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Cory Castrejon
Professor Erin Dietel-McLaughlin
WR 13300
3 April 2015

On Screen Disorders
A Beautiful Mind, American Psycho, Silence of The Lambs, and Silver Linings
Playbook are titles of films that are easily recognizable. These films were all successful in both
Box Office sales and award regards. Each of the major motion pictures tells a different story, in a
different genre. Films have the ability to keep a population entertained and Hollywood will
create motion pictures based on the inclinations of the general public. However, even though all
the themes of the films are different, they do have one important similarity. Each of these films
depicts mental disorders in some capacity. Schizophrenia in A Beautiful Mind, antisocial
personality disorder in Silence of the Lambs, Narcissistic Personality Disorder in American
Psycho and depression in Silver Linings Playbook are examples of mental illness portrayals
in film. Hollywood is known for having the tendency to create incorrect or extreme situations in
order to increase profits. Most viewers are able to account for these inaccuracies using
suspending disbelief. However when the inaccuracies of the film are depictions of mental
disorders, the consequences could be much larger than the filmmaker expected.
Mental illness is a serious problem for many people whether it is directly or indirectly.
Even if someone is not afflicted with a condition, most people know a person that suffers from
some kind of mental condition. When a person is diagnosed with a mental disorder, they are
often outcast by their family and friends due to the perception of mental illness created in film.
Studies have been performed testing subjects on their knowledge of mental disorders based on

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the amount of television and film that they watched. Characters in film with mental disorders
often have their symptoms exaggerated in order to highlight the condition. Treatment methods
are also incorrectly depicted in major motion pictures. Medication is showcased during a
characters treatment in the majority of films about mental disorders analyzed. Hollywoods
portrayal of mental illness in film has created a negative stereotype of those afflicted with the
disorders in real life.
Television and film are key components to many American lives. While people have been
moving toward the Internet as an information source, television and film can still be considered
as a main news and information source in peoples lives. As a result of the impact that mass
media has, a lot of research has been performed on the influence that it has on people.
Cultivation theory suggests that heavy exposure to consistent and recurrent messages on
television will "reiterate, confirm, and nourish" values and shape perceptions of social reality to
conform to those presented on television (Gerbner et al. 2002, p. 49). All people, especially
children, are susceptible to being influenced by the values that they see presented on television
and film. If a child is consistently seeing mental disorders presented in a certain way then the
child is more likely to internalize those ideas about mental illness. However, children could be
more likely to repeat actions or conversations that they see in mass media. For example, if the
child sees a person being excluded because they act differently than most people, the child might
repeat the exclusion. A person could carry the idea that people that are different should be outcast
into adulthood and then add to the stigma surrounding mental disorders. Another theory that is
used by researchers when analyzing television and film is the social learning theory. According
to Stout, Furthermore, according to social learning theory, those behaviors that are rewarded are
more likely to be learned and invoked than those behaviors that are punished or unrewarded

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(544). Film and television sources that depict acting toward mental illness in a certain manner
could cause people to repeat these actions. Even adults could subconsciously learn to repeat
actions that are rewarded in mass media. Research into the topic of mental disorders and mass
media, especially film, need to continue. If the research is used properly, a better depiction of
mental disorders could come out of mass media.
A better depiction of mental disorders in film could allow the general public to become
more knowledgeable about the mental illness. Film and television have a large impact on the way
people view certain mental health conditions such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and
Schizophrenia. These conditions are rare and because of that people have little knowledge about
them. Therefore, television and film have a greater influence on peoples perceptions of these
disorders. On the other hand, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is more common so people
have a better understanding of the disease. Kimmerle performed a study saying, The same is
true of viewers attitudes toward people affected by one of these mental disorders: Because
mentally ill people are portrayed as violent and television viewers are supposed to have
undifferentiated knowledge about OCD and schizophrenia, but a more appropriate understanding
of MDD (934). Since Major Depressive Disorder is more common; people have a better
chance of knowing someone who has been afflicted with the condition. If a person knows
someone that has been afflicted with the disease, then they will know the actual symptoms.
Therefore, the amount of television or film they watch will not influence their knowledge. On the
other hand, the more media someone watches could influence their perception of OCD and
schizophrenia greatly. These conditions are portrayed in film and television often as having very
extreme symptoms. While these extreme symptoms might be present at times, many sufferers of
the condition are able to function more normally than they are portrayed in mass media.

