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Home , Abigail Breslin, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Crystal, Edward Norton, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise

Name:______Block:____ Date:______

PSYCHOLOGY: ANALYTICAL RESEARCH PAPER

Objective – Compare & contrast the real effects of the psychological disorder(s) shown in the film.

DIRECTIONS: In this assignment you will choose one film related to Psychology and complete a well- developed analytical research paper, based on both the film of your choice, and a profile of the psychological disorder(s) depicted in the film. Pay close attention while taking notes during the film to help you with both assignments. You will also do in depth research on your films topic online to see how the actual events compare to the film. Your paragraphs should correspond to the format below.

Format:

1. Introduction with a thesis statement. 2. After viewing the film describe what the movie is about. What is the key plot in the film? Who are the characters in the film? 3. Explain how the psychological disorder(s) in the film are accurately and/or inaccurately portrayed in the film through your in depth online research. 4. Describe (in depth) the causes/effects and other related information associated with the disorder. 5. Conclusion. Explain your own opinion of the film. Would you recommend ? Why or why not?

Additional Requirements:

1. Notes during movie 2. 3 full pages, MLA format 3. Typed, double spaced, 12 font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins 4. Well written with proper grammar, spelling etc. 5. Well researched with accurate information 6. Works cited page (minimum of 3 online sources) 7. Presentation of Paper

Parental Advisory – Some films on this list are Rated R and need parental permission. Film Choices - http://www.psychmovies.com/

How to find a film? , home movie collection, local library, borrow from a friend, YouTube.

FILM CHOICES *Parental Advisory – Some films on this list are Rated R and need parental permission. You may also choose a film from the list at the following website - http://www.psychmovies.com/

Adam Genre: Drama Year: 2009 Rating: PG-13 : Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne Topics: Psychopathology, Neuropsychology This is one of the few films dealing with Asperger's Syndrome in an adult. The portrayal is well-done and the plot is not contrived. Moral of the story - what is abnormal and dysfunctional in one setting may be highly adaptive and prized in another.

Analyze This Genre: Year: 1999 Rating: R Actors: Robert DeNiro, , Topics: Psychopathology, Treatment, Anxiety Disorder I really liked this movie. The portrayal of mixed anxiety and (delayed onset PTSD?) is terrific. Unfortunately, the movie also demonstrates how not to be an ethical psychiatrist (can you count the number of ways that he violates confidentiality?), but he still is effective (if you believe in the therapeutic miracle of sudden insight).

As Good As It Gets Genre: Drama/Comedy Year: 1997 Rating: PG-13 Actors: , , Topics: Psychopathology, OCD, Personality Disorder, Social Academy Award winner for Best and Best Actress. Jack Nicholson with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, as well as plenty of Axis II. Also addresses bias (homophobia) and attitude change. Really great movie.

Awakenings Genre: Drama Year: 1990 Rating: PG-13 Actors: , Robert DeNiro, Topics: Psychopathology, Neuropsychology, Treatment Wonderful movie. Based on ' clinical cases. L-dopa's effects on encephalitis lethargica. Interesting glimpse inside a mental hospital in the 1960s. Why do you think /psychosis developed after prolonged L-dopa treatment? Neuronal supersensitivity? And what about Dr. Sacks' interpersonal anxieties - social phobia? Asperger's?

A Beautiful Mind Genre: Drama Year: 2001 Rating: PG-13 Actors: , , Topics: Psychopathology, Treatment, Schizophrenia, Marital/Family Dynamics, Stress and Coping Academy Award winner for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress. Russell Crowe portrays Nash, a brilliant mathematician. There is a major . What do you think this movie did for public perception of schizophrenia?

Conspiracy Theory Genre: Drama Year: 1997 Rating: R Actors: , , Topics: Psychopathology, Personality Disorders Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts - good combo, but realistic movie? Mel is paranoid, conspiracies everywhere, but once in awhile, "just like a stopped clock," (wonderful analogy from ) he's right. There also is a government psychiatrist (are his treatments therapeutic?!). Diagnosis for Mel?

Don Juan DeMarco Genre: Drama/Comedy Year: 1995 Rating: PG-13 Actors: , , Topics: Psychopathology, Psychotic Disorders, Treatment, Marital/Family Dynamics Johnny Depp (one of my favorites) believes that he is the great lover, Don Juan. He is treated by therapist, Marlon Brando, who, as often happens in the movies, is really treated by his patient.

Fight Club Genre: Drama Year: 1999 Rating: R Actors: , , Topics: Psychopathology, Dissociative Disorders, Personality Theory The film can be considered to be the personification of Edward Norton's psyche. After you've seen it once, watch it again once you know what to look for. Not your classic psychosis/dissociative personality disorder movie.

Girl, Interrupted Genre: Drama Year: 1999 Rating: R Actors: , , Clea DuVall Topics: Psychopathology, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Treatment Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress. I really enjoyed this movie! I suspect that the "Borderline" diagnosis given to Susanna more appropriately refers to her psychotic depression, with the former use of the term referring to the zone between neurosis and psychosis, i.e., on the "borderline" of psychosis. "Lisa" demonstrates a good manic, and seems more of today's "Borderline Personality Disorder" than the movie's Antisocial Personality Disorder diagnosis. What do you think?

