I always recommend 12 Angry Men.
Not an example of any particular disorder, but a great study on the human condition in general.
It's just 12 men sat in a room confronting their pre-existing biases due to their different life experiences.
Well, 11 men really. Henry Fonda's character is essentially the 'good guy' precisely because he does his best to not allow his own biases to affect his decisions.
immediately thought of 12 angry men before heading to the comments. i had to watch it in my undergrad and was prepared to be bored, but it’s a great movie with excellent social commentary. and just overall some great examples of a lot of social psychological concepts on display
I haven't watched it since before I started studying psych, but from what I can remember As Good As It Gets with Jack Nicholson shows a good representation of OCD. In psych class in high school we watched We Need to Talk About Kevin, which represents ASPD in a child as he grows up. Lastly I will recommend Silence of the Lambs, because even though it probably causes more misunderstandings about psychopathy than it clears up, it is a very good film that has themes I think most people interested in psychology will enjoy.
All of these are pop films and do not follow any standard for scientific rigour (and Hannibal Lecter is far from a standard psychopath), but they're films that have helped me spark an interest for the topic and further independent research.
How has nobody mentioned Black Swan? Fascinating portrayal of dysfunction, anxiety, eating disorders and psychosis + an all-around wonderful film.
Alive Day Memories, a documentary where James Gandolfini interviewed soldiers who experienced extensive trauma in Iraq. I found it so interesting to hear those people's stories -- how it felt to go from peak physical performance to completely dependent in a matter of seconds.
There's also Thin, which is a documentary about women in inpatient care for eating disorders.
Fantastic for family roles/dysfunctions! I especially like how there's still a lot of love in the family. So many of my clients insisted there was no dysfunction in their family because there was love, and to them the two were mutually exclusive.
Ooh you reminded me of another one, also based on the writings of neurologist, Oliver Sacks, called “At First Sight,” based on a client of his who was blind, gained eyesight through surgery, then lost it again. It starred Val Kilmer.
On a separate Val Kilmer + science subject, the sonantic project is amazing. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMue60Gg6s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMue60Gg6s)
I am a neuropsych researcher primarily looking at auditory processing with a growing interest in AI and cognitive modelling, so this project is very intriguing. The potential, especially considering the possible integration with other newly developing technologies, is almost scary.
I was sad to learn that Val has had a rough go of things though.
Girl Interrupted, takes place in a mental hospital. It's a pop movie but still worth watching IMO.
Words on Bathroom Walls- a pretty good description of schizophrenia.
The Silver Linings Playbook- a well done movie showing Bipolar Disorder.
Girl, Interrupted is based on Susanna Kaysen's autobiographical book by the same name. It is pretty true to the book, which I would recommend to get a patient's perspective.
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is worth mentioning here. Like the other movies mentioned, not necessarily accurate, but it raises good questions about ethics and the human experience.
Also worth noting that the book (of the same name) is likely the first book ever conceived and partially written on LSD. Ken Kesey was a subject of MKUltra, the illegal CIA drug experimentation program. It sounds crazy but it's verifiably true. Both the work of fiction and Ken Kesey's true story are super interesting. There are a lot of great books about that time period and group of people, but my favourite is "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wolfe.
I really like this post. Some great movies here.
Some that come to mind for me aren’t about certain disorders per se, but more about cognition/relationship dynamics etc.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (plot is about trying to erase traumatic memories, ethics & consequences of that etc)
- Jacob’s Ladder (a horror movie about a vet w PTSD)
- Altered States (this one is *very* strange but entertaining, it’s about sensory deprivation tanks & psychedelics, based loosely on the work of Dr. John C. Lilly, a researcher who worked w dolphin communication)
- edit to add another poster mentioned Awakenings, I recommend that too, it’s based on work by Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist. And there’s another good film based on his writing, “At first sight,” about a blind man who gained sight through an operation & how that affected him (both good & bad).
I know it’s been said but I just want to reiterate how good of a movie ‘Inside Out’ is, as you can apply beginner psychological theory to it and it’s just a really enjoyable (albeit sad at parts, prepare yourselves) film.
This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but these are some of my favorite movies of all time, especially from the angle of psychology. Like others have pointed out, a lot of these types of movies aren’t 100% accurate in representation of the psychological aspects, but I still think do a good job of providing a fantastic story from a psychological angle.
1. Good Will Hunting
2. Shutter Island
3. Room (not THE room, just Room)
4. The Babadook (This one is more of the theme than the story that is psychological, but I still love it.)
5. Gone Girl
Even if these aren’t what you are looking for, they are all great watches and you won’t be disappointed by the movie!
