Teenage Associations With Mental Illnesses and Therapy: Negative Images of Mental Healthcare from Film
Cinema and Mental Health Stereotypes
Cinema is filled with negative portrayals of mental illness and psychotherapy. Movies such as Girl, Interrupted and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest portray therapy in a very pessimistic light. Do these movies influence society in a positive or negative way? More specifically, do movies that send negative messages about therapy and mental illnesses influence teenagers? Are teens able to formulate their opinions and completely disregard media influence? Or, can they place these movies into perspective?
Research suggests people often form opinions of therapy from what they see in television and movies (Orchowski, 506). The same theory can be applied to what people generally know about mental illnesses. It has been suggested mental health “literacy” is very low among the general public, and they are unable to recognize many common types of psychological illnesses. Research by the American Psychological Association found while many people recognized the importance of therapy, they had little understanding of how to get help and little faith in the current system (Orchowski, 506). In the book Psychiatry and Cinema, the author Gabbard suggests the public’s perception of psychiatry and therapy was created in Hollywood. Over 450 films have a plot involving psychotherapy, and the majority of these films do not praise therapy in any way (Gabbard). Therapists in film have been portrayed in many ways. For the purpose of this study, I will be looking only at two types of portrayals: “the societal agent” and “the oracle” (Orchowski, 509).
The film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was made in the 70s during the height of the deinstitutionalization movement. During this movement, many patients were released to their families based on the belief that mental institutions caused more harm than good (‘Mental Illness’). So, when viewers watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest they see the ‘evil’ in the mental health system. The defining character in the film is Nurse Ratched; she represents the exploitation and greediness in the mental healthcare system. The therapists in this film fit the mold of the “societal agent.” They frequently force their patients to conform to what society sees as normal. If the patient refuses to fit into the ‘mold,’ then the therapist resorts to what viewers see as tortuous techniques (electroshock therapy, lobotomy, force feeding pills, etc.) (Orchowski, 506-509).
The therapist as an “oracle” is represented in the movie Girl, Interrupted. According to Gabbard, the therapist as an “oracle” will have some type of brilliant insight into the patient. In Girl, Interrupted, the therapist, Dr. Sonia Wick, seems to understand everything about Susanna and what she is going through. This portrayal is problematic because it encourages belief in magical cures for different types of psychological problems (Gabbard).
Previous Research
It is commonly recognized that there is a lot of stigma and prejudices surrounding people who have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. Many adults associate homelessness and schizophrenia together, and some employers are hesitant to hire people who have a history of certain types of mental illness. However, there is a presumption that young people are less prejudice towards people with mental illness (Schulze, 316). Because of this, there has been a push to counteract stereotypes before they arise or are reinforced in young adults. Young people arrive at their own opinions of mental illness based on personal experiences, but research has shown that young people rarely come in contact with people who are mentally ill (Schulze, 317). How then, do teens learn and form opinions about mental illness? Does the media (film, television, newspapers, etc.) influence teenagers opinion of mental illness and therapy?
Beate Schulze and Dr. Matthias C Angermeyer surveyed 293 secondary school children between the ages of 14-18 in Germany to explore their associations with the word schizophrenia. Students were not given any information about schizophrenia before they began the survey. Most students associated the word schizophrenia with an illness. Only 3.8% of the students used the words crazy or mad to characterize schizophrenia. The teenagers’ first associations with the word schizophrenia hardly ever reflected the stereotypical labels or characteristics assigned to it by the media
The purpose of this experiment is to determine if negative portrayals of mental illness in movies influence teenagers. Will teenagers be able to identify the difference between reality and film? Or, will they allow the negative stereotypes seen in film to influence their opinions on mental illnesses and therapy? Hopefully, the teens will be able to tell the difference between reality and fiction.
Methods
Participants
This study was conducted with 10 students from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. The students were between the ages of 17 and 18. Participants were chosen from a group of 15 males and females. Of the fifteen, only ten were available on the chosen night. Of these ten participants, six were male, and four were female. Two were from large cities, six were from suburban areas, and the remaining two were from small, rural towns. All participants were Caucasian, and all were American. Seven of the participants had either a family member or friend diagnosed with some type of mental illness. One participant had a diagnosed mental disorder, and one participant had no known contact with any person who had a mental illness. Of the ten participants, 2 had taken a psychology class in high school, and two were currently taking psychology courses.
Procedure
Each participant was given a set of four short answer questions before they were shown clips from two movies: Girl, Interrupted and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The questionnaire asked three basic questions about mental illness: What were their thoughts on people with mental illnesses? Had they ever had any experience with mental illness? What did they know about therapy? Had they ever had any experience with any form of therapy? The questions were designed to detect any bias for or against therapy and the mentally ill before the participants watched the film clips.
Students were then shown a scene from the movie Girl, Interrupted and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The first scene they were shown was from Girl, Interrupted. It was entitled ‘Daisy.” During this scene, Susanna manages to calm Daisy down by trading laxatives for pain pills. From One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest the participants were shown the scenes from the group therapy session with Nurse Ratched to McMurphy’s electroshock therapy treatment.
