Portrayals Of Schizophrenia

Media portrayal of the mental illnesses schizophrenia are damaging not only to individuals with schizophrenia, but also ‘normal’ people such as the families of those who are schizophrenic. The media portrays schizophrenia sufferers as violent peoples who will harm given the opportunity, and as such, should not be trusted and should be approached with caution. These portrayals are incorrect,

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects one out of 100 people and presents with both positive and negative symptoms. Misconceptions of people with schizophrenia may include a belief that they are violent however they are more likely to be the victims of violence as of result of their abnormal behaviors. Positive symptoms may include the presence of symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and abnormal behavior whereas negative symptoms indicate a lack of a particular behavior. A positive symptom of schizophrenia may include hallucinations which are typically auditory hallucinations although may also be visual hallucinations in which clients experience some event despite a lack of stimuli. A negative symptom

Although stigmatizing attitudes are not only relatable to mental illness, the public attitudes towards mental illness tend to be more disapproving than towards people with physical illnesses (Piner and Kahle, 1984; Socall and Holtgraves, 1992; Weiner, Perry and Magnusson, 1988). Those with mental illnesses are viewed as being more likely to be responsible for their mental illness (Corrigan et al., 2000; 105). This assumptions is more towards those who suffer from substance additions and eating disorders rather than those who suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia (Angermeyer and Matschinger, 2004). Such attitudes as these therefore lead to discrimination. People in society are less likely to employ (Bordieri and Drehmer, 1986) and rent apartments (Page, 1977) to those suffering from mental illness, citizens are also more likely to direct false accusations of violence to the mentally ill. (Explaining the increased arrest rate among mental patients: a cautionary note, 1980; Steadman, 1981)

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that usually shows up in adolescence or young adulthood but can be seen in children as young as eight years old. It is a long term mental disorder characterized by a faulty perception of reality, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation. It typically involves the breakdown of a person’s relationship between thought, emotion, and behavior. Currently, there are five subtypes of schizophrenia included in the DSM-5; paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual. Each subtype is characterized by their most prominent symptom. For instance, paranoid schizophrenia is a subtype in which a person experiences

Public perceptions of Schizophrenia are mostly negative. This is due to the public being judgemental and inconsiderate about they way the patience have to deal with the mental illness. Not knowing much about the illness, they assume negative and false information about it, therefore producing stereotypes and myths such as having split personalities or being dangerous and violent (Owen, 2007). Some evidence that there are negative perceptions of Schizophrenia is “In 1998, the Royal College of Psychiatrists commissioned the Office for National Statistics to carry out a national survey of public opinions about people with mental illnesses. Negative opinions were widespread, especially in relation to people with schizophrenia, who were widely regarded as unpredictable and dangerous (Crisp, Gelder, Goddard, & Meltzer, 2005). Negative attributes of Schizophrenia are being the focal point in the media (Crisp, Gelder, Goddard, & Meltzer, 2005).

From the survey results concluded that the public has a better understanding of mental illness however, the amount of stigmatization towards people with mental illnesses has not been reduced significantly. The survey results from 2006 show that the public endorses medical care for people who have mental illnesses, it was felt both general health care and specialty mental health care were deserved accessible to people with mental illnesses. However, the percentage of people who felt forced hospitalization was the best treatment for people with schizophrenia was greatly increased. A majority of the people surveyed still expressed unwillingness to interact socially with a person who has a mental illness, in fact even more of the participants were unwilling to have a person with schizophrenia as a neighbor in 2006 compared to the 1996 survey results. Furthermore, it was commonly felt that people with schizophrenia and alcoholism would act violent towards the

In 1968 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) updated the definition of schizophrenia to include hostility, aggressiveness, and lack of acceptance of oneself. The next social, or cultural influence is that of stigma against mental illness in our daily lives. These attitudes play on decisions made in our lives that affect the larger world. In a recent poll released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) finds misconceptions to be prominent by American society. “Slightly more than 70 percent of those surveyed would be afraid for their own safety around a person who has not received treatment for schizophrenia, and 21 percent would be afraid for their own safety around a person who had been treated for the disorder, according to the results” (American Psychiatric Association, 2011).