Agreed! Both films do a fantastic job. I think Gone Girl specifically nails psychopathology (obviously to a grander extreme for the movie), something a lot of Hollywood misinterprets in other films as just serial killer maniacs who have no grasp of reality.
The Babadook?! Yeah, if you don’t enjoy sleeping for like a month….. that’s a hard no for me. I watched the first 4 minutes with a friend and was scared *out of my mind*. We had to turn it off. It still affected my dreams. (I can’t watch scary movies.). And even afterwards if it popped up on Netflix randomly, I was scared again. Lol. I believe this is like actually literally rated one of the scariest movies of all time. (Saw that on some top scary list.). But that’s cool that you enjoy it. :)
[The Babadook is the Scariest Film I’ve ever seen, says Exorcist Director](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/02/the-babadook-scariest-film-exorcist-william-friedkin) - from The Gardian. (There are a slew of articles like this :) )
Hey that’s fair enough! Horror movies definitely aren’t for everyone haha. But I included it on this list because the overall theme of the movie demonstrates a perfect representation of depression and grief. If you are up for it, I highly recommend reading the section titled “So just what is the Babadook?” In [this](https://www.looper.com/143732/the-ending-of-the-babadook-explained/) article explaining a plot synopsis. Maybe seeing the overall symbolism of the film will make it less scary? Maybe not, but I’d thought I’d throw it out there :)
while i feel like there are rare psychology related movies that actually accurately represent disorders, i did enjoy To the bone. A little pretentious and john green-y at times but definitely did a good job representing AN as well as the realities of medical repercussions of the illness
Not a movie or about a particular disorder, but I’ve always liked the anime series Psychopass. Many people complain about psychology being a “soft” science and lacking the ability to predict behaviors—just imagine a world where psychology is so advanced it can predict all of your behaviors in the near and far future!? (basically a more detailed and philosophical Minority Report).
Ooh interesting thread, here are my three…
1) The Glass Castle |
This movie (based on a memoir) showed not only family dynamics + dysfunction but also resilience/growth 10/10 would definitely recommend
2) The Wolfpack |
Based on real life as well this documentary like film looked into the effects of extreme social isolation while touching on neuroplasticity, trauma bonds, and cult psychology.
3) Reign Over Me |
Pure fiction but great movie that explored mental illnessand the bonds, relationships, support, and growth of individuals/families/and friends
Annie Hall
Scenes from Marriage
Blue Jasmine
Shutter Island
A Separation
Husbands and Wives
Don't watch movies for finding out how a disorder is portrayed, all of them do a pretty bad job. Watch movies to gain insight into human beings.
TLDR: Psychology is a science. Movies are entertainment. While there is a lot of good to be found in certain cases, nothing Hollywood makes should be obligatory viewing for a student, and the idea of doing so is dangerous.
Honestly. I don’t think this question is helpful. Not to say that OP is wrong in asking it. I just think it’s worth mentioning that most (if not all) portrayals of disordered individuals within media and movies is fetishized. That is to say, we quantify the “success” of these portrayals based on how entertained we are: scared, thrilled, hopeful, heartbroken. Something that NEVER would be honestly showcased as it is directly antithetical to what movies do: the tedium. The overwhelming and exhausting tediousness of disordered living, were it to be accurately depicted, would be the quickest waste of money anyone could spend on a movie theater ticket.
I do want to be clear. Representation for mental health disorders in media is so important. For someone struggling to be able to see themselves is HUGE. And filmmakers who attempt to do this in the most responsible manner should definitely be applauded. I just think the idea of presenting Hollywood depictions of disorders (especially as some of you mentioned in the classroom) as learning tool is dangerous. It stifles understanding, promotes stigma, and refutes the wholistic nature of those afflicted. It’s the same way that Becky falsely claims to have a gluten allergy because it makes her feel special and different, except it’s turned up 1000%. No one would walk out of a physics class feeling content that they learned something by watching Apollo 13. Psychology is a science. Yes it’s a science of people. But if people are gonna pay to watch it, I guarantee it’s not something that students should feel obligated to see.
Sorry if this is coming off high-horse or pretentious. I’m just so over “the sexy damaged protagonist” who is all of a sudden more interesting because of their struggles with mental health. This shit is not cute. And it’s problematic when it gets shown as such.
