Psychology

Named by many as one of the greatest American films of all times, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is a film about the life of certain people inside a mental institution, and focused on the life of the character named Randle McMurphy. In here, psychological therapies and treatments were applied to patients where they are expected to follow institutions policies and maintain good disposition despite mental illnesses. Examining the film in the perspective of psychology, we can see dynamics of the hospital as observed based on its effectiveness and other issues.

By looking at the common norms in a group therapy, some of the scenes in the film show issues which reflects ineffective process of the psychotherapy. In carrying out such effective process, goals should be defined properly while decision making process should be flexible and adapting group needs. In the film, it was not shown that the nurse is not an effective facilitator since the goals and process of the therapy sessions, as well as the roles and expected contributions of the participants. In terms of decision making, it can clearly be seen that the nurse also make all the decisions and individual contributions were not acknowledged and red respected fully, in the case of McMurphys suggestions. By having such clear presentations and exchanges, patients could learn and understand their conditions, and encouragement will be sought thereafter.

The extreme fright of the patients to the head nurse causes lack of trust and confidence to disclosure which is not healthy in group psychotherapy. In the film, this is evidenced by the faking of Chiefs being deaf and mute. Another one is the allowance of cigarettes during the therapy sessions, or in the institution itself. This defeats the purpose of psychotherapy to understand what is wrong in a patient by making him vulnerable to the cigarettes negative effect.

Lastly, a session should be summarized before it is adjourned and the patients dispersed. Goal achievement and any unresolved issues should be discussed at the end, which could provide feedback if the therapy session is effective and healthy to the individuals and the group.