Different Psychological Views
in Movies
What are
different Psychology viewing Angles in films.
Take, for example, these winners of the American Academy
Award for Best Actor/Actress: Jack
Nicholson portraying Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in As Good As It Gets;
Geoffrey Rush portraying Schizophrenia in Shine; Dustin Hoffman portraying
Autism in Rain Man; Hillary Swank portraying Gender Identity Disorder in Boys
Don’t Cry; and, Nicole Kidman portraying depression in The Hours. Not all films, however, depict mental illness
with accuracy and sensitivity.
Similarly, the professional practice and ethics of psychologists often
are misrepresented.
How Psychology works
in Films.
While watching the films All
the feelings and emotions of audience will workout only by using the psychology
angles in the movie. Popular films allow us to visit foreign lands, to
experience alien worlds, to witness prehistoric animal behavior, and to take a
flight of imagination. Movies also teach us about historical events,
about sociopolitical issues, and about the plights of mankind, such as a
struggle with mental illness.
Just as most people will never
personally experience space travel, but can take a virtual ride through the
magic of cinema, many will have their only significant exposure to
psychopathology through characters in the movies.
It is a common practice for those teaching courses about
psychopathology, particularly at the undergraduate level, to incorporate films
into their teaching, often assigning a movie critique as part of the course. My website, www.psychtronics.com, is
frequently visited by students searching for movies to fulfill such
assignments, as it lists recommended movies related to psychology. The site was developed initially for my own
students, as I often reference movies in my lectures on psychopathology. Through the years, I have incorporated movies
into my teaching in various ways, approaching the films from different viewing
angles.
Perpetuation
of Stigma – The perpetuation of stigma associated with mental illness
is a common complaint about popular films.
Many horror films utilize the concept of the “insane asylum” and the
“madman.” Dissociative Identity Disorder
is repeatedly misrepresented, such as in an attempt at humor in Me, Myself, and
Irene, or for plot twists, as in Identity.
In the 1960s, Shock Corridor included the concept of mentally ill women
becoming nymphomaniacs and Lilith promoted the theory that schizophrenia can be
transmitted through blood. To address
the concept of stigma, students can be asked to identify the false statements
in the film, as well as to consider the effect the film has on public attitudes
about mental illness. Reading some of
Thomas Szasz’s theories on the “myth of mental illness” would further the
consideration of stigma.
Attitude
Change – Film can be a very powerful tool for attitude change. For example, The Woodsman is an excellent
movie about a man re-entering society after having been in prison for child
sexual abuse. Most viewers find
themselves having a different perspective on pedophilia after watching this
film. Similarly, Boys Don’t Cry
effectively humanizes gender identity disorder.
To utilize this approach in a classroom, students might be asked about
their views of pedophiles before and after viewing The Woodsman, and about
gender identity disorder before and after watching Boys Don’t Cry.
Accuracy
of Portrayal – My students are required to learn the American
Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders-IV-Text Revision’s diagnostic criteria. A film assignment might entail their watching
a film and applying these criteria to the film characters. In some cases, the character’s disorder is
identified, such as in A Beautiful Mind, whereas in other cases the student
must determine the best diagnosis according to the behaviors displayed in the
film. For example, the Australian film
An Angel at My Table depicts inappropriate treatment resulting from a
misdiagnosis of schizophrenia; students might be asked to determine the
appropriate diagnosis. Efforts to depict
mental illness accurately are becoming more common. Often the “bonus features” available on a DVD
include interviews with the film’s director and actors about the making of the
movie. When making the film The Aviator,
for example, Leonardo DiCaprio spent time with a man who had
obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Similarly, significant information was gathered from observing people
with mental retardation in order to prepare for filming I Am Sam.
Compare
and Contrast – Viewing more than one movie depicting the same
disorder is an interesting way to consider the varying presentations of
psychopathology, as well as the differences in the portrayal of mental illness
by screenwriters and directors. The depiction
of schizophrenia in A Beautiful Mind, for example, has been criticized as being
inaccurate, particularly as the hallucinations are predominantly visual. This might be compared to the independent
film Clean, Shaven which illustrates auditory hallucinations quite
effectively. The various types and
stages of schizophrenic disorders can be explored. Revolution #9 is a terrific film portraying
the acute onset of paranoid schizophrenia.
Spider, in contrast, illustrates chronic schizophrenia. Shine allows for consideration of
schizoaffective disorder.
Historical
Context – Various films may be useful when teaching about the
history of mental illness treatment. The
classic movie Bedlam illustrates the inhumane treatment of the severely
mentally ill during the 18th century in England, which may be contrasted with
treatment of the upper class’s depression during the same era by “cupping” in
Dangerous Liaisons. The Snake Pit
portrays treatment during the middle of the 20th century, now adding the
components of ice baths, insulin comas, and electroshock therapy.
Professional
Ethics – Unfortunately, it is the rare movie that depicts mental
health professionals in a positive, ethical light. Ordinary People, Fearless, and The Snake Pit
all have psychotherapists who are appropriate in their actions. Other films typically have the
psychotherapists crossing boundaries by having romantic relationships with
their patients (Mr. Jones, Bliss) or their relatives (Prince of Tides, Final
Analysis). For the widest range of
professional ethical violations in the movies, watch Analyze This.
Treatment
Recommendations – When teaching about the treatment of
psychopathology, students might be asked to develop a treatment plan for a film
character. How might the various presentations
of depression in The Hours be treated?
Would the same treatment work for all three women in the film?
In conclusion, there are several different angles from which
to view psychology in the movies. Each
of these approaches may be developed into a classroom assignment, or as a new
perspective for your own film enjoyment.
Still Hungry Check these also
Top Psychological Disorder Movies list
Interesting movies for Philosophy students
How movies Effects us Emotionally
How our Favorited movie related to our Personality
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/942492
Still Hungry Check these also
Top Psychological Disorder Movies list
Interesting movies for Philosophy students
How movies Effects us Emotionally
How our Favorited movie related to our Personality
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/942492
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