The aim of this paper is to discuss the portrayal of psychology in modern cinema and television. The paper will attempt to shed light on inaccurate depictions of psychotherapy and mental health that fuel people’s biases and prevent many from seeking help.
Discussion
For me, the word ‘psychology’ means the science about humans, their behavior, and thought process. I also view psychology as a practical discipline that can be used by people in their daily lives and applied to the treatment of mental illnesses by certified practitioners. There is no denying that I am entering this course with a wide range of preconceived notions about psychology. For example, when conducting research for this paper, I have discovered that my long-standing belief about therapists being on-call crisis managers was not supported by reality (Finlay, 2015). In fact, therapists are obliged to maintain therapeutic boundaries both inside and outside their offices, thereby maintain healthy relationships with their clients.
Modern entertainment media has long been a major source of information about mental illness and psychotherapy for those who do not major in psychology. Fictional therapists in psychology shows such as In Treatment, Lie to Me, and Hoarders are extremely popular with TV audiences. Unfortunately, these shows often depict experts in psychology whose behavior would be harmful in real-life therapy, thereby creating skewed perceptions about help seeking (Jamieson, n.d.). There is ample evidence that people’s knowledge of schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder is derived from television programs and movies (Fawcett, 2015). It means that inaccurate portrayals of these illnesses contribute to the development of social stigmas, which are extremely harmful to individuals requiring psychological help.
The media is rife with negative portrayals of therapists who cannot be trusted with secrets. A case in point is Dr. Arnold Wayne, a psychiatrist in a popular TV-series Mad Men who reported details of his sessions to a client’s husband (Mitchell, 2013). In reality, client confidentiality is a key requirement of therapy that has to be followed at all costs. Licensed mental health professionals operate within ethical and legal boundaries; therefore, the contents of therapy are not discussed with external parties. A rare exception to the requirement of confidentiality is an imminent threat to either a patient or others, which might force a therapist “to testify against their clients” (Good Therapy, 2017, para. 4). It means that an image of self-serving and devious psychology practitioners cannot be further from the truth.
Many movies make people with mental disorders look either childish or threatening. Usual media stereotypes include, but are not limited to, disheveled hair and clothes, disorderly behavior, and unpleasant character quirks. Such visual signifiers are not only inaccurate but also extremely harmful. Fawcett (2015) argues that these images do not help to convey that “most people with serious mental illnesses are in pain” (para. 11). Maier, Gentile, and Vogel (2014) also state that the inaccurate construction of reality of mental disorders diminishes one’s willingness to ask for help, thereby undermining the well-being of individuals who are in need of mental health services. It follows that people’s beliefs about mental health issues are largely shaped by their portrayals in cinema and television, which are more harmful than helpful.
Conclusion
The paper has discussed the role of the media in the creation of people’s beliefs about psychotherapy and mental health. It has been argued that movies and TV shows contribute to negative perceptions about mental illnesses and therapists, thereby steering troubled individuals away from therapy.
References
Fawcett, K. (2015). How mental illness is misrepresented in the media. Web.
Finlay, L. (2015). Relational integrative psychotherapy: Engaging process and theory in practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Good Therapy. (2017). Client confidentiality. Web.
Jamieson, D. (n.d.). Does TV accurately portray psychology?
Maier, J., Gentile, D., & Vogel, D. (2014). Media influences on self-stigma of seeking psychological services: The importance of media portrayals and person perception. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 3(4), 239-256.
Mitchell, D. (2013). 5 lies people learn from the media about therapy. Web.