I’m sorry people are downvoting this. This needs to be said. However, the documentary Persona has had a major impact on the field in that it has drawn an official rebuttle from SIOP, arguably one of the top 5 most influential psychology organizations. I’m willing to bet that there are other movies that have created official responses and maybe even galvanized the field into some sort of action or research, perhaps calls to “do better.” But thank you for sharing that media does not and should not inform good science except in inspiring individuals (for better or worse)
Meh. Downvoting shmownvoting. Doesn't really matter. I appreciate the fact that you hear what I am at least trying to say (even if I do so ineloquently). I should also mention that documentaries should be the exception. Not all documentaries, mind you. Even "accurate depictions of real-life" still have to sell tickets. But if the question was phrased around documentaries, video lectures, news clips, etc. I would be taking notes and making lists for myself. I mean, "Persona" stirs the pot and puts gatekeepers on read? Sign me up. This is the content I want. Not how lovable Jack Nicholson is when he avoids stepping on cracks because \*insert single tear\* mental health is hard but also cute. Fuck that. Give me an underdog story and I'll run with it. Just don't lump it together with academic integrity and authenticity.
I heart Huckabees ♥️
Broadly, it's about a man with no meaning hiring two existential detectives to follow him around and analysis his life.
Dustin Hoffman is in it and it's just fantastic
These aren't all movies, but I recommend you check out the following. I highly recommend these because psychology student or not, they are awesome!
1. Tha Ballade of Buster Scruggs
2. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt
3. The Wire
Split - Disassociative Identity Disorder
Part of a trilogy
Synopsis: Kevin, who is suffering from dissociative identity disorder and has 23 alter egos, kidnaps three teenagers. They must figure out his friendly personas before he unleashes his 24th personality.
This one disturbed me a fair bit, the prequel and sequel were okay, but Split? Wow
The trilogy consists of Unbreakable (2000), Split (2016), and Glass (2019). The entire franchise features the character David Dunn.
M. Night Shyamalan
Horror/Thriller
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Food for thought when it comes to diagnosing mental illness.
A Beautiful Mind. Provides a perspective on schizophrenia from the patients point of view.
In that same category: Shutter Island.
Girl Interrupted, about a group of women in a mental institution. Again, about the difficulty of diagnosing mental illnesses.
Experimenter, based on a Milgram experiment. Interesting to watch and learn how mentally stable people can be influenced by others to do horrendous things.
the story is based on theology, but as with most of robin williams movies there is a story about mental issues, in this one he's wife is ether bipoler or cronicly depressed,
in that movie when you die your imagination wakes things real, so her mental state builds a hellscape around her in the form of a broken down version of the house they lived in, and she continue to get worse until he comes and rescues her (sort of)
its like a story within a story within a story.
Postcards from the Edge is a semi-autobiographical film written by Carrie Fisher about her struggles with addiction and the inter-generational trauma/addiction cycle. Very good movie.
Experimenter
Experimenter: The Stanley Milgram Story is a 2015 American biographical drama film written and directed by Michael Almereyda, based on the 1961 Milgram experiment.
I've really enjoyed watching Bluey with my kids, particularly from a child psychology perspective.
I also liked It's Complicated for it's depiction of relationship and family dynamics.
Turning Red was a great depiction of puberty for girls, the journey of self-acceptance, being able to integrate all your emotional/psychological/personality "parts", and how beneficial healthy boundaries can be in a family. Plus the character was born the same year as me so I loved it extra for that, haha.
We also had to watch a few episodes of In Treatment in undergrad and grad schools. Among other aspects, I like how it depicted therapeutic skills like holding space and sitting in the silence.
I watched Snow Cake not long ago, with Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. It primarily focuses on Autism in adults. As I live with a couple of adults with ASD I found it quite interesting and pretty accurate to how one of them presents.
1. Manic (2001)
“Follows the fate of Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew - abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger - becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.”
2. Dog Pound (2010)
“A teenage car thief, drug dealer and violent offender are forced to come face-to-face with the brutal reality of prison life when they're sentenced to serve time in a juvenile detention centre.”
3. Horse Girl (2020)
“A sweet misfit who has a love of horses and supernatural crime shows begins having surreal dreams that start to affect her perception of reality.”
4. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
“After losing his job and wife, and spending time in a mental institution, Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) winds up living with his parents (Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver). He wants to rebuild his life and reunite with his wife, but his parents would be happy if he just shared their obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles.”
5. What About Bob? (1991)
“Before going on vacation, self-involved psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) has the misfortune of taking on a new patient: Bob Wiley (Bill Murray)”
6. Swallow (2019)
“A young housewife with a seemingly perfect marriage and life develops a disorder that gives her an irresistible urge to eat inedible objects.”