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Kimmerles study found that the more television a person watches, the less accurate knowledge
that they have about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia. Kimmerle performed
another study in order to research the differences between fictional and documentary films.
After Kimmerle performed a study about the influence the amount of television watches
has on a persons knowledge of disorders, he wanted to see if the type of media outlet mattered.
Kimmerle tested two separate groups after they had either watched a documentary or fictional
film about certain mental disorders. Kimmerle found that, people who watched a movie-in
which schizophrenia symptoms were displayed in a realistic and accurate manner-were able to
acquire knowledge from this movie (940). The second study showed that people did learn from
films in either case. While the study did find that people learned better when shown a
documentary style film, they still increased their knowledge about the disorder when they
watched an entertainment style film.
The results from the study show that viewers do learn from the major motion pictures
that they see. Therefore, every film that depicts mental illness influences peoples perception of
the disease. The manner in which the disease is depicted causes the illness to be seen in a
positive or negative light. For example, The less people knew about OCD or MDD, the more
they believed that affected persons were violent (Kimmerle 940). The knowledge of the people
participating in the study supported the idea that negative perceptions could be transmitted
through film. If a person has minimal understanding of the disease, they might base their
impressions of the disorder on the accounts that they have seen on screen. While some films
portray the symptoms of the disease accurately, many films portray the symptoms in a way that
will make the best major motion picture. These entertainment films cause a greater emotional

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response from the viewer, according to the study by Kimmerle. An emotional response transfers
to the perception of the film and in turn the topics of the film including mental disorders.
Hollywood creates many films each year in order to make a profit at the box office and
one area that people want to see is films that depict serial killers. Serial killers fascinate
Americans and many people will pay a lot of money in order to see a film that showcases a
deranged human being. However, films with serial killers and other disturbed characters often
portray mental health patients as being more violent than the rest of society. According to Steven
Hyler, "In actuality (with certain exceptions, e.g., substance-induced psychoses), individuals with
mental disorders are not more likely to commit violent crimes than is the general population"
(33). Major motion pictures influence people's opinions even if they do not realize that their
opinions are changing. Popular films such as "Silence of The Lambs" and "American Psycho"
are examples used by Hyler to prove the point that film's mental disorders are different than
reality. Both of these motion pictures have characters that seem to be remorseless and willing to
kill anyone that gets in their way. Hannibal Lector from "Silence of The Lambs" is one of the
most memorable villains of all time. Lector is a former psychiatrist who was arrested for killing
and eating some of his patients. The film shows Lector as being placed into a mental institution
for his crimes. Lector, along with the other inmates of the institution, is the only examples of
mental illness that the film gives. Therefore, the viewer only sees the extreme negative aspect of
mental illness. People without empathy and that are able to kill without remorse are rare even for
those suffering from mental illness.
American Psycho showcases a man with a complete lack of remorse in the character of
Patrick Bateman. Bateman, played by Christian Bale, has the symptoms of both narcissistic
personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. The symptoms of narcissistic personality

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disorder can be seen very well in Batemans interaction with his coworkers and fianc.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which
people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of
empathy for others. Bateman often talks down to people around him, especially his receptionist.
After viewing the films portrayal of the interactions, Patrick obviously views himself as being
superior to almost all of the other characters in the film. Bateman also shows a lack of respect for
women through the condescending tone that he uses when speaking with them. Christian Bales
character displays other symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder when he is comparing
business cards with his coworkers. Each of the coworkers shows off their business card, trying to
prove that it is the best business card. Bateman exhibits extreme jealousy when another
businessman has a better business card than him. The character believes that his business card
should be the best because in his mind, he is superior to everyone else.
One of the symptoms of Narcissistic Personality disorder is the lack of empathy for
others. Patrick Bateman displays this symptom during the many murders that he commits. The
portrayal of the disorder in the film is a very extreme representation of the illness. Most people
with narcissistic personality disorder are able to lead somewhat normal lives. While the afflicted
person might have trouble maintaining relationships, they rarely become a homicidal maniac as
depicted in American Psycho. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder could be outcast
because those that know them might be worried that they will become a killer like in the major
motion picture. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is negatively portrayed in the film and because
of the poor representation adds to the stigma created by Hollywood.
Films involving those with mental disorders often showcase ways in which the sufferers
should be treated. Hollywood often depicts mental illness as a condition that can only be treated

