1. Describe the main character and determine what psychological disorder he is suffering from? Substantiate your answers with information from your textbook.
John Nash, the main character in the 2002 movie A Beautiful Mind is a gifted scholar at Princeton University (Howard & Grazer, 2002). Nash is a genius in the field of mathematics seeking to stand out from other gifted mathematicians at the institution through individual contribution to the field. Unfortunately, he is fazed by a serious challenge of dealing with a mental illness that Nevid (2012) referred to as schizophrenia . Dr Rosen, the psychiatrist in the film, diagnoses him with the disease as the symptoms become apparent (Howard & Grazer, 2009). These symptoms, according to Nevid (2012), include delusions and hallucinations. The condition impairs his relationship with not only his immediate family, but also the larger community of Princeton University where he later serves as a professor. Notable scenarios involve the theme whereby Nash believes that an outlawed Russian organization is after him, and his illusion that he has a close friend from college who has a niece. After a period of medication and treatment, and through individual effort, Professor Nash survives the condition, goes back to his profession and is later awarded a Nobel Prize for his outstanding contribution to mathematics.
2. You will describe 3 detailed scenes from the movie (6 pts) that explain why you chose the diagnosis you did.
The following scenes evidence Nash’s diagnosis of schizophrenia:
In a scene in his room, Nash watches his imaginary roommate, who announces himself as “the prodigal roommate”, arrive (Howard & Grazer, 2002). He tells Nash about his hung-over condition as a result of a prior drinking incident and that the hung-over is related to lack of water in the body. Fascinated, Nash watches him undress his upper body and approach him. He offers Nash a hand, identifying himself as Charles Herman. Nash is completely drawn to attention as though Herman existed in the actual sense.
In another scene, Nash is drinking on a rooftop in the company of the imaginary Charles Herman following Herman’s request. The two get carried away in a conversation concerning mathematics, clearly overwhelmed by the alcohol. Herman sarcastically enquires about Nash’s life. In due course, Nash’s condition is worsened and he loudly jeers at the fact that he has to commit irrelevant mathematical models of his predecessors to memory. Some people passing by on the ground are surprised and turn to have a look.
In yet another scene, Nash is carried away by hallucinations while attending to a class at Princeton University. He notices something queer ‒the presence of an unfamiliar group of people. Upon realizing that he might be in danger, Nash rushes out of the lecture hall. The group, which is a medical team led by Dr. Rosen, wrestles him down amid protests from him to onlookers that the ‘assailants’ are Russians. He is outnumbered and injected in a bid to calm him.
3. Although John Nash is never cured of his mental disorder, what steps does he take near the end to succeed in his life and learn to live with his disorder? You may cite specific scenes to explain your answer
Nash’s turning point is marked by the incident where he acknowledges that Herman’s niece, Marcee, does not actually exist. In this scene, he tells his wife that “she never gets old” (Howard & Grazer). The implication is that at this point, he realizes that he has mental problems to be addressed. This followed a series of attempts from his wife as well as Dr Rosen to help him comprehend his condition. Nash decides to bid his imaginary friends farewell and withdraw his attention towards them for good after successfully distinguishing the real ones from the imaginary ones. At a corridor on his way to class at Princeton University, he tells Herman that though he has been a good friend, he is neither going to speak to him nor to his niece again (Howard & Grazer, 2002). Accordingly, he puts sufficient effort to stick to his decision. In a scene on his way home for instance, he ignored Herman and Marcee who were seated by the staircase. Through this personal initiative, Nash was able to limit the effect that the hallucinations had on him.
4. How does his disorder impact his family? In particular what role does his wife play over the course of his illness? You may cite specific scenes to explain your answers
Nash’s disorder has serious impacts on his family. The family status has moved from a status of honor in the academic community of Princeton University to a secluded nuclear family with multiple issues of concern. Following his hospitalization and for a considerable period after, Nash is unable to provide for his family and his wife has to watch over him at the house . A burden of care is therefore imposed on his wife Alicia that goes beyond financial needs. In as much as she adores her husband, she is stressed and emotionally stricken as a result of her husband’s condition. She almost relents as evidenced by her actions regarding her husband’s medication. In a scene at the hospital, she barely stands her husband’s treatment. The uncertainty surrounding the course of the disorder worries her even more. Elsewhere, when her husband fails to respond to her sexual call, she destroys utensils in the kitchen with violent outbursts of anger. These signs indicate that she is stressed by the family status (Nevid, 2012). The family’s only baby, an infant, was in danger. In a scene before it was rushed to its grandmother, Nash had left it in a bathtub with running water and has to be rescued by his wife seconds from being drowned. The family receives minimal social support even from the community at Princeton University.
References
Howard, R. (Director & Producer) & Grazer, B (Producer). (2002). A Beautiful Mind [DVD] Los Angeles: Imagine Entertainment. Retrieved 22 April 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7gl9b3BfG4
Nevid, S. J. (2012) Essentials of Psychology: Concepts and Applications. New Jersey: Cengage Learning.
