schizophrenic ex-B movie actress who hears a voice she calls the Narrator, and when she's off he meds occasionally lapses into believing she's the character she once played.
48* Implied with Skitzo from ''Literature/GuardianCatsAndTheLostBooksOfAlexandria'', if his name is anything to go by. He's a paranoid cat who no one takes seriously.
49[[/folder]]
50
51[[folder:Live Action TV]]
52* One episode of ''Series/{{Becker}}'' has a very realistic schizophrenic man named Lloyd. It even includes unexciting things like flat affect and mundane examples of magical thinking. It's still played for laughs, though.
53* ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'':
54** Averted as Sierra/Priya's symptoms are much more realistic. Even though [[spoiler:she doesn't ''really'' have schizophrenia at all--her StalkerWithACrush is poisoning her with psychotic medication]].
55** Played straight with Alpha. He doesn't really have schizophrenia, but two of his personalities do, and it is indeed played for black comedy.
56* ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' [[AvertedTrope averts]] this, taking the condition seriously whenever it's brought up.
57** Joan Watson's biological father suffered from schizophrenia which led to he and her mother breaking up. He's never seen in person during the series but Joan reveals that he ended up living in a homeless shelter and had trouble recognising her when she tried to visit him.
58** In "Tremors", Silas Cole walks into the precinct claiming to be a "knight" who killed the "Queen". Sherlock Holmes immediately works out that Cole is schizophrenic and in the middle of an episode and gently talks him into surrendering his gun.
59* This is supposed to be the case with ''Series/{{iCarly}}'' where the four lead characters go to a mental hospital and witness various patients' behavior. One notable example might be Sheldon Cooper laughing and screaming a TV screen with static.
60[[/folder]]
61
62[[folder:Music]]
63* There's a nameless "traditional" summer camp song mocking a huge number of occupations that can include the verse:
64--> ''...A schizophrenic I would be!''\
65''No I wouldn't!''\
66''Yes, I would!''\
67''I'm not listening!''\
68''AAAAAAAAAH!''
69* [[http://youtu.be/x5BZ14qlgkc "Physical Neurose"]] by Music/BuckTick. ''Slightly'' more TruthInTelevision, in that the song's lyrics are literally WordSaladHumor fused with WordSaladHorror - much like the thoughts/speech of an ''actual'' schizophrenic.
70* Similarly, Amebix averts the trope in the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xXhBs1Ho18 "Largactyl"]], which describes the numbing effects of the titular drug[[note]]The name is a corruption of "Largact'''i'''l"; a trade name for what's more famously known as Thorazine.[[/note]] on their ex-drummer, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
71* "The Chosen" by Music/{{Voltaire}} has "Roses are red, violets are blue. I'm schizophrenic, and I am too!"
72* There's a song on Styx's ''Kilroy Was Here'' called "Double Life" with the lyrics "Nowhere to hide though we both might try, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I..."
73* Music/EmilieAutumn has a bonus track on the rerelease on ''Opheliac'' in which, among other things, she lists the mental illnesses she ''doesn't have'', obviously taking the Michael, including HollywoodTourettes, [[UsefulNotes/ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder OCD (OCD, OCD, OCD)]], amnesia, and schizophrenia: she ''enjoys'' the latter, and so does she.
74* "Lucky 4 You (Tonight I'm Just Me)" by [=SHeDAISY=] plays with multiple personality disorder. It goes from "you always said that I have multiple personalities" to "where'd you dig up the audacity / To ask me how we've all been doing since you broke our heart" in the first verse. It has a chorus of:
75-->Number five just cries a river a minute\
76Seven wants to tie you up and drown you in it, yeah\
77Fourteen just wants to say so long, bygones\
78Thirty-two wants to do things to you that'll make you blush\
79Ten will key the El Camino that you love so much\
80And there ain't nobody wants to mess with twenty-three\
81Oh, lucky for you, tonight I'm just me
82** And then just to [[CrossesTheLineTwice cross the line twice]], "It's not just up to me / I don't know, girls, what do you think?" precedes a repetition of the chorus with the group's vocals overdubbed several times.
83* Flanders & Swann's "The Elephant" has these lines: "I suffer from schizophrenia/It comes on me in spells/Sometimes I'm King of Armenia/And others I'm Orson Welles!"
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Stand Up Comedy]]
87* The aforementioned Creator/RobinWilliams quote.
88* One of Zach Galifinakis' bits include his mentioning that his sister was recently diagnosed as schizophrenic, [[DudeNotFunny which isn't funny]]. However, she once called him... [[ReadingsBlewUpTheScale and his caller ID blew up]].
89* Richard Jeni proposes the idea of turning first dates into a game of cards, where both parties write down all of their issues on blank cards and take turns playing them.
90-->'''Man:''' ''[puts down card]'' I'm neurotic. I need to see other people.\
91'''Woman:''' ''[puts down card]'' I'm schizophrenic. ''I '''AM''' OTHER PEOPLE!''
92[[/folder]]
93
94[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
95* This was one of the laments surrounding the [[PowerBornOfMadness Malkavians]] in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. In theory, you have an entire clan of vampires whose weakness is that they pick up some form of madness, from schizophrenia to megalomania to fugue, upon Embrace (that is, if they weren't already insane before), which could be scary seeing as you have an immortal being with supernatural powers, [[MadOracle unnatural insight]], and little control over their own faculties. In reality, you have a bunch of idiots playing Malkavians who either act like children or use their insanity to commit wacky pranks (Malkavians who would do something like run up to someone on the street and slap them with a fish, and call it a "prank"). The game itself suggested this route in the first edition, then, when they decided that TrueArtIsAngsty, tried to turn it into the more "serious" mental problem area. Most players ignored this, and Malkavians have been a bright spot in the Old World of Darkness ever since.
96* Averted in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', where various mental illnesses can affect your characters and lead to changes in their personalities; schizophrenia is one of them, and so is multiple personality disorder, but they aren't depicted as the same thing. The in-game descriptions of all these disorders are accurate and it's clear the writers [[ShownTheirWork did their research]] before including them.
97* ''TabletopGame/EveryoneIsJohn'' is "a competitive roleplaying game for three or more horrible people" where each player plays a voice in the titular schizophrenic's head. Each player chooses three compulsions of increasing difficulty and competes to make John do them while battling for control of John with the other voices. HilarityEnsues.
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99
100[[folder:Theater]]
101* Launcelot Gobbo's [[GoodAngelBadAngel "conscience/fiend"]] monologue in ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'' is sometimes played as this.
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Video Games]]
105* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', the Nightkin, a sub-type of super mutant, have developed Schizophrenia due to constant exposure to Stealth Boy technology. For the most part, the trope is averted: their struggle with a mental disorder is portrayed very tragically, especially for two that act as the Courier's companions: Lily[[labelnote:*]]Acts like a kindly grandmother that thinks others are her grandchildren; when wounded badly, she becomes violently psychotic, guided by a voice she calls "Leo"[[/labelnote]] (base game) and [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Dog]]/[[JerkassWoobie God]][[labelnote:*]]Two differing personalities in the same body, Dog wants to satisfy his HorrorHunger, God [[ControlFreak wants Dog to stop following Father Elijah]][[/labelnote]] (''Dead Money'' add-on). Only twice in the entire game is the trope played straight: [[BlackHumor Tabitha]], a cult leader and [[LargeHamRadio Radio DJ]], and the Brooks Tumbleweed Ranch "[[HonestJohnsDealership Wind Brahmin Salesman.]]"
106* Playing as an insane character (i.e. one with the trait "Lunatic") in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings''. In between chasing imaginary gophers, trying to seduce rose bushes, [[CaligulasHorse naming your horse to the post of chancellor]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and occasionally banning ethnic and religious discrimination in their realm]], insanity is mostly PlayedForLaughs. It can also lead to {{Gambit Pileup}}s that lead to massive, bloody civil wars as people rebel against and/or try to take advantage of their leader's sheer lunacy, [[BlackComedy which can also be quite funny]] when you're as hardened as ''Crusader Kings'' players [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential tend to be]].
107* Kreig from the "Psycho Pack" DLC for ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'' is a [[LaughingMad cackling]], [[TalkativeLoon non-sequitur-spewing]], [[MadBomber bomb-chucking]] [[AxCrazy axe murderer]] whose [[SplitPersonality vestigial good side]] keeps him pointed at the bad guys. While he isn't completely divorced from reality, he's still pretty out there.
108* Cross into BlackComedy, but [[spoiler: Junko Enoshima]] from ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' (especially in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'') is ridiculously funny... once you get over the fact that [[spoiler:she committed an insane amount of atrocities.]]
109* The Pyro from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' is shown to suffer from this, believing that the battlefield is a SugarBowl made out of candy and rainbows, where they spread happiness and cheer to cherub-like representations of the enemy team, [[ObliviouslyEvil instead of murdering them with their flamethrower and axe like they are actually doing]].
110* In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'', a Malkavian PC is very much this: they have severely trippy dialogue and constant delusions (the newscaster on TV will sometimes speak to them, they can have an argument with a stop sign, and sometimes see other things a different PC wouldn't) but is able to function normally otherwise; mortals assume they're just weird or on drugs if they even bother to notice, while most vampires just go "crap, it's some nutjob Malk" and roll with it. Averted, however, with [[spoiler:the Voermann sisters]] whose disorder is very traumatic and problematic, and the Primogen Doctor Grout, an actual psychologist from the old pre-Freud era, who is lucid but massively paranoid and delusional.
111[[/folder]]
112
113[[folder:Webcomics]]
114* Part-fey characters in ''Webcomic/{{Footloose}}'' are prone to "Multiple Generic-induced Sanity Dysfunction", a form of FunnySchizophrenia that quickly become unfunny if it triggers psychotic episodes.
115* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Sollux's Funny Bipolar Syndrome is exaggerated in his [[GenerationXerox alternate universe ancestor]], Mituna, into FunnySchizophrenia resulting from a psychic MindRape. He flips wildly between [[{{Angrish}} incomprehensible rage]] and [[ExtremeDoormat excessive contrition]], although he's easily one of the most selfless and sympathetic characters in his CastHerd and bullied by his friends because of his illness, so the laughs are [[DarkComedy dark and uneasy]].
116* ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'': The MadGod Gog-Agog is a HiveMind with split personality, which is (usually) PlayedForLaughs in a very BlackComedy way. Imagine hundreds of almost identical-looking clowns all called "Gog-Agog" who do an extremely poor job at trying to fit in and are used as slapstick fodder and you're halfway there. At one point during ''King of Swords'' [[https://killsixbilliondemons.com/comic/king-of-swords-9-129/ two of her bodies can be seen fighting each other]], while a third one looks on worriedly, a fourth body is observing the other three with a "I'm SurroundedByIdiots" look on her face, and a fifth one tries to pay attention to the plot with a worried look on her face.
117[[/folder]]
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119[[folder:Web Original]]
120* ''WebAnimation/HarryPotty'' plays up Harry hearing the Basilisk to look like this in its [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets Chamber of Secrets]] spoof.
121** And now the Basilisk is dead and the voice is still there...
122* Vegeta from ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'', if [[spoiler:Ghost Nappa]] really is just in his head.
123* Ichigo himself from ''WebVideo/OmniBleachAbridged''. It's notable that his hallucinations are always done in either real-life pictures or 3-D animation.
124* ''LetsPlay/PewDiePie'' has tons of characters in many games that he interacts with as he's playing. His most famous ones are his characters from ''VideoGame/AmnesiaTheDarkDescent'', including [[CompanionCube Stephano]][[note]]a golden statuette[[/note]], [[AbhorrentAdmirer Jennifer]][[note]]a rock[[/note]], and [[ExtremeOmnisexual Piggeh]][[note]]a pig carcass[[/note]].
125* In ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' season 13, Doc, after spending months trapped in a parallel universe and realizing that no one noticed he was gone, developed a split personality that was identical to O'Malley, the evil AI that possessed him during the Blood Gulch Chronicles.
126[[/folder]]
127
128[[folder:Western Animation]]
129* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': Wreck-Gar swings between moods depending on the last suggestion he heard. Then of course, there's Blitzwing and his multiple personalities which change accordingly to the mood of his current personality (or just when it's funny):
130-->'''[Angry Blitzwing]''': "The name is Blitzwing! Remember it! Because it's the last thing you'll hear before I--"\
131'''[Random Blitzwing]''': "...express my feelings in song! The itsy-bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout..."
132* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' according to Carl, he once hired a private eye to figure out who's been cobbling his shoes for him at night. Turns out he discovered that he has severe schizophrenia. He says this as if it's not a big deal.
133* Foop in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' is this, often getting into arguments with himself.
134* In the Polish animated show ''WesternAnimation/HipHipAndHurra'', Kinga the Kangaroo [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} owns a flower named Adelka, who only she can hear]]. Kinga not only treats her like any other person, but she appears to be her best friend.
135[[/folder]]
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137[[folder:Other]]
138* There's a parody of the famous "Roses are red, violets are blue" poem that goes "Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic, and so am I."
139* A common saying found on [[FunnyTShirt FunnyT-Shirts]] is "I used to be schizophrenic, [[FalseReassurance but we're okay now]]."
140* Strangely, this is ''based on where you live!'' Sufferers of Schizophrenia in Africa or particularly rural areas are reported to hear voices that are more playful and benevolent compared to their counterpart sufferers in more developed nations.
141[[/folder]]

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