For Your Second Paper Please Watch A Movie That Includes At

For Your Second Paper Please Watch A Movie That Includes At Least One

For your second paper, please watch a movie that includes at least one character with a psychological disorder. Answer the following questions in 2-3 pages (double spaced, APA format). If you need help finding a movie, please let me know. Some ideas that are available in the library and/or available on Netflix or Amazon Prime are below.

1. Give a brief synopsis of the film and discuss how it relates to psychology.

2. Did you notice any specific psychological theories and/or concepts in the film? What theory/theories were they? Briefly summarize these theories and/or concepts and provide specific examples from the film of how these theories and/or concepts were displayed in the film.

3. Discuss the character(s) with psychological disorder(s). Were they portrayed accurately?

4. Reflect on both the benefits of this assignment as well as any challenges or difficulties that you faced while completing this assignment.

Possible films to write about (you are welcome to choose your own): Split, A Beautiful Mind, The Imitation Game, Black Swan, Good Will Hunting, The Silver Linings Playbook, Her, Rain Man, The Hours, Shutter Island, Memento, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, As Good As It Gets, The Accountant.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The selection of films that portray characters with psychological disorders offers a compelling window into the complexities of mental health as depicted through cinema. Films such as Split (M. M. Night Shyamalan, 2016) exemplify how psychological conditions are dramatized for entertainment while also reflecting societal perceptions of mental illness. This paper aims to analyze one such film, exploring its relation to psychology, identifying embedded psychological theories, assessing the accuracy of portrayals, and reflecting on the learning process involved.

Brief Synopsis and Connection to Psychology

Split tells the story of Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. Kevin has twenty-three distinct personalities residing within him, some of which are benign, while others are dangerous. The film follows Kevin’s kidnapping of three teenage girls, revealing the complex internal dynamics between his identities. From a psychological perspective, the film portrays the manifestation of DID, exploring issues of identity fragmentation, trauma, and the potential for danger when certain personalities dominate. It vividly demonstrates how childhood abuse can lead to dissociative disorders and portrays the internal struggle for control among the various identities.

Psychological Theories and Concepts in the Film

One prominent psychological theory evident in Split is the dissociative identity disorder, which is categorized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to this theory, DID develops as a coping mechanism in response to severe trauma or abuse during childhood, leading to the compartmentalization of memories and identities (Putnam, 1999). The film depicts Kevin’s traumatic childhood as the root of his condition, aligning with clinical understanding. Additionally, concepts like trauma theory emphasize how traumatic experiences disrupt normal development, often resulting in dissociation (van der Kolk, 2014). The film visually and narratively presents these dissociated identities as separate personalities, each with unique traits, speech patterns, and behaviors, illustrating their distinct psychological mechanisms.

Another relevant concept is the psychological idea of internal conflict and the subconscious mind. Kevin’s struggles among his personalities reflect Freudian notions of the ego, id, and superego struggling for dominance, although in a more literalized form through multiple identities. Such portrayals serve as metaphors for internal conflicts often experienced in dissociative disorders, emphasizing the fragmented self (Freud, 1923).

Accuracy of Character Portrayal

The portrayal of Kevin’s dissociative identity disorder in Split has been criticized for its dramatization and inaccuracies. While the film successfully raises awareness of DID, it often sensationalizes the disorder, depicting some identities as dangerously violent and enabling the myth that DID inherently involves criminal behavior (Loewenstein & St. Jean, 2014). In reality, DID is a complex and often misunderstood condition that rarely results in violence. Most individuals with DID are more likely to be victims of violence rather than perpetrators, and their personalities are not always as distinctly separate or extreme as shown in the film. Psychiatrists emphasize that although movies like Split help in awareness-raising, they may oversimplify or distort clinical realities, leading to misconceptions about the disorder (Brand, 2010).

Reflection on the Assignment

Engaging with this assignment provided invaluable insights into how mental health issues are represented in popular culture. The process of analyzing a film through a psychological lens deepened my understanding of various disorders beyond textbook definitions. It reinforced the importance of critical thinking when interpreting media portrayals, as they often combine fact with fiction to serve narrative purposes.

One challenge I faced was ensuring the accuracy of my analysis, given that movies tend to sensationalize or stereotypically portray mental illnesses. Balancing appreciation for cinematic storytelling with academic rigor required careful research and a nuanced approach. Additionally, time management was essential, as watching the film and conducting thorough analysis demanded careful planning within the assignment timeline.

Conclusion

Movies like Split serve as powerful platforms for exploring complex psychological concepts and disorders. While they are not always perfectly accurate, they stimulate awareness and discussion surrounding mental health. This assignment fostered critical engagement with mental health portrayals in media, emphasizing the importance of understanding disorders like dissociative identity disorder within the context of both clinical knowledge and societal perceptions. Ultimately, such analysis enhances psychological literacy and encourages more compassionate, informed views of individuals living with mental health challenges.

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
• Brand, B. L. (2010). Dissociative identity disorder: An empirical overview. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 11(4), 390–405.
• Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. SE, 19, 12-66.
• Loewenstein, R., & St. Jean, P. (2014). Debunking the myths about dissociative identity disorder. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 42(4), 327–342.
• Putnam, F. W. (1999). Dissociative disorders: A focus on dissociative identity disorder. In D. N. Blashfield & M. H. Akiskal (Eds.), Clinical handbook of psychiatry (pp. 813–828). American Psychiatric Publishing.
• van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.