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Running head: PORTRAYAL OF PERSON’S WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

Measuring Films Depictions of Person’s With Bipolar Disorder

Anne Weltner

University of San Francisco

Measuring Films Depiction of Person’s With Bipolar Disorder

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Abstract

Key Words: portrayal, perception, bipolar disorder, mental illness, paranoia, anger, depression,

agitation, illusions of grandeur, self-medicating, delusional

Measuring Film’s Depiction of Person’s With Bipolar Disorder

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Often times person’s with mental illness are viewed as victims or perpetrator’s of crime,

touched with a sense of evil, violent, dangerous, socially awkward, and frequently in need of as-

sistance (Doherty & MacGeorge, 2014; Fruth, Padderud, 1985; Huffier & Cohen). According to

Newsweek (2014), there are 42.5 million adult Americans who suffer from mental illness every

year. These conditions include depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Although some progress has been made regarding perceptions of such person’s deemed

mentally ill, people’s misconception of those who are mentally ill are far from where acceptance

needs to be. Unfortunately for some, they lack social support and understanding from the por-

trayal of mental illness, whether on television, movies or magazines. These misconceptions can

become a barrier from seeking help, whether from professionals or peer support.

There has been considerable research concerning the portrayal of person’s with mental ill-

ness, stigma and social support (Doherty & MacGeorge, 2014; Fruth, Padderud, 1985; Huffier &

Cohen, 2015; McKeever, 2014; Rasmussen, Ewoldsen, 2013; Segrin, 2006; Vayreda, Antaki,

2009). Although mental illness is more readily understood, there is still a lot of stigma directed

toward those who are afflicted (Doherty & MacGeorge, 2014; Hoffner & Cohen, 2015).

We all may know someone who is mentally ill and have conceptions and misconceptions

regarding their illness. Media can have a strong influence on person’s with mental illness,

whether through the form of television shows, self- help books and/ or magazines. Fruth and

Padderud (1985) suggest attitudes toward those who are mentally ill reveals the fear, dislike and

unpredictable behavior that may arise. However, after viewer see person’s with mental illness on

television shows, they tend to sympathize with them, which encourages them to reach out and

give their support (Fruth, Padderud, 1985; Huffier & Cohen, 2015; McKeever, 2015; Rasmussen,

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Ewoldsen, 2013). In McKeever’s (2015) article, he uses empathy as a key determinant in shaping

people’s perception of mental illness.

Where do people who are mentally ill get represented? Shows like Dr. Phil are viewed by

some as “infotainment,” marketed as “providing the most comprehensive forum of mental illness

in the history of television” (Rasmussen & Ewoldsen, 2013, p. 612). Rasmussen and Ewoldsen

(2013) studied not only self- help shows like Dr. Phil, but also Psychology Today or other “self-

help” books. Accordingly, they predicted that these weren’t the most realistic or idealized ver-

sions of person’s with mental illness and can be detrimental in their progress. As with most

things in life, one size doesn’t fit all. It is most important to seek professional help than browse

Barnes and Noble’s to cope with your bouts of depression or a manic relative.

The lack of social support and understanding for one who is mentally ill can have detri-

mental effects when mental illness is portrayed in the media (Doherty & MacGeorge, 2014;

Fruth, Padderud, 1985; Hoffner & Cohen, 2015; Rasmussen, Ewoldsen, 2013). Such effects may

hinder one from seeking help, or cause others to believe they have the affliction when in fact

they don’t. Aside from poor representation in media, mentally ill individuals don’t want to cate-

gorize themselves as helpless or a burden upon loved ones (Doherty & MacGeorge, 2014). Addi-

tionally, Doherty & MacGeorge (2014) state that comforting, “giving information or advice and

conveying different forms of help is an ongoing process” (p. 114).

Therefore, being portrayed as weak, interdependent, sick, violent or otherwise reckless

may hinder mentally ill individuals from seeking the proper care they need. In examining the ef-

fects of mental illness in daytime television serials, all of the individuals who were portrayed to

be mentally ill were women, while men were three times less likely to be mentally ill. However,

the men who were mentally ill were seen as more dangerous than their female counterparts

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(Fruth, Padderud, 1985). Although this study was conducted thirty years ago, it appears as if gen-

der still plays a huge role in who is portrayed as mentally ill in the media (McKeever, 2015).

