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Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
Schizophrenia and the Movies: A Literature Review
Ursula Valles-Garza
University of Texas at El Paso
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Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
Abstract
Schizophrenia has been around for a very long time since the times of the Bible. When
schizophrenia was given and declared a name by Eugen Bleular many ideas of what
schizophrenia was came into play and had a great impact on the Medical and Western
World as well as the movie industry. This literature review is written to draw a brief
history on how schizophrenia impacted the medical world and how it would become
depicted in the slasher film and if the movie industry would ever have an impact on the
western world.
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Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
Schizophrenia and the Movies: A Literature Review
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which some individuals show signs of
irrational thoughts. Poor speech, hallucinations, and strange emotional responses to
certain events. These are the bizarre additions to a schizophrenic’s behavior. Another
form of schizophrenia includes social withdrawal, lack of emotion, and experience feeling
drained of energy and interest to achieve goals. In other cases of schizophrenia individuals
may show odd gestures, awkward movements or repeated grimaces. Others may display a
catatonic stupor or what would seem as though they are frozen in time for several hours.
(Comer, 2010, pp. 456-463).
Schizophrenia can be found in various types of literature. One of the best known
stories that displays signs of schizophrenia is Edgar Allan Poe’s the Tell Tale Heart. In
which a man overcome by paranoia kills an elderly man suspecting that the man’s eye is
evil and can do no good. Scenarios such as these are not uncommon especially in the
movies and as a result it can be debated on what influence the movies have on a
westernized audience, as well as what stereotypes and beliefs are drawn from the movies.
In order to grasp a better understanding on what power the movies have had and more
specifically in issues of schizophrenia four major questions need to be asked:
1. What is schizophrenia and when was it first diagnosed?
2. What impact has schizophrenia had medically and socially?
3.
How has schizophrenia been depicted in media?
4. How might perceptions be changed regarding schizophrenia?
The purpose of this paper is to address the following: schizophrenia, the diagnosis of
schizophrenia, the impact of schizophrenia socially and medically, the depictions of
schizophrenia in the movies, and how the movies can alter perceptions and ideas of
schizophrenia.
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Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
What is schizophrenia and when was it first diagnosed
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that has been around since the times of the Bible. It
was often described as ”madness” (Lavretsky, 2008, pp. 3-13). For many centuries there was no
definite name for it. Yet come 1865 a psychiatrist named Benedict Morel named it “early
dementia”. In 1899 psychiatrist Emil Kraeplin renamed it again, but in 1911 psychiatrist Eugen
Bleuler named it schizophrenia. Which means “split mind”. When Bleuler created this name he
intended it to reflect, “1 a fragmentation of thought processes, 2 a split between thoughts and
emotions, and 3 a withdrawal from reality” (Cutting, 1988. p. 152). Since the time of Bleular
schizophrenia has been the name that has remained to this psychosis.
Like any disease schizophrenia has symptoms these symptoms, are grouped into three
categories. These categories are labeled schizophrenia with positive symptoms which are
considered the really bizarre additions to an individuals personality. The symptoms usually
consist of delusions which can vary from delusions of grandeur to delusions of paranoia. Poor
speech better known as loose associations which refers to connecting words to express an idea
but the words have no true relation to each other. [Ex. “The train is coming, a train runs fast, I
read an article of people becoming faster”]. A third symptom is heightened perceptions and
hallucinations which refers to schizophrenic patients feeling that their senses are going into
overdrive which in turn effects them in a way that makes it difficult for them to function.
Next there is schizophrenia with negative symptoms which consist of lack of emotion, feeling
unusually drained to the point were they cannot achieve their goals, and social withdrawal.
Finally the third type of symptoms revolve around psychomotor symptoms which refers to
awkward movements and unusual gestures sometimes patients may display catatonia which
refers to staying in one position for countless hours as though going into a stupor. (Comer,
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2010). An example of this would be someone who holds their arms up while lying down for 6
hours as though they are frozen in time. However, what all these symptoms have in common is
that they make it so a schizophrenic patient cannot carry out regular functions. This in turn has
certain impacts both medically and socially.
What impact has schizophrenia had medically and socially?