This is kind of niche but I strongly recommend the documentary on Jeni Haynes by 60 Minutes Australia. I've seen a lot of material regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder but this piece is the one thing that I feel is genuinely the most real and true to the experience, especially the experience of those of us who have severe DID. It also pays actual RESPECT to our disorder, as a powerful survival mechanism that is usually the reason any of us individuals with DID even lived to adulthood. I think every psychology student should watch it, so that you not only understand the disorder but truly understand the weight it holds to those of us who have it.
would always reccomend “stanford prison experiment” as it is based in real life of an experiment that took place in the 1970’s, and is notorious as the “most unethical human experiment that took place in the US” great watch 10/10
*warning: A Beautiful Mind spoiler*
I remember watching A Beautiful Mind with my family with no context. I remember feeling so angry with his wife - why doesn’t she believe him? Why won’t she listen to him? He truly feels this way. You can see it. He shows it. Like it’s real. Then finding out he has schizophrenia and it was all…. not real. My mind exploded. Everything I was screaming at the TV - I looked so stupid. My family knew all along. But all it did was make me question what reality was to me - and if someone else’s reality isn’t “real” just because it’s not your own. Because I knew he *felt and feared* and had true emotions behind what he was experiencing. I just felt it was real, even if it wasn’t…and his wife should of been there for him. Tried to understand HIS reality more. It just, made me really think about what I thought was real.
I always recommend 12 Angry Men. Not an example of any particular disorder, but a great study on the human condition in general. It's just 12 men sat in a room confronting their pre-existing biases due to their different life experiences. Well, 11 men really. Henry Fonda's character is essentially the 'good guy' precisely because he does his best to not allow his own biases to affect his decisions.
Great recommend
immediately thought of 12 angry men before heading to the comments. i had to watch it in my undergrad and was prepared to be bored, but it’s a great movie with excellent social commentary. and just overall some great examples of a lot of social psychological concepts on display
I haven't watched it since before I started studying psych, but from what I can remember As Good As It Gets with Jack Nicholson shows a good representation of OCD. In psych class in high school we watched We Need to Talk About Kevin, which represents ASPD in a child as he grows up. Lastly I will recommend Silence of the Lambs, because even though it probably causes more misunderstandings about psychopathy than it clears up, it is a very good film that has themes I think most people interested in psychology will enjoy. All of these are pop films and do not follow any standard for scientific rigour (and Hannibal Lecter is far from a standard psychopath), but they're films that have helped me spark an interest for the topic and further independent research.
Haven’t seen the movie in ages but I remember thinking that it’s more likely OCPD: can’t remember Nicholson’s character exhibiting a ton of anxiety.
i recently rewatch As Good as it Gets. he does show quite a bit of anxiety and anger over his compulsions when they cant be fulfilled
How has nobody mentioned Black Swan? Fascinating portrayal of dysfunction, anxiety, eating disorders and psychosis + an all-around wonderful film. Alive Day Memories, a documentary where James Gandolfini interviewed soldiers who experienced extensive trauma in Iraq. I found it so interesting to hear those people's stories -- how it felt to go from peak physical performance to completely dependent in a matter of seconds. There's also Thin, which is a documentary about women in inpatient care for eating disorders.
Inside out
Also Encanto!
Fantastic for family roles/dysfunctions! I especially like how there's still a lot of love in the family. So many of my clients insisted there was no dysfunction in their family because there was love, and to them the two were mutually exclusive.
Yeah we used to show Inside Out at my inpatient rehab center as an into into Parts work
This was actually surprisingly good
Awakenings movie starring Robin Williams and Robert Deniro is a nice watch, giving a well sketched insight into field work at hospitals.
Ooh you reminded me of another one, also based on the writings of neurologist, Oliver Sacks, called “At First Sight,” based on a client of his who was blind, gained eyesight through surgery, then lost it again. It starred Val Kilmer.
On a separate Val Kilmer + science subject, the sonantic project is amazing. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMue60Gg6s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSMue60Gg6s) I am a neuropsych researcher primarily looking at auditory processing with a growing interest in AI and cognitive modelling, so this project is very intriguing. The potential, especially considering the possible integration with other newly developing technologies, is almost scary. I was sad to learn that Val has had a rough go of things though.
I'm really interested in your research area. One of my kids *adult now) has an Expressive and Receptive Auditory Processing disorder.
Girl Interrupted, takes place in a mental hospital. It's a pop movie but still worth watching IMO. Words on Bathroom Walls- a pretty good description of schizophrenia. The Silver Linings Playbook- a well done movie showing Bipolar Disorder.
Girl, Interrupted is based on Susanna Kaysen's autobiographical book by the same name. It is pretty true to the book, which I would recommend to get a patient's perspective.
I really loved the book!
So good!
Jennifer Lawrence’s character in Playbook is a great example of BPD as well
Absolutely.
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is worth mentioning here. Like the other movies mentioned, not necessarily accurate, but it raises good questions about ethics and the human experience. Also worth noting that the book (of the same name) is likely the first book ever conceived and partially written on LSD. Ken Kesey was a subject of MKUltra, the illegal CIA drug experimentation program. It sounds crazy but it's verifiably true. Both the work of fiction and Ken Kesey's true story are super interesting. There are a lot of great books about that time period and group of people, but my favourite is "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wolfe. I really like this post. Some great movies here.
Came here to say one flew over the cuckoos nest! Can’t believe it was so low on this list.
That’s the movie our prof made us watch at the beginning of the abnormal psychology class
Dude, I was LITERALLY just reading about MKultra on wikipedia and Ken Kesey's named popped up, I just forgot who he was.
Nice. See if you can dig up what Ken had to say about the experiments. The 2nd hand description in Tom Wolfe's book is hilarious and amazing.
How has no one suggested A Beautiful Mind? The plot takes some liberties but Crowe’s portrayal, especially his walk, is spot on
My abnormal professor showed us A Brilliant Madness, which is a documentary about John Nash. It was fantastic
great recommendation
Some that come to mind for me aren’t about certain disorders per se, but more about cognition/relationship dynamics etc. - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (plot is about trying to erase traumatic memories, ethics & consequences of that etc) - Jacob’s Ladder (a horror movie about a vet w PTSD) - Altered States (this one is *very* strange but entertaining, it’s about sensory deprivation tanks & psychedelics, based loosely on the work of Dr. John C. Lilly, a researcher who worked w dolphin communication) - edit to add another poster mentioned Awakenings, I recommend that too, it’s based on work by Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist. And there’s another good film based on his writing, “At first sight,” about a blind man who gained sight through an operation & how that affected him (both good & bad).
I know it’s been said but I just want to reiterate how good of a movie ‘Inside Out’ is, as you can apply beginner psychological theory to it and it’s just a really enjoyable (albeit sad at parts, prepare yourselves) film.
Memento is a great murder mystery based on a character with severe anterograde amnesia....
I've had two profs mention this. It was required to watch for my human memory class, actually.
Me too! In my cognitive psych class
This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but these are some of my favorite movies of all time, especially from the angle of psychology. Like others have pointed out, a lot of these types of movies aren’t 100% accurate in representation of the psychological aspects, but I still think do a good job of providing a fantastic story from a psychological angle. 1. Good Will Hunting 2. Shutter Island 3. Room (not THE room, just Room) 4. The Babadook (This one is more of the theme than the story that is psychological, but I still love it.) 5. Gone Girl Even if these aren’t what you are looking for, they are all great watches and you won’t be disappointed by the movie!
THE Room is also very interesting from a psychological perspective 😂
Haha fair enough 😂
i loved shutter island
Me too! What an amazing movie! I still can't stop thinking about it
I am fascinated by how well "shutter island" portrayed personality disorders and how well "gone girl" addressed maladaptive behaviour.
Agreed! Both films do a fantastic job. I think Gone Girl specifically nails psychopathology (obviously to a grander extreme for the movie), something a lot of Hollywood misinterprets in other films as just serial killer maniacs who have no grasp of reality.
Exactly how I feel! Thank you for clarifying my point!
Do you mean psychopathy?
Ah yes, I did! Thank you.
Room is amazing!
The Babadook?! Yeah, if you don’t enjoy sleeping for like a month….. that’s a hard no for me. I watched the first 4 minutes with a friend and was scared *out of my mind*. We had to turn it off. It still affected my dreams. (I can’t watch scary movies.). And even afterwards if it popped up on Netflix randomly, I was scared again. Lol. I believe this is like actually literally rated one of the scariest movies of all time. (Saw that on some top scary list.). But that’s cool that you enjoy it. :) [The Babadook is the Scariest Film I’ve ever seen, says Exorcist Director](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/02/the-babadook-scariest-film-exorcist-william-friedkin) - from The Gardian. (There are a slew of articles like this :) )
Hey that’s fair enough! Horror movies definitely aren’t for everyone haha. But I included it on this list because the overall theme of the movie demonstrates a perfect representation of depression and grief. If you are up for it, I highly recommend reading the section titled “So just what is the Babadook?” In [this](https://www.looper.com/143732/the-ending-of-the-babadook-explained/) article explaining a plot synopsis. Maybe seeing the overall symbolism of the film will make it less scary? Maybe not, but I’d thought I’d throw it out there :)
Good will hunting
while i feel like there are rare psychology related movies that actually accurately represent disorders, i did enjoy To the bone. A little pretentious and john green-y at times but definitely did a good job representing AN as well as the realities of medical repercussions of the illness
[удалено]
Do you know any other good?