The ability to empathize with a character who is mentally all also shapes the portrayal of

mental illness in the media (Hoffner & Cohen, 2015; McKeever, 2015). One is more readily ac-

cepting of someone when they find common traits or similarities, such as gender or geographic

similarities than one who feels detached (McKeever, 2015). Although people may vicariously

experience mental illness by the depiction of individuals who are sick in the media, the reality of

an individual who is mentally ill is vastly different. When participants viewed the television pro-

gram Monk, they seemed to find a parasocial bond with the character (Hoffner & Cohen, 2015).

According to Hoffner and Cohen (2015) a parasocial bond is the attachment one feels that

is deeply felt when one watched someone on television that can manifest itself into the character-

istics of a “real” relationship. Although Hoffner and Cohen’s (2015) focus is on OCD depicted in

the show Monk, the portrayal of such anxiety disorders as seen as “socially awkward and in fre-

quent need and assistance” (p. 1046). In developing empathy, or a parasocial bond with a charac-

ter who is portrayed as mentally ill, participants left feeling informed and motivated to support

their loved one who is unstable (Hoffner & Cohen, 2015; McKeever, 2015; Vayreda, Antaki,

2009).

Aside from television programs, self-help books and movies, online forums are another

way in which support from others can impact individuals who are mentally ill (Vayreda, Antaki,

2009).

Although the past literature on the portrayal of mental illness either though media percep-

tion or young adults, there were several limitations. All of the articles depicting media characters

that were mentally ill represented an outdated outlook on mental illness. The television show

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Monk was cancelled in 2004 and the serial daytime television study was conducted thirty years

ago. However, there were no films depicting bipolar disorder. Therefore, I would like to pose the

following, “Do films accurately portray person’s with bipolar disorder?” I predict that films do

not accurately portray individuals with bipolar disorder. In the following study, I will review

films specifically depicting bipolar disorder.

H1: Films do not accurately portray person’s with bipolar disorder.

RQ: Do films accurately portray person’s with bipolar disorder?

For the purpose of this study, I analyzed the following films: Infinite Polar Bear (2015),

Mr. Jones (1993), The Hours (2002), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Running With Scissors

(2006), Blue Sky (1994) and Mad Love (1995). Although these films are spread out over the last

twenty years, the themes all remain the same. Here are some of the descriptions of the portrayal

of mental illness in the following films.

Method

Participants

As this was a video analysis and used nominal data, the characters in the films who had

bipolar disorder were analyzed according to the characteristics observed in the films. Three char-

acters were male; while four characters were female. The films ranged from years 1994-2015.

The characteristics were filtered by manic portrayals to severe depression.

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Materials and Procedures

This video analysis included a Netflix subscription, which was viewed on television

along with online streaming on a laptop. The depictions from all seven actors were coded for ac-

curacy and put into seven categories: (1) anger; (2) agitation; (3) self-medicating behaviors; (4)

delusions; (5) paranoia; (6) depression; and (7) illusions of grandeur. Notes were taken through-

out the viewings whenever there was mention of the character’s condition.

Results

Discussion

References

Doherty, E., & MacGeorge, E. (2014). Barriers impeding social support: The experiences of

young adults with bipolar disorder. Iowa Journal of Communication, 46(1), 114-

137.

Fruth, L., & Padderud, A. (1985). Portrayals of mental illness in daytime serials. Journalism

Quarterly, 62(2), 384-387.

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Hoffner, C., & Cohen, E. (2015). Portrayal of mental illness on the TV show Monk: Presumed

influence and consequences of exposure. Health Communication, 30(10), 1046-

1054. doi:10.1080/10410236.2014.917840.

McKeever, R. (2015) Vicarious experience: Experimentally testing the effects of empathy for

media characters with severe depression and the intervening role of perceived

similarity. Health Communication, 30(11), 1122-1034.

doi:10.1080/10410236.2014.921969.

Rasmussen, E., & Ewoldsen, D. (2013). Dr. Phil and Psychology Today as self-help treatments

of mental illness: A content analysis of popular psychology programming. Journal of

Health Communication, 18(1), 610-623. doi:10.1080/10810730.2012.921969.

Segrin, C. (2006). Family interactions and well-being: Integrative perspectives. The Journal of

Family Communication, 6(1). doi:10.1207/s15327698jfc0601_2.

Vayreda, A., & Antaki, C. (2009). Social support and unsolicited advice in a bipolar online

forum. Qualitative Health Research, 19(7), 931-942.

doi:10.1177/1049732309338952.