In the early years of medicine back in the last decade of the 1700s institutions became
opened by a French physician named Philippe Pinel to treat the insane in a moral manner
[Goshen, 1967]. At this time it was considered the first time that the mentally ill were treated
with kindness and sympathy. Yet as the times progressed the number of mentally ill patients
increased dramatically to about 600,000. At that time there were not enough institutions or room
to treat the patients. As a result of the constant increase in patients and lack of funding nurses
were left to look after the much greater majority of patients. The institutes eventually became
more and more over crowded and the nurses became less and less. The job then shifted from
moral treatment to keeping things in order which further created problems in that treatment
eventually became immoral. Due to the treatment many patients underwent, more of them began
to develop additional symptoms. This soon became named, “social breakdown syndrome”
[Comer, 2010, p. 482]. Social breakdown syndrome symptoms were “extreme withdrawal,
anger, physical aggressiveness, loss of interest in personal appearance and functioning” [Comer,
2010, p. 482]. This type of treatment lasted up until 1950 which was the period milieu therapy
was created.
The concept of milieu therapy was invented in the belief that if patients were, “deprived
of opportunities to exercise independence, responsibility, and positive self-regard and to engage
in meaningful activities” [Comer, 2010, p. 484]. Then their condition would deteriote. Based on
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a study conducted in 2007 by the University of Pittsburgh, revolving 32 individuals, the
primary objective was to see how quality of life would effect patients who had schizophrenia.
“Quality of Life” was defined as social support and meeting basic needs by making sure that the
participants had leisure time, and financial resources [Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 2007,
pg. 220]. By the time this study was concluded the results showed that the mental health of
schizophrenics had a negative impact on their quality of life. Through the research conducted
the testers also found that those who did have schizophrenia, a support system, and had their
needs met had a better quality of life which increased by 25% [Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Journal, 2007, pg. 221]. Which this study could be used to confirm that Mileu Therapy to some
extent is in fact effective. In that it allows patients more freedom to express themselves. Yet
even though some aspects of milieu therapy is effective the discovery of anti-psychotic drugs has
a greater impact in improving the functions of schizophrenic patients. As shown in the
video Young schizophrenic at her mind's mercy [2009]. In which a young child with
schizophrenia is given a medication named Thorazine which helps control her delusions. The
professionals who also conducted this study state that, “As newer medications are developed and
control of the most troublesome symptoms of schizophrenia becomes reality for most
individuals, quality of life is emerging as an important treatment outcome” [Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Journal, 2007, pg. 221]. Thus also validating that medication is an important
aspect of treatment. The producers of the study also state that though their findings MAY have
significance their study was conducted on only a small amount of the schizophrenic population.
Which would mean that findings may differ on a grander scale of the schizophrenic population.
While many developments have emerged in the medical field so have developments
on perceptions of schizophrenia occurred in American Society. From the perspective of
sociocultural theorists however they feel as though schizophrenia is a label that pertains to
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Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
individuals who do not fit into the social norms of the greater human population [Modrow,
1992]. In an account Modrow writes about a patient who was diagnosed with
schizophrenia at the age of 6 years old. The patient tells Modrow that psychiatrists
labeled the young boy as crazy and recommended they send him to a psychiatric hospital
immediately. The boys Mother, believing that would damage her son did not send him to
an institution but after being told her son was crazy the speaker states that his Mother
often thought him to be crazy and as time progressed he himself began to think he really
was crazy [Modrow, 1992, pp 1-2]. Social theorists would go on to say that those who are
diagnosed with schizophrenia are immediately viewed as crazy and believe that many
schizophrenic patients will go on to pretend that they are crazy in order to fit into a
stereotype that has been created for them. [Comer, 2010, pg. 475]. This is where the role
of movies, more specifically the slasher films come into play by creating, enforcing and
projecting commonly used clichés. That of an insane mental patient on the
loose murdering the unsuspecting victims[Worland, 2007, p. 227].
How has Schizophrenia been depicted in the slasher film
However, out of all the slasher films John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) really
opened the stage of creating a label for the mentally impaired. [The Horror Fiend, 2010].
The beginning of John Carpenter’s Halloween opens on Halloween night in the year 1963
when a 6 year old boy has just finished watching his sister have sex with her boyfriend.
The boy which is later given the name Michael Myers murders his sister. The movie then
fast forwards 15 years and it becomes learned that Michael is considered insane and has
escaped from a mental hospital that he was confined to since he was 6. As the movie
progresses Michael is no longer deemed insane but rather, “pure evil” by his Psychiatrist Dr.
Sam Loomis [Carpenter, 1978]. This image implies that Dr. Loomis an assumed
professional in the medical field has already given up hope in helping Michael recover from
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his psychosis. As the movie later progresses Michael goes on a killing rampage and by the
end of the movie has slaughtered 5 victims. One of whom is murdered off screen. This is
but one depiction of a mentally impaired individual in the movies.