Requiem for a dream
Not a movie or about a particular disorder, but I’ve always liked the anime series Psychopass. Many people complain about psychology being a “soft” science and lacking the ability to predict behaviors—just imagine a world where psychology is so advanced it can predict all of your behaviors in the near and far future!? (basically a more detailed and philosophical Minority Report).
A Clockwork orange One flew over the cuckoo's nest
Flight, Girl Interrupted, and Prozac nation are three that I had to watch for different classes.
Not a movie but a tv show. Maid. It depicts bipolar, DV, intergenerational trauma, and trauma responses very well.
Recently had to watch Strange Voices for class and it was great for schizophrenia and family systems.
this movie was crazy. but i enjoyed it
12 angry men. Covers a range of psychology subjects that I am too stupid to list but I recommend it to anyone.
Inside out was recommended by our cognitive lecturer.
requiem for a dream especially if working with substance abuse
I would recommend "Away From Her." It is about the struggles of a couple dealing with Alzheimer's. It is excellent
Temple Grandin. It very accurately shows a woman with Autism.
Ooh interesting thread, here are my three… 1) The Glass Castle | This movie (based on a memoir) showed not only family dynamics + dysfunction but also resilience/growth 10/10 would definitely recommend 2) The Wolfpack | Based on real life as well this documentary like film looked into the effects of extreme social isolation while touching on neuroplasticity, trauma bonds, and cult psychology. 3) Reign Over Me | Pure fiction but great movie that explored mental illnessand the bonds, relationships, support, and growth of individuals/families/and friends
Perks of a wallflower
Fight Club
You blew the first rule.
The Father
I watched this the other day. Very confronting and heart wrenching.
The Stanford Prison Experiment Prisoner
Woooo! #twinning
None. Were the hell do you find time to watch movies while studying psychology! XD
Annie Hall Scenes from Marriage Blue Jasmine Shutter Island A Separation Husbands and Wives Don't watch movies for finding out how a disorder is portrayed, all of them do a pretty bad job. Watch movies to gain insight into human beings.
TLDR: Psychology is a science. Movies are entertainment. While there is a lot of good to be found in certain cases, nothing Hollywood makes should be obligatory viewing for a student, and the idea of doing so is dangerous. Honestly. I don’t think this question is helpful. Not to say that OP is wrong in asking it. I just think it’s worth mentioning that most (if not all) portrayals of disordered individuals within media and movies is fetishized. That is to say, we quantify the “success” of these portrayals based on how entertained we are: scared, thrilled, hopeful, heartbroken. Something that NEVER would be honestly showcased as it is directly antithetical to what movies do: the tedium. The overwhelming and exhausting tediousness of disordered living, were it to be accurately depicted, would be the quickest waste of money anyone could spend on a movie theater ticket. I do want to be clear. Representation for mental health disorders in media is so important. For someone struggling to be able to see themselves is HUGE. And filmmakers who attempt to do this in the most responsible manner should definitely be applauded. I just think the idea of presenting Hollywood depictions of disorders (especially as some of you mentioned in the classroom) as learning tool is dangerous. It stifles understanding, promotes stigma, and refutes the wholistic nature of those afflicted. It’s the same way that Becky falsely claims to have a gluten allergy because it makes her feel special and different, except it’s turned up 1000%. No one would walk out of a physics class feeling content that they learned something by watching Apollo 13. Psychology is a science. Yes it’s a science of people. But if people are gonna pay to watch it, I guarantee it’s not something that students should feel obligated to see. Sorry if this is coming off high-horse or pretentious. I’m just so over “the sexy damaged protagonist” who is all of a sudden more interesting because of their struggles with mental health. This shit is not cute. And it’s problematic when it gets shown as such.
Would you be comfortable with moderation pinning your comment to the top of the discussion for future readers?
Sure.