People with mental illness are experiencing a lot of stigma and judgment from the society, they are judged for not being able to fit into their societal roles. Schizophrenia is one form of mental illness that is not as often researched or understood as other mental illness such as depression or anxiety disorder. Individuals that are diagnosed with schizophrenia in our society are dealing with a lot of prejudice and discrimination, which causes them to distant themselves from society. Stigma imposed by societal norms can affect the social identity of individuals with mental illness; this can be seen by the example of individuals with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder of the brain. Schizophrenia also has the most negative stigma attached to it as well. People who view schizophrenia in a negative aspect, tend to think that schizophrenic people are all violent and unpredictable (The Leap Institute, 2013). This is not always accurate because schizophrenic symptoms vary in drastic ways. The common symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, hearing voices, paranoid thoughts, anosognosia (poor insight), confusion, forgetfullness, unfocused, and isolation/withdraw from others. The more negative symptoms are a decreased motivation,  lack of energy,  and lack of facial expressions (The Leap Institute, 2013).

The DSM V defines schizophrenia as abnormalities in one or more of the following five domains: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking (speech), grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior (including catatonia), and negative symptoms. The World Health Organization ranks schizophrenia as more disabling than amputation of both legs, severe stroke, end-stage kidney severe Parkinson’s disease, or terminal cancer. Symptoms of schizophrenia are delusions, hallucinations, distortion of oneself, unable to speak coherently, emotional distortions and lack of awareness of one’s illness. Persecutory delusions (i.e., belief that one is going to be harmed, harassed, and so forth by an individual, organization, or other group)

Schizophrenia is “A serious disorder which affects how a person thinks, feels and acts” (Mentalhealthamerica.net). Schizophrenia is a disorder distinguished by disturbances in thoughts, behavior, and emotion. Though it is not common and affects a clear minority of 1%. It is a disorder that occurs to all ages and can develop anywhere between their lifetimes. The disorder allows a person to feel their reality as being unrecognizable and confusing. The cognitive issues of the individual

Schizophrenia is a long-term mental illness involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior. It often leads to a faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, and withdrawal from reality into fantasy and delusion. Schizophrenia is complex and is often confused with other diseases that share common symptoms. Schizophrenia is considered a brain disease and is not as common as other mental disorders but can be disabling. Approximately around 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with schizophrenia around the world. There are around 200,000 cases a year in the US alone. The cause of schizophrenia is still unknown but is thought to be linked to genetics and brain chemistry. The reason I chose this topic is because

The media portrays people with schizophrenia to be violent and also able to commit gruesome murders. With this negative media attention people in the United States seem to have an obscured idea about this mental illness. There are positive, negative, and disorganized symptoms each different in their own way; but work together to formulate schizophrenia.

While “movies, newspapers, magazines, television shows, books, radio programs, and advertisements have all been vehicles for communicating the experience of…mental illness” it usually “[tends] to be a misrepresentation of the experience” (Corrigan 201). This has a major negative impact on people suffering from mental illnesses because they feel sentiments of “societal scorn and discrimination” which ultimately “leads to diminished self-esteem, fear of pursuing one’s goals, and loss of social opportunities” (Corrigan 201). There seems to be a revival in the world of movies and television of depicting forms of exploring the minds of serial killers which started in the 60s with the creation of the Horror film genre. There is almost a strange fascination amongst audiences to know more about the minds of murderers and those who are too sick to see the wrong they are doing. Films depicting mental health have a great impact on the lives of those suffering from mental illness and also the perceptions of those who do not suffer from mental illness. The mostly negative stigma surrounding those who suffer from mental disorders gives them a bad reputation that impacts most aspects of their lives.

Movies and other forms of popular entertainment sources have often presented varied information and as well as misinformation about schizophrenia, most specifically in regard to its negative portrayals, which can lead to confused public opinion. In summary, majority of movies and popular entrainment media sources portrays people with schizophrenia as violent and with homicidal and suicide thoughts. In addition, most characters in these media sources are portrayed as Caucasians, males, and with supernatural abilities (Gaebel, 2011).