Mental+Illnes+Movie+Portrayal

Please see the list of movies to the right for this assignment. If your parents/guardians do not permit you to watch films with certain ratings, please do not use this assignment to go against their wishes. There is no real shortage of films concerning mental illness. Good ones are however in short supply. Choosing a movie because you saw it years ago is not a great way to find a good movie to analyze and write an excellent paper on. Choosing a movie because it is easy for you to get your hand on is not the best tactic either. From start to finish you have a few weeks to find, watch, analyze, and write. **The paper is due Jan 11th,** (25% off for each day late)**.** You must get approval on your film __if it is not on the list on this website__ (located to the right). You will need to do research online in order to make treatment recommendations. Please see [|movies] link for brief descriptions of these and other movies (the others are not approved for this assignment).
 * Psychology Movie Project**

In class we will discuss how the DSM IV works, what treatment plans are, and all that you need to know to complete this project. However, you must find and watch the movie on your own time.

You are not creating a summary or review of the movie; you are analyzing the characters’ portrayal of or reactions to mental illness. To do this, you will address three components of the film: accuracy, treatment, and one component of your choice.


 * Accuracy of portrayal of mental illness**: how is the character shown to be mentally ill? Be specific, how is the illness communicated to viewers and to other actors in the film? Does the film say what the condition is? What are the “typical” symptoms and how are they displayed. Did you have to “diagnose” the condition? How did you do this? You need to include diagnosis data for the illness that is depicted in the movie. (40% of the paper)


 * Treatment recommendations:** How is the illness “treated” in the movie you chose? What are the other treatments available? (especially if this movie is older, are there new therapies?) Work to develop a possible treatment plan for this character, but long term goals and researched positive influences are a great start (hey, you aren’t a psychiatrist yet!). Do cite all sources used and stick to reputable sources. (40% of the paper) Here is a great resource []

Pick one of the three following points to address, choose one that applies to your film: (20% of the paper)


 * Professional ethics:** How are the doctors and therapists depicted? What are their interactions with the ill character? How are these professionals helping or hurting the situation? What is the purpose of depicting mental health care professionals in this light?
 * Perpetuation of stigma:** What are the false statements or depictions of mental illness in the film? Are there accurate depictions? How do you know? Why are aspects of illness so misrepresented?
 * Attitude change:** How did characters in the film change over time in their attitudes towards mental illness? How did this film change your attitude about the depicted illness?

Because templates are so helpful!

Para 1: Introduction to movie and the depiction of mental illness in the movie (your thesis sentence within this para will indicate what your three points are going to be.) This will be the only summary you have in the entire paper.

Para 2-?: Accuracy analysis of the movie: (this could be a few paragraphs) How is the character shown to be mentally ill? How is the illness communicated to viewers and to other actors in the film? How did you “diagnose” the condition? (don’t say I in a formal paper) Include diagnosis data for the illness such as prevalence (is it rare?) normal time of life for diagnosis, really get into why the diagnosis is what it is. REMEMBER TO CITE YOUR SOURCES AND USE REPUTABLE SOURCES- ie not answers.com or other encyclopedia websites.

Para 4-6?: Treatment analysis and recommendation: (this could also be a few paragraphs) How is the illness “treated” in the movie? What treatments are available? (especially if this movie is older, are there new therapies?) Develop a possible treatment plan for this character, not specific medications or anything, but long term goals and researched positive influences are a great start (this is probably a diff para than the one above). REMEMBER TO CITE YOUR SOURCES AND USE REPUTABLE SOURCES

Para 7-?: Pick your third topic and answer the questions. Probably a paragraph, max two. No need to provide a summary paragraph, but it is a good rule of thumb to go back to your thesis sentence in the first para and make sure you hit all the points that you said you would address.

You must include an MLA formatted bibliography in order to receive a grade on this assignment.

Times New Roman, 12pt font, double spaced, don’t mess with the margins. Please create a cover page with title that also has your name on it. No need for a title elsewhere, but do number pages. No need for a shiny cover, save your cash.

As all of you have integrity, this is purely a formality, but if any piece of your writing is plagiarized, you will have earned no points on the assignment and your poor decision making (stealing, lying, cheating) will be reported to the assistant principals, your guidance counselor, Mr. Whitten, Mr. Larkin, Dr. Conti, and your parents. Of course no assignment will be accepted without a bibliography in MLA format.

You can do this! You will do a marvelous job with this!