PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS & THE MOVIES

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PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS & THE MOVIES

 

Instructions: Watch one of the movies listed below and discuss the main characters and/or plot line in terms of psychological disorders and/or treatment. (Some of the movies portray several characters struggling with a disorder; you need to focus only on the one or two that most interests you.)

Address the following questions:

1. What specific psychological disorder was illustrated in this film? What are the symptoms for this disorder? (Be sure to cite your source for this information on an attached citation sheet.) Did the person meet the criteria for “abnormal” in this portrayal? How?

 

2. Using the symptoms given in Q#1, how did the film demonstrate these symptoms? After considering typical symptoms and behaviors for this disorder, determine the extent to which you believe this was a realistic portrayal of this disorder. Why or why not?

 

3. Were any causal factors for the character’s disorder suggested in the film? If so, which ones? If none were identified or could be inferred, how did his psychological disorder change when under stress?

4. What types of treatment, if any, did the person in the film receive? Provide specific examples. Based on class discussions, textbook or other cited resources, is this form typical for individuals with this disorder? Why or why not?

5. What impact did the person’s disorder have on others in his/her life? Do you think the impact was realistically portrayed? Why or why not?

6. After viewing the movie, what do you think it would be like to live with this mental illness?

7. What was your overall reaction to the movie and how mental illness was portrayed?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movie Options: (These movies have been previewed and pre-selected for their content and relevance; please do not make your own substitutions without prior approval; failure to do so will result in a zero score.)

·       A Beautiful Mind

 

·       Ordinary People

·       As Good As It Gets

 

·       Prozac Nation

·       The Aviator

 

·       Rachel at the Wedding

·       Benny and Joon

 

·       Silver Linings Playbook

·       Clean and Sober

 

·       Still Alice

·       A Clockwork Orange

 

·       Suddenly, Last Summer

·       The Deer Hunter

 

·       Sybil

·       The Fisher King

 

·       Three Faces of Eve

·       Gia

 

·       Trainspotting

·       Girl Interrupted

 

·       Transamerica

·       It’s Kind of a Funny Story

 

·       Twenty-Eight Days

·       Matchstick Men

 

·       What about Bob?

·       Off the Map

 

·       What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?

·       One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORMAT:

1. A paper at least 2 pages long, not including any reference section

2. Typed and double spaced, with Arial (10 point font) or Times New Roman (11 or 12 point font) and 1 inch margins

3. Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors

4. Provide in-text citations and reference any of your sources using APA or MLA format.

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5. Submit hardcopy with scoring rubric in class and submit an electronic copy through Turnitin.