People wonder why Steven was accepted by Dr. Now into the program even though the doctor had some idea of his behavior. The fact is until he could assess the issues in person he probably felt obligated as a healer to try and help. The doctor did mention, before the family arrived, that he had an inkling that this would be difficult, but he still had the compassion to try. And when it became clear that it wouldn't, he advised another form of treatment.
As to that family, well, dysfunctional as a term does not quite cover them. It was the most difficult show I've ever watched (including the last episode of Twin Peaks, which was fictional), as excuse after excuse was made by each one of them as to why they did what they did. Dad's guilt, Justin's anger, Steven's... everything were so infuriating!
Steven is, no doubt, a narcissist and a sociopath. No, I'm not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but the pathology is quite evident in his behavior. I wonder if he hadn't experienced the childhood he'd had if he might still have had mental issues. Certainly what happened to him and his brother contributed, though.
He is what I term a psychic vampire. He feeds on other peoples energies, specifically the negative ones, using the established psycho-dramas of Abuser, Antagonizer and Poor-Me. He might even throw in an occasional Aloof, but I doubt if he'd be able to sustain that for any length of time.
This whole shmegegie (technical term, heh) is about attention and feeding, and, I confess, I was sucked into it (pun, sorry), experiencing some intense negativity towards him as I watched. But then I realized, that was the point. He is able to feed on all of this attention, even though he's never met any of us, because it's all directed at him.
I'm not sure if I'm going to continue watching his story. It is actually painful seeing the waste of a life and knowing that he does not want to change. I can't even begin to touch on the rest of the family.
I started watching this show because I've gotten a lot of very inspiring lessons from both the successes and failures of these people. Stevens story is also teaching me something - that some people do not deserve my attention.
I predict that by the end of the second part he will not have changed, and will be whining about how unfair everyone is to him. (Puir bebe! Heh!) That dad and brother will be in the exact same place as they are now, and that many people will remain outraged and wishing catastrophic ill to the lot.
I do not wish him/them ill, I just wish him/them away from me. And so it shall be.