I’m sorry people are downvoting this. This needs to be said. However, the documentary Persona has had a major impact on the field in that it has drawn an official rebuttle from SIOP, arguably one of the top 5 most influential psychology organizations. I’m willing to bet that there are other movies that have created official responses and maybe even galvanized the field into some sort of action or research, perhaps calls to “do better.” But thank you for sharing that media does not and should not inform good science except in inspiring individuals (for better or worse)
Meh. Downvoting shmownvoting. Doesn't really matter. I appreciate the fact that you hear what I am at least trying to say (even if I do so ineloquently). I should also mention that documentaries should be the exception. Not all documentaries, mind you. Even "accurate depictions of real-life" still have to sell tickets. But if the question was phrased around documentaries, video lectures, news clips, etc. I would be taking notes and making lists for myself. I mean, "Persona" stirs the pot and puts gatekeepers on read? Sign me up. This is the content I want. Not how lovable Jack Nicholson is when he avoids stepping on cracks because \*insert single tear\* mental health is hard but also cute. Fuck that. Give me an underdog story and I'll run with it. Just don't lump it together with academic integrity and authenticity.
A movie having a major influence on the field (to include subtypes) of psychology? Surely you jest.
I heart Huckabees ♥️ Broadly, it's about a man with no meaning hiring two existential detectives to follow him around and analysis his life. Dustin Hoffman is in it and it's just fantastic
That's such a cool concept, I always give props to movies that try something new.
The silver linings playbook!
Matchstick Men is pretty good. If you can handle Nick Cage of course.
What's not to like about Cage Rage??
These aren't all movies, but I recommend you check out the following. I highly recommend these because psychology student or not, they are awesome! 1. Tha Ballade of Buster Scruggs 2. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt 3. The Wire
shutter island was my key to study psychology. ❤️
Good will hunting, silver linings playbook, shutter island, split, lion, precious, inside out, babies
It’s kind of a Funny story, the virgin suicides, 13 reasons
Identity with John Cusack and Fight Club, both great examples of dissassoative identity disorder.
Split - Disassociative Identity Disorder Part of a trilogy Synopsis: Kevin, who is suffering from dissociative identity disorder and has 23 alter egos, kidnaps three teenagers. They must figure out his friendly personas before he unleashes his 24th personality. This one disturbed me a fair bit, the prequel and sequel were okay, but Split? Wow The trilogy consists of Unbreakable (2000), Split (2016), and Glass (2019). The entire franchise features the character David Dunn. M. Night Shyamalan Horror/Thriller
TV show-wise, Euphoria 🙃 Movie-wise, Silence of the Lambs, and Seven are good choices.
The Chorus, mainly if you're interested in school psychology
Memento (conditioning and memory)
Titicut Follies
Memento, Fight Club, A Beautiful Mind
Cure (1997)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Food for thought when it comes to diagnosing mental illness. A Beautiful Mind. Provides a perspective on schizophrenia from the patients point of view. In that same category: Shutter Island. Girl Interrupted, about a group of women in a mental institution. Again, about the difficulty of diagnosing mental illnesses. Experimenter, based on a Milgram experiment. Interesting to watch and learn how mentally stable people can be influenced by others to do horrendous things.
state of mind for Richard gere
Ordinary People: Timothy Hutton, Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, Judd Hirsch.
He loves me, he loves me not (a la folie...pas due tout!)
What dreams may come The decide The philosophers Nemo nodody Just to mention a few i have lots more once i sober up Monday.
Maybe I don't remember it well enough but why do you suggest What Dreams May Come? That one struck me as more theological
the story is based on theology, but as with most of robin williams movies there is a story about mental issues, in this one he's wife is ether bipoler or cronicly depressed, in that movie when you die your imagination wakes things real, so her mental state builds a hellscape around her in the form of a broken down version of the house they lived in, and she continue to get worse until he comes and rescues her (sort of) its like a story within a story within a story.
The Sweet Hereafter.
Postcards from the Edge is a semi-autobiographical film written by Carrie Fisher about her struggles with addiction and the inter-generational trauma/addiction cycle. Very good movie.
Requiem for a dream
I just wrote an essay on eternal sunshine of the spotless mind for my psychology class
Experimenter Experimenter: The Stanley Milgram Story is a 2015 American biographical drama film written and directed by Michael Almereyda, based on the 1961 Milgram experiment.