Finally, each participant was given another set of short answer questions. There were only two questions asked on this questionnaire: What were their thoughts about mental illness? What were their thoughts about therapy? After filling out the last questionnaire, participants were given the opportunity to talk about their opinions of therapy and mental illness.
Results
Pre-test Questions
Associations with the mentally ill. Participants most frequently stated that the mentally ill were sick. The majority of the group felt that people with a mental illness were no different from people who had chronic illnesses such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Most people believed that the mentally ill could fully function in society with the proper therapy or medication. Only one participant expressed a negative opinion about people with mental illnesses.
When asked what their thoughts were about people who were mentally ill, most people used a specific illness in their answers. The most common mental illnesses mentioned were depression and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Most participants demonstrated a basic knowledge of some mental illnesses.
Knowledge of therapy. All of the participants had knowledge of therapy. Only four participants distinguished between different types of therapy. These participants mentioned types of therapy such as art therapy or behavioral therapy. Other participants’ ideas of therapy resembled what they had seen on television or movies. One participant even referenced the therapy that occurred in The Sopranos.
Post-test Questions
Reactions to Girl, Interrupted.
The majority of the participants felt that the character Susanna was not crazy. However, they felt that Daisy and Lisa were “insane.” Also, one-third of the participants felt that the hospital was portrayed fairly. The other participants thought that the hospital was not an accurate portrayal. They believed that mental hospitals are not as “laid back” as depicted in the film.
Nine of the participants stated that after watching the scene from Girl, Interrupted, their opinion of therapy and mental illness had not changed. One participant stated that he felt pity for the mentally ill. When shown the scene with Dr. Wick, two participants stated that Dr. Wick in no way represented a real psychologist. Three participants believed that she represented a real psychologist, and the other five participants stated that they had no experience with psychologists. Of the ten participants, eight stated that they would like to have a therapist like Dr. Wick.
Reactions to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. All participants felt that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was grossly exaggerated. One participant stated that, “I don’t believe they would give a patient electroshock therapy over a tiny argument.” All participants sympathized with McMurphy, and no one believed that he was “crazy.” Several participants believed that the situation in the hospital could occur in an actual state hospital.
All participants thought that Nurse Ratched symbolized “evil.” They all felt that she was pushing the patients to be “normal.” Most of the participants felt that the patients were not totally insane. One participant suggested that if each of the patients were given individual therapy, then they could have probably been released into society.
Final views of mental illnesses and psychology:
All participants stated that their final opinions of mental illness would ultimately come from either personal experience (i.e. meeting/getting to know a person with a mental illness) or reading from an informed source. None of the participants felt as if the movies in any way influenced their opinions of mental illness or psychology.
Discussion
After watching a scene from each movie, the participants seemed more receptive to the therapist portrayed in Girl, Interrupted. Overall, the group thought that Dr. Wick was more approachable. Dr. Wick fit the mold of ‘the oracle,” or the psychologist who had instant insight of the patient’s feelings and thoughts. They all felt as if this was a more acceptable type of therapist. However, most participants did acknowledge that the likelihood of having a “magical” therapist was very unlikely.
None of the participants thought that the type of therapy portrayed in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was appropriate. Everyone felt that the nurses and therapists were pushing the patients to be normal. One participant brought up the fact that the director and original author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest wanted readers and viewers to feel that the mental health system and mental health professionals did not work properly.
Participants who were from large cities had the most open views of psychology. These participants felt that psychology was useful, and that it could really help people with mental illnesses. They also felt that people who had mental illnesses could easily be “cured.” But, the participants from small, rural areas were not as open-minded. Even though they admitted to having only minor contact with mentally ill individuals, they were not in favor of psychology. It was obvious that there was an enormous stigma attached with the word psychology. Even though they were not in favor of psychology, they still had fair opinions of mentally ill people.
Conclusion
Even though most participants had some form of contact with mentally ill people or a psychologist, they were still not totally informed about the amount of stigma that is attached to both. But, all participants based their opinions on what little information they had from books and personal experience, not from television and film.
Works Cited
- Orchowski, Lindsay M.. “Cinema and the Valuing of Psychotherapy: Implications for Clinical Practice.” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 37(2006): 506-514.
- Marsden, Gerald. “Children’s Social Judgemnets Concerning Emotionally Disturbed Peers.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 45(1977): 948.
- Schulze, Beate. “What Is Schizophrenia? Secondary School Students’ Associations With the World and Sources of Information About the Illness.” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 75(2005): 316-323.
- Marshall, Elizabeth. “Borderline Girls: Mental Illness, Adolescence, and Femininity in Girl, Interrupted.” The Lion and the Unicorn 30(2006): 117-133.
- O’Brien Hochman, Linda. “Age and Its Effect on Perceptions of Psychopathology.” Psychology and Aging 1(1986): 337-338.
- Roy, Paul G.. “Older Adults’ Perceptions of Psychopathology.” Psychology and Aging 4(1989): 369-371.
- LaTorre, Ronald A.. “Gender and Age as Factors in the Attitudes Towards Those Stigmatized as Mentally Ill.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 43(1975): 97-98.
- Gabbard, Glen O.. Psychiatry and Cinema. 2nd ed. Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, 1999.
- “Mental Illness.” MSN Encarta. Encarta. 8 Nov 2007 .
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment