Lindsay Lohan's Cycle: Bad Behavior, Apology, Repeat

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans Posted Aug 31st 2010 07:55PM

Lindsay Lohan is on a path of righteousness. Again. Or so she says. In the latest issue of Vanity Fair, the troubled pop princess repents with mea culpas, denials and cries of "It's not my fault, it's Dad's" about her erratic behavior, DUI arrests, reported alcohol and drug addictions and rehab/jail stints. And she whines a lot.

"I want my career back," LiLo tells VF. "I want the respect that I had when I was doing great movies. And if that takes not going out to a club at night, then so be it. It's not fun anyway."

Hmm. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? That's because we've heard it all before, usually just ahead of another of the starlet's perpetual falls from grace. That was the case in 2008 when she told VF, "I'm a different person now." We all know what happened after that whopper.

What Lohan says is true -- she is a "damn good actress," especially when it comes to the cycle of downward spiral followed by redemption followed by downward spiral.

Bad behavior, apology, then repeat.

Let's travel back in time to the summer of 2007. Fresh out of rehab, Lohan was arrested again that July on DUI and cocaine possession charges after a bizarre car chase. A month later, Lohan issued a long and seemingly heartfelt apology to TMZ after pleading guilty to seven misdemeanors.

"It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs," the star wrote. "Recently, I relapsed and did things for which I am ashamed. I broke the law, and today I took responsibility by pleading guilty to the charges in my case. No matter what I said when I was under the influence on the day I was arrested, I am not blaming anyone else for my conduct other than myself."

LiLo went on to vow to get "healthy" and "gain control of my life and career" and said she sought medical help to get her back on track.

That fall, the actress spent 84 minutes in jail before her release. But that wasn't the end of it.

Lindsay Lohan

Within months, she'd had her probation extended because she repeatedly failed to show up for her required substance abuse classes. And her cycle of going to clubs, getting drunk and driving under the influence continued.

In the September VF, which is out this Thursday, Lohan admits she's been a bit of a train wreck at times. But she denies abusing prescription drugs, denies being an alcoholic, blames her struggles on her father Michael and brushes off her entire collection of crazy antics as ordinary old growing pains.

"I know that in my past I was young and irresponsible -- but that's what growing up is," she says. 'You learn from your mistakes."

Do you, Lindsay? Really?

University of Pennsylvania psychiatrist Christos Ballas tells PopEater that in fact, Lohan doesn't learn from her mistakes at all. Instead, she keeps making the same ones over and over again in a classic narcissist behavior pattern called repetition compulsion.

"You'll repeat certain behaviors even if they'll hurt you -- drinking or drugs or going out with the same type of person," Ballas explains. "Even if these things get you into trouble ... you're trying to make it right. You actually think it's going to work eventually. Your psyche is trying to work through its issue using the only pattern it knows."

Lohan is kidding herself into thinking that what she perceives as little successes -- like getting out of jail or rehab -- mean she's making progress, he says.

"You get mini-thrills rather than one big thrill," says Ballas. "You think, hey, I'm doing okay. ... You're so trapped in your own narcissism that you see getting out of jail as a success. Your perception is very skewed."

But he thinks LiLo deserves a little break, since she's a celebrity with an even bigger narcissist for a father.

"She is under such scrutiny that even if she makes a left turn the wrong way, people are going to say she's drunk," says Ballas. "She's been typecast as the drunken Hollywood starlet. The prejudice is such that now she'll never be able to shake it."

Tags: lindsay lohan

Comments

(165)

Tuesday 31 August

By Steph

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I'm willing to give Lindsay the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes when one is prescribed the wrong medications for certain issues, one's behavior can go wildly out of control. I had a friend who was on Lithium for manic depression, and she kept bouncing in and out of mental hospitals for years until they figured out that she didn't need the medication after all.

By Dan mack

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A good end, isn't that what he hope for Lindsay. I'm happy for your friend. A lost life is a horrible tragedy. Nothing to make jokes about, nothing to hate, a tragedy and a pity that doesn't match the quiet grandeur of what life ought to be.

By glenn

New person..... Sorry...not buying it ......NO WAY NO HOW

By Vincent

Different person no, different attitude maybe. But after someone has spent some time in the poky they all say the same thing. She and all these other high profile citizens think that we have lots of money we are different then anybody else we can get away with anything. That is their attitude and thats how they will always think. It don't make a hill of beans to them if they break the law, they have the money to bail out. Don't even mention the sentences they receive please. Another words what sentences? If they get a sentence to serve. Don't believe everything you read

By juls

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BLAH BLAH BLAH, another entitled piece of crap.