Good Will Hunting Genre: Drama Year: 1999 Rating: R Actors: Robin Williams, , Topics: Psychopathology, Personality Disorders, Treatment Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor and Writing. Robin Williams provides psychological treatment for the main character. Some ethical violations, and at first seems like too much self-disclosure, but it served a therapeutic purpose. I'm not quite sure that the catharsis depicted truly would have cured both the Axis I and II disorders depicted in the untreated - "bad (?) " Will Hunting. Academy award winner.

Harold and Maude Genre: Drama/Comedy Year: 1971 Rating: PG Actors: , Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles Topics: Psychopathology, Mood Disorders, Marital/Family Dynamics A rich, 20-year-old man obsessed with death meets an elderly woman at a funeral and develops his first meaningful relationship. Involves faked , and a real one, but are the characters actually depressed?

Instinct Genre: Drama Year: 1999 Rating: R Actors: Cuba Gooding, Jr., , Topics: Psychopathology, Treatment, Forensic Cuba Gooding, Jr. as a young psychiatrist tasked to perform an evaluation on Anthony Hopkins, an anthropologist who had been living as a primitive man among the gorillas he had been studying. Hopkins is indicted for murder, after he killed the men who were trying to "save" him from the gorillas.

I Am Sam Genre: Drama Year: 2001 Rating: PG-13 Actors: , , Topics: Psychopathology, Neuropsychology, Forensic, Marital/Family Dynamics, Social Sean Penn portrays a man with mental retardation fighting for custody of his 7-year-old child. Sam's group of are entertaining - two are truly developmentally disabled - his close neighbor is agoraphobic. His lawyer is the stereotypical overworked yuppie professional woman, estranged from her family. The film is a classic tearjerker. Despite significant research for the film (watch the supplemental documentary), how realistic were the events? Did he take her to a pediatrician? Did the pediatrician have any concerns about his care? Was that a realistic portrayal of cross-examination of an expert witness? Could Sam really have afforded at the end in , making somewhere around $8/hour? What really was in the best interest of the child? Was the opposing attorney all that wrong? Many things to consider.

Little Miss Sunshine Genre: Comedy/Drama Year: 2006 Rating: R Actors: Steve Carrell, , Greg Kinnear Topics: Psychopathology, Mood Disorders, Developmental, Marital/Family Dynamics, Stress and Coping This is a fantastic, quirky movie full of material and comedic moments. There is the brother, Steve Carrell, who is recently released from a psychiatric facility after making a attempt, the teen son who has selective mutism, the narcissistic father, the disinhibited grandfather, the mother who tries to keep it all together, and the girl who miraculously floats through this chaos, demonstrating remarkable optimism and coping. Despite seeming dysfunction, this family works; they come through for each other at just the right moments.

Of Mice and Men Genre: Drama Year: 1992 Rating: R Actors: , , Topics: Neuropsychology, Personality Disorders, Moral Development The classic Steinbeck story directed by and starring Gary Sinise. Story of two cousins during the depression, working to get by - George with his brains, Lenny with his brawn. Consider the diagnosis of Curly's wife (never named in the film or book)?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Genre: Drama Year: 1975 Rating: R Actors: Jack Nicholson, , William Redfield Topics: Psychopathology, Psychotic Disorders, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Treatment, Forensic Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress among other awards. This is a must see (and I mean MUST for any psych major!). Why faking insanity to avoid jail may not be a good idea (at least not during this era).

Rain Man Genre: Drama Year: 1988 Rating: R Actors: , , Topics: Neuropsychology, Marital/Family Dynamics Academy Award winner for Best Picture and Best Actor. Excellent portrayal of autism in adulthood and associated family stresses. Wonderful movie.

Shine Genre: Drama Year: 1996 Rating: PG-13 Actors: , Justin Braine, Sonja Todd Topics: Psychopathology, Psychotic Disorders, Marital/Family Dynamics Academy Award winner for Best Actor. Story of gifted Australian pianist, Helfgott, son of Holocaust survivors. The father character also allows for diagnostic considerations. Helfgott appears to have schizoaffective disorder-manic.

Shutter Island Genre: Drama Year: 2010 Rating: R Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Topics: Psychopathology, Psychotic Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, Treatment Suspenseful drama set in 1954, as a U. S. Marshall investigates the disappearance of a patient at a forensic psychiatric facility. Stop reading here if you do not want the plot twists revealed. This is a movie to be watched more than once. The plot twist was foreshadowed often - did you see it coming? Consider the professional ethics involved in such a "treatment." What alternatives should have been considered? What would be an appropriate diagnosis for DiCaprio's character?

Sling Blade Genre: Drama Year: 1996 Rating: R Actors: , , J. T. Walsh Topics: Neuropsychology, Treatment, Marital/Family Dynamics A very interesting film, although somewhat predictable. What do you think the main character's diagnoses would include? And how about when he left the state hospital - no such thing as discharge planning? Billy Bob Thornton is excellent as the long-term psychiatric inpatient.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape Genre: Drama/Comedy Year: 1993 Rating: PG-13 Actors: Johnny Depp, Leonardo diCaprio, Topics: Psychopathology, Mood Disorders, Neuropsychology, Developmental, Marital/Family Dynamics, Stress and Coping Slice of life film, with Johnny Depp as the young adult caring for his family - a depressed, morbidly obese mother, a brother with a developmental disorder, and two sisters. Somehow, he manages it all.