In 1980 another movie had come out that was directed by William Lustig named
Maniac. The movie centers on a Vietnam veteran who owns a small apartment, but what
the viewer later finds out is that the veteran named Frank Zito is actually a perverse serial
killer diagnosed with schizophrenia. Within Frank’s apartment there are a series of
mannequins laid out. To add more to how crazy Frank is, his preferred method of killing is
by scalping his victim, stealing their clothes and then placing these items on his
mannequins. On another note to add more depth to this character Lustig makes it known
that Frank talks to the mannequins as well. [The Horror Fiend, 2010]. Wanting to add
further information to this character’s mental state there are depictions of delusions and
hallucinations both of which are associated with schizophrenia. [Ex. Frank’s dead Mother
rising from the grave and the very end of the movie when all of Frank’s mannequins
transform into his victims and then attack and murder him in his bed].
In a non-scientific poll of 38 individuals, conducted on Schizophrenia and the
movies 19 of the participants could not come to a consensus on depictions of schizophrenia
and the movies. The remaining 19 that did come to a consensus were asked to list the
movies that they had seen with depictions of schizophrenia. They were then asked to read
a list of symptoms of schizophrenia taken from Comer and then voted whether
or not the movies they had listed gave realistic depictions of schizophrenia. The 19
participants voted as follows:
46.4% of the participants when given the list of symptoms in schizophrenia voted
that the movies present a non-realistic depiction of schizophrenia and it’s symptoms.
32.1% voted that the movies did depict a realistic depiction of schizophrenia and it’s
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Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
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symptoms and 21.4% said that It depended on the movie.
Realistic Depiction of
Schizophrenia in the
movies
Yes
No
It Depends
21%
47%
32%
Though these numbers are considered overall insignificant in terms of the larger human
population the more significant finding from this survey comes later on when the
remaining 19 participants were asked about the influence of the movies in western society
depicting schizophrenia.
How might perceptions be changed regarding schizophrenia
As social theorist proposed according to Comer, patients of schizophrenia are
labeled as “schizophrenic” because these patients do not fit into the social norms of
western society. Going back to Cutting when he spoke about how Bleular developed the
name, “schizophrenia” Bleular’s logic is that schizophrenic patients are different as
they already have, “1 a fragmentation of thought processes, 2 a split between thoughts and
emotions, and 3 a withdrawal from reality” (Cutting, 1988. p. 152). In another portion of the
survey conducted on schizophrenia and the movies, participants were also asked if depictions of
schizophrenia in the movies had influenced western culture in their assumptions of how
and why a schizophrenic patient behaves the way they do. The 19 that had reached a
consensus on the movies and schizophrenia voted 73.7% “Yes” and the remaining 26.3%
“No” the participants were then asked to explain why they voted the way they did one
participant who voted “Yes,” as an answer said the following, “Yes- I believe that they make
the condition seem, at some times, much worse than it actually is- or that it adds a certain
Running Head: SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE MEDIA
edge to it. It certainly makes you more hesitant to behave or react a certain way, when
confronted with the possibility of schizophrenia- namely because you never know quite
what to expect in the movies,” and a participant that answered, “No,” explained “ I have
not seen a movie about schizophrenics” . In an article written by Vivek Datta the author
had this to say about movies and mental illness, “For many people, the movies have
coloured their perception of the mentally ill and doctors who care for them. The
representation of mental illness, psychiatry and psychiatrists in cinema has reflected the
prevailing attitudes to the aetiology of mental disorders and public attitudes towards the
discipline of psychiatry” [Datta, 2009, p. 261]. In other words Datta is stating that they
believe the movies have carved out an image as to how and what a mentally impaired
person is and acts like. However, Datta only expresses one view and only time will tell if
movies play a key component in perceptions of mental ailments.
Conclusion
The information covered within this paper has come from many points of view
differing from the medical perspective, the perspective of everyday humans, and
perspectives relating to the slasher films. Within this essay schizophrenia has been
discussed as a mental disorder that has been around for a very long time and that has
captivated many people, doctors, audiences, and film directors. It has been explained that
schizophrenia has influenced the medical world and social world by forging new ideas and
theories that in time have influenced the medical world, and helped birth the slasher films
which has questioned whether schizophrenic patients are different from the greater
majority of western society, or just insane. Which has revealed that there are perceptions
of schizophrenia that have had an impact on western society. However, the research
remains inconclusive on whether or not these perceptions of schizophrenia are good or
bad.
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