By vgkflc

All I could read was the headline and I could not stop LAUGHING !!! This little dingbat did not do her time and now she wants us to believe she is all better. Addictions do not just go away. We will see and hear much more of her in the same old same soon enough. Yeah her camp will hide it for a while but like I was saying addictions dont just go away.

By DR. JERRY

I feel kind of sad for this girl. She grew up in North Merrick, Long Island not far from my office. In a local pizza joint where she hung out they remember her as a teenager. There's still an autographed picture of her on the wall. My secretary's son was best friends with her brother. Not that long ago she was just a normal local kid. Then came success in films and since then her life has been a train wreck. Somewhere in Lindsey's memory she must recall those innocent days of her youth and wish she could turn back the pages of her life to happier times.

By Shamwow

We're seeing a repeat of the Hollywood Starlet Syndrome...ala Norma Jean and Anna Nicole Smith. Her Dad needs to help her before she ends up the same way. Her Mother and The Tabloids don't care....its a slow motion train wreck.

By Glo

I CAN TELL SHE IS REALLY SORRY. JUST LOOK AT THE PHOTO OF HER WHEN SHE GOT SENTENCED. FU ON HER NAILS!! EVERY TIME PEOPLE GO TO SEE HER FILMS...IF ANYONE IS DUMB ENOUGH TO HIRE HER YOU ARE MAKING IT OKAY FOR HER TO BE THE SPOILED ROTTEN WITCH SHE IS. I THINK I SPELLED WITCH WRONG BUT OH WELL.

By bsbmoosemama

she is just glorified trailer trash... but, than again look at the "example" shes got... why exactly though is this in the news? who cares about some trailer trash when there are men and women fighting and dieing for this great country!

By Gmanut

i give her 3 weeks ... )

By Allie

Why is anyone still interested? What did she ever do to deserve this fame? A teeny-boper flick or two? Please...she should be at 14 minutes and 59 seconds. Over...out....good-bye

By kim

her upper lip always looks deformed to me. has she had botox injections ?

By C41963

Same story - different day. Blah, blah, blah. She just got out lol and she's changed?? Ummm ok I was born yesterday lol. Sad thing is she thinks we are buying this crap. Isn't the first step to recovery saying they have a problem? I never heard her say that. She blames others! Oh yeah and isn't another step telling people they hurt "sorry and owning up to what they did"? I have not seen any of the above...,but gosh golly darn she's changed right? rotf Good gravy girl get out of Hollywood!! Don't you get it, they don't want you there anymore! Oh and that act you put on in court crying, that's what it was....a big fat act!!! Go live with you Dad. Looser!

By Joyce

We all have choices in this life and her father didn't choose this for her. She did it all by herself.

By White House Net.

YEAH RIGHT!!!! UNTIL SHE ADMITS SHE HAS A PROBLEM AND QUITS BLAMING HER DAD, AND WHOM EVER ELSE, SHE WILL ALWAYS BE WHAT SHE IS. A RICH SPOILED LITTLE BRAT WHO THINKS SHE'S ABOVE THE LAW.

By Paris

Why won't she just go away?

By Phil

What she truly needs is not bad mouthing, but rather caring people who are willing to pray to our Creator, to give her a truly NEW START in life. One in which drugs and alcohol have no part. Is it possible? You bet it is.

By puff

WHO CARE ABOUT LL SHE IS A WASTE OF TIME THREW OUT HER DVD'S SHE IS SUCH A LAIR ANYTHING SHE SAYS IS BS WOULDN'T SEE ANYTHING SHE WAS IN IF SHE PAYED ME ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WAS A B ACTRESS SHE IS NOT EVEN THAT NOW I FEEL LIKE IF SHE MAKES OK IF SHE DOESN'T WHO CARES SHE IS A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME.

Wednesday 01 September

By PUFF

SHE IS NOT WORTH THE TIME OF CARING PEOPLE KINDA LIKE HER HAVING FU ON NAILS A COURT. IF SHE GETS CLEAN OK IF SHE OD'S WHO CARES SHE IS A LOSER AND A WASRE OF TIME AND EFFORT

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