Personality Disorders in the Media
The media has been using mental illness as a basis for various characters’ personalities for a long time. One movie that touches on this aspect of the human psyche is called One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1997). The story is set in a mental facility in 1950s Oregon and includes multiple characters with mental illness. For example, the character Randle Patrick McMurphy portrays characteristics of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). While not all aspects of his character are accurate to the real-life disorder, the character in his entirety is a mostly accurate portrayal of ASPD.
The Character of McMurphy
McMurphy is an Irish-American war veteran sent to a mental facility from a prison. He was in prison …show more content…
He is deceitful, manipulative, and shows a clear difficulty in creating interpersonal relationships. One of his most defining characteristics is his criminality and lack of remorse for this which is a clear mark for ASPD. Also, his unwillingness to participate in reality is a trait commonly seen in those with personality disorders. His responses to frustration and anger is in line with the research into those with this disorder’s responses as well. The portrayal of ASPD in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1997) is reasonably accurate. McMurphy is a textbook example of this disorder and can be used as a rubric for the typical behavior of one with ASPD. The character as played by Jack Nicholson successfully represents this type of mental illness. This movie should be seen as an accurate example of how ASPD manifests. …show more content…
W. (2015). The Natural History of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 60(7), 309-314. Retrieved from http://resolver.flvc.org/FLCC1600?genre=article&issn=07067437&title=Canadian%20Journal%20of%20Psychiatry&volume=60&issue=7&date=20150701&atitle=The%20Natural%20History%20of%20Antisocial%20Personality%20Disorder.&spage=309&sid=EBSCO:a9h&pid=
Forman, M., Zaentz, S., Douglas, M., Hauben, L., Goldman, B., Nicholson, J., Fletcher, L., ... Warner Home Video (Firm). (1997). One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Burbank, Calif: Warner Home Video.
Krastins, A., Francis, A. P., Field, A. M., & Carr, S. N. (2014). Childhood Predictors of Adulthood Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptomatology. Australian Psychologist, 49(3), 142-150. doi:10.1111/ap.12048
Sargeant, M. N., Daughters, S. B., Curtin, J. J., Schuster, R., & Lejuez, C. W. (2011). Unique roles of antisocial personality disorder and psychopathic traits in distress tolerance. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 120(4), 987-992. doi:10.1037/a0024161
YAVUZ, K. F., ŞAHİN, O., ULUSOY, S., İPEK, O. U., & KURT, E. (2016). Experiential avoidance, empathy, and anger-related attitudes in antisocial personality disorder. Turkish Journal Of Medical Sciences, 46(6), 1792-1800.
The media has been using mental illness as a basis for various characters’ personalities for a long time. One movie that touches on this aspect of the human psyche is called One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1997). The story is set in a mental facility in 1950s Oregon and includes multiple characters with mental illness. For example, the character Randle Patrick McMurphy portrays characteristics of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). While not all aspects of his character are accurate to the real-life disorder, the character in his entirety is a mostly accurate portrayal of ASPD.
The Character of McMurphy
McMurphy is an Irish-American war veteran sent to a mental facility from a prison. He was in prison …show more content…
He is deceitful, manipulative, and shows a clear difficulty in creating interpersonal relationships. One of his most defining characteristics is his criminality and lack of remorse for this which is a clear mark for ASPD. Also, his unwillingness to participate in reality is a trait commonly seen in those with personality disorders. His responses to frustration and anger is in line with the research into those with this disorder’s responses as well. The portrayal of ASPD in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1997) is reasonably accurate. McMurphy is a textbook example of this disorder and can be used as a rubric for the typical behavior of one with ASPD. The character as played by Jack Nicholson successfully represents this type of mental illness. This movie should be seen as an accurate example of how ASPD manifests. …show more content…
W. (2015). The Natural History of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 60(7), 309-314. Retrieved from http://resolver.flvc.org/FLCC1600?genre=article&issn=07067437&title=Canadian%20Journal%20of%20Psychiatry&volume=60&issue=7&date=20150701&atitle=The%20Natural%20History%20of%20Antisocial%20Personality%20Disorder.&spage=309&sid=EBSCO:a9h&pid=
Forman, M., Zaentz, S., Douglas, M., Hauben, L., Goldman, B., Nicholson, J., Fletcher, L., ... Warner Home Video (Firm). (1997). One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Burbank, Calif: Warner Home Video.
Krastins, A., Francis, A. P., Field, A. M., & Carr, S. N. (2014). Childhood Predictors of Adulthood Antisocial Personality Disorder Symptomatology. Australian Psychologist, 49(3), 142-150. doi:10.1111/ap.12048
Sargeant, M. N., Daughters, S. B., Curtin, J. J., Schuster, R., & Lejuez, C. W. (2011). Unique roles of antisocial personality disorder and psychopathic traits in distress tolerance. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 120(4), 987-992. doi:10.1037/a0024161
YAVUZ, K. F., ŞAHİN, O., ULUSOY, S., İPEK, O. U., & KURT, E. (2016). Experiential avoidance, empathy, and anger-related attitudes in antisocial personality disorder. Turkish Journal Of Medical Sciences, 46(6), 1792-1800.