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write a very short (2-3 pages max) personal reflection on the portrayal of psychopathology in a movie or book.
Most people do not take a formal course in psychopathology. Popular culture is probably the most prevalent source of information about mental illness, much of it inaccurate. Decision-makers, family members, and the general public often have a skewed view of mental illness that is based on stereotypes, many of which are driven by popular representations of psychological disorders. People with mental illness might only ever have seen a popular culture representation of their illness, which could affect their self-concept, willingness to seek help, willingness to talk to friends and family, and understanding of their condition. This assignment is meant to help students appreciate the role that popular culture could play in the general population’s understanding of mental illness.
Watch a movie or read a book that has mental illness as a major theme. Then write a short reflection about how that movie or book portrays psychopathology. You might want to comment on: the accuracy of the portrayal of mental illness, the implicit or explicit etiology, prognosis, treatment suggestions, or your own reaction to seeing the portrayal. No references are required, but feel free to include them if you want to link your comments to scientific research. Please make sure that you do not simply summarize the book or movie; we want to read your own thoughts about the work, not a wikipedia entry.
