University Psychology Film Report: Girl, Interrupted Analysis

This report analyzes the film 'Girl, Interrupted,' focusing on the portrayal of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and other psychological concepts. The report begins by identifying the theme of BPD in the film and providing a detailed description of the disorder, including its characteristics, causes, and diagnostic criteria. It then examines specific instances in the movie where the protagonist, Susanna, exhibits symptoms of BPD, such as suicidal tendencies, impulsive behavior, unstable relationships, and feelings of emptiness. The report critiques the film's portrayal of BPD, highlighting its strengths in depicting the patient's perspective and the challenges faced by individuals with the disorder. The critique also mentions some potential inaccuracies in the film's depiction, such as the hospital environment and the lack of personalized therapy. The report concludes by referencing the film and relevant psychological resources, providing a comprehensive analysis of the film's psychological aspects and its accuracy in portraying BPD and related disorders.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Research Critique
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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PSYCHOLOGY
Table of Contents
Identification of the theme.........................................................................................................1
Psychological Concept Description...........................................................................................2
The potrayl of the illness through the movie.............................................................................2
Criticizing the potrayal of the concept.......................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4
Identification of the theme
The film depicts different psychological disorders such as Boderline Personality
Disorder, Sociopathic Personality Disorder, Pathological lying and anorexia. However, it
highlights the aspect of borderline personality disorder (BPD) of the protagonist Susana.

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Psychological Concept Description
BPD is characterized with extreme outbursts of emotions for an extended period, and
the individual cannot return to baseline. Other complications include impulsive nature, a poor
self-view, and unstable interpersonal relationship. Impulsive behaviour and struggling with
existence can lead to suicidal tendency. Some difficulties can be void and disconnected
feeling leading to paranoid thoughts and short psychotic episodes.The cause of BPD can be
genetic predospition, environmental factors and personal experiences or a deformity in the
brain function. It can be successfully diagnosed by a clinical expert after interviewing the
patient (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2019).
The potrayl of the illness through the movie
The instance was there in the movie when she showed suicidal symptom, where she
consumed aspirin with vodka and she confessed later she had no control on her grip. The
second instance was self-destruction where she wounded her wrists everywhere. Then again
she did not want to remain abandoned and hence everytime engaged in illicit relationships,
like with her instructor and with a fellow after graduation. The fourth instance was filling the
emptiness of her life. Inspite of knowing that there is a potential harm, she fled with Lisa
from the mental instituition to meet another lady Polly. Another instance was when she had a
shift of personality and behaved unlike herself. There was a moment at the end of the film
where she uttered that she did’nt care what was going to happen but she will do according to
her will. When Daisy committed suicide, she confessed to her therapist that she knows how is
the feeling of the desire to die, and trying to smile and the thought of killing her innerself.
The very origin of the BPD can occur on her very childhood, where she was less
acknowledged and appreciated by her parents which caused a resentment towards herself.

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PSYCHOLOGY
Criticizing the potrayal of the concept
Girl, Interrupted is such a film which is a brilliant potrayal of mental illness from the
patient’s point of view depicting clearly their struggle, their difficulties and their co-existence
and inter-dependence. The movie picturizes how Susana went on to become a BPD patient
and how it impacted her existence as a whole. The movie clarifies beautifully the various
signs and symptoms that a patient of BPD can have. It also deliniates the other disorders of
pathological lying, sociopathic personality disorder etc. The very depiction where Susana is
confused, distorted and have the feeling that something is wrong with her, but could not
understand what was very picturesque. However, one negative factor about the movie was
that she was treated in a hospital where she was constantly provoked and instigated, which
had wrong effects on her. Again, she was had traumatic experiences there like suicide of
Daisy which increased her mental burden. She could have recieved personalized therapy at
home, and dialectal behavior therapy could have been helpful in her case.

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PSYCHOLOGY
References
National Alliance on Mental Disorder. (2019). Borderline Personality Disorder. Access
Date- 28th July, 2019. [Online]. Retrieved from:
https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/borderline-personality-
disorder
Wick, D., Konrad, C., (Producers). & Mangold, J. (Director). (1999) Girl, Interrupted. United
States: Columbia Pictures. Access Date- 28th July, 2019. [Online]. Retrieved
from http://ffilms.org/girl-interrupted-1999/ (2019).