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with medicine. Before the discovery of medicines to treat certain ailments, society did not know
how to deal with mental patients. Therefore, society often outcasts those with a mental health
problem. An example of societys confusion on the treatment of disorders is in the 1901 film,
Off to Bloomingdale Asylum. In the silent picture, The would-be patient is shot skyward like
a bottle rocket and explodes into nothingness as black clouds of smoke waft through the streets,
his only remains(Coleman,21). The scene displays societys response to mental illness. The
afflicted should be removed from social situations and not have interaction with the outside
world. At the time of the films release, no effort was made to help those with mental disorders.
Instead, they were rocketed out of society. As time progressed, the general public gained an
increased knowledge of the treatment of mental health.
Medicines were developed in order to prevent the symptoms of certain mental disorders.
Jan Eastgate discusses the problem Hollywood still possesses when filmmakers portray mental
disorders. Eastgate states, Nash himself, says this is pure fiction; he hadnt taken psychiatric
drugs for 24 years and recovered naturally from his disturbed states. The film, A Beautiful
Mind, portrays John Nash as needing his medication in order to recover. Filmmakers could have
a variety of reasons for incorrectly portraying Nashs recovery. Their biases involving mental
disorders could have been inserted into the creation of the film. While making the film, those
involved might have actually believed that they only way a person recovers from schizophrenia
is through medication. Another theory that Eastgate proposes is that large pharmaceutical
companies could have influenced the choice to incorrectly portray John Nash.
A Beautiful Mind, American Psycho, and Silence of the Lambs all do a poor job of
representing mental disorders in film. Some people may say that recent films have done a better
job of representing mental disorder. These critics might reference Silver Linings Playbook as a

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film that portrays mental disorders in a positive manner. The major motion picture often
references a silver lining philosophy. According to David Coleman, At its core, the idea is
attractive in its motivational simplicity. Instead of regrets and negative thoughts, one copes with
positive reactions and stabilizing thoughts (311). The film showcases that there are alternative
methods to recovering from mental disorders than medicine. In addition, the picture displays the
fact that people with mental illness can get better. Even though Silver Linings Playbook
represents mental disorders in a positive manner, Hollywood still has not fixed the stigma it has
created. Films are still constantly being made with characters that showcase mental health
problems in a negative light. Some examples of these films are The Dark Knight, The Hurt
Locker, and Shutter Island. Hollywood still has to make progress in its treatment and
portrayal of mental disorders.
Mental disorders have become an important topic in todays society. More and more
people are being diagnosed with mental disorders as psychology experts gain more knowledge
about the diseases. However, even as the knowledge of the disorders increase, the general public
still lacks in its knowledge about mental health. The general publics lack of knowledge might
stem from Hollywoods portrayal of the illnesses in film. Films have poorly showcased the
qualities of mental disorders. Major motion pictures have not correctly portrayed the symptoms
or the treatment options for mental illness. Therefore, people acquired incorrect and negative
stereotypes about the disorders. Hollywoods portrayal of the conditions has caused
consequences in society greater than the film industry.

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Works Cited
Coleman, David. The Bipolar Express : Manic Depression and the Movies. Lanham, Md. :
Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. Print.
Eastgate, Jan. A Beautiful Mind... an Ugly Agenda. 93 Vol. , 2002. Print.
Gerbner, G.; Gross, L.; Morgan, M.; Signorielli, N.; and Shanahan, J. Growing up with
television: Cultivation processes. In: Bryant, J., and Zillmann, D., eds. Media Effects:
Advances in Theory and Research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002. pp.
4368.
Hyler, Steven H. "Stigma Continues in Hollywood." Psychiatric Times 20.6 (2003): 33. Print.
Kimmerle, Joachim, and Ulrike Cress. "The Effects of Tv and Film Exposure on Knowledge
about and Attitudes Toward Mental Disorders." Journal of community psychology 41.8
(2013): 931-43. Print.
Livingston, Kathy. "Viewing Popular Films about Mental Illness through a Sociological Lens."
Teaching Sociology.1 (2004): 119-28. Print.
"Narcissistic Personality Disorder." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personalitydisorder/basics/definition/con-20025568>.

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Stout, Patricia A., Jorge Villegas, and Nancy A. Jennings. "Images of Mental Illness in the
Media: Identifying Gaps in the Research." Schizophrenia bulletin 30.3 (2004): 543-61. Print.