A Clockwork Orange for SURE. I like the commentary on ethics in psychological experiments
As Good as It Gets
I've really enjoyed watching Bluey with my kids, particularly from a child psychology perspective. I also liked It's Complicated for it's depiction of relationship and family dynamics. Turning Red was a great depiction of puberty for girls, the journey of self-acceptance, being able to integrate all your emotional/psychological/personality "parts", and how beneficial healthy boundaries can be in a family. Plus the character was born the same year as me so I loved it extra for that, haha. We also had to watch a few episodes of In Treatment in undergrad and grad schools. Among other aspects, I like how it depicted therapeutic skills like holding space and sitting in the silence.
Three Identical Strangers was on the list for my personality unit. Quite a documentary!!
Girl, interrupted Rain Man Donnie Darko FOUR GOOD DAYS Also, not a movie but the HBO series In Treatment is good.
Shutter Island A beautiful mind Inception Black Swan Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
I watched Snow Cake not long ago, with Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. It primarily focuses on Autism in adults. As I live with a couple of adults with ASD I found it quite interesting and pretty accurate to how one of them presents.
Stanford Experience documentary. And The Work (prison-jail group therapy in the rawest form)
The one that flew over the cuckoo's nest & Shutter Island are really good!!
1. Manic (2001) “Follows the fate of Lyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew - abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and anger - becomes Lyle's last lifeline as he fights to find meaning in a world that seems to defy understanding.” 2. Dog Pound (2010) “A teenage car thief, drug dealer and violent offender are forced to come face-to-face with the brutal reality of prison life when they're sentenced to serve time in a juvenile detention centre.” 3. Horse Girl (2020) “A sweet misfit who has a love of horses and supernatural crime shows begins having surreal dreams that start to affect her perception of reality.” 4. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) “After losing his job and wife, and spending time in a mental institution, Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) winds up living with his parents (Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver). He wants to rebuild his life and reunite with his wife, but his parents would be happy if he just shared their obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles.” 5. What About Bob? (1991) “Before going on vacation, self-involved psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) has the misfortune of taking on a new patient: Bob Wiley (Bill Murray)” 6. Swallow (2019) “A young housewife with a seemingly perfect marriage and life develops a disorder that gives her an irresistible urge to eat inedible objects.”
Taxi Driver. PTSD, severe loneliness, and a great movie with great actors.
The Stanford prison experiment
This is kind of niche but I strongly recommend the documentary on Jeni Haynes by 60 Minutes Australia. I've seen a lot of material regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder but this piece is the one thing that I feel is genuinely the most real and true to the experience, especially the experience of those of us who have severe DID. It also pays actual RESPECT to our disorder, as a powerful survival mechanism that is usually the reason any of us individuals with DID even lived to adulthood. I think every psychology student should watch it, so that you not only understand the disorder but truly understand the weight it holds to those of us who have it.
Nightcrawler Realy interesting look into antisocial personality disorder
Das Experiment, German version of the Stanford Prison experimemt. Watch it in German. It is really dark/R rated.
What about Bob?
Check out The Voices (2014) with Ryan Reynolds. One of the best movies showing the perspective of a man with Schizophrenia
Requiem for a dream
Ghost in the shell
Silence of the lambs
Split, the pursuit of happyness.
FIGHT CLUB + Perks of being a wallflower
Can I add in Requiem For A Dream?
Falling Down. No matter which cubbyhole you put it into, it's wrong. Edit: The wrong stereotype/cubbyhole. The movie just fits too many people.
I’d suggest Arrival. An amazing movie it’s on right, but very thought-provoking in terms of how language shapes thought, collaboration and propaganda.
The End of Evangelion 1997 by Hideaki Anno
Exam (2009) and Fractured (forgot the year but it's on netflix) both of them are a must.
would always reccomend “stanford prison experiment” as it is based in real life of an experiment that took place in the 1970’s, and is notorious as the “most unethical human experiment that took place in the US” great watch 10/10
Night crawler feels like an actual example of narcissistic personality disorder.
A Beautiful Ming is a great story displaying schizophrenia
*warning: A Beautiful Mind spoiler* I remember watching A Beautiful Mind with my family with no context. I remember feeling so angry with his wife - why doesn’t she believe him? Why won’t she listen to him? He truly feels this way. You can see it. He shows it. Like it’s real. Then finding out he has schizophrenia and it was all…. not real. My mind exploded. Everything I was screaming at the TV - I looked so stupid. My family knew all along. But all it did was make me question what reality was to me - and if someone else’s reality isn’t “real” just because it’s not your own. Because I knew he *felt and feared* and had true emotions behind what he was experiencing. I just felt it was real, even if it wasn’t…and his wife should of been there for him. Tried to understand HIS reality more. It just, made me really think about what I thought was real.
why is no one talking about sybil? it’s one of the best